Community
9 October, 2024
Miniature railway to celebrate milestone
COBDEN Miniature Railway is preparing to celebrate its milestone 30th birthday later this month.
The railway was officially opened on Sunday, June 19 in 1994.
South Western Model Engineers president Haydn Howard said when the Railway Park was opened it was just a short ride around a single loop, and the ticket price was $1 per ride.
“Over the years the track has been extended to include an under and over pass, a living tunnel and a dark tunnel, a replica of Curdies Bridge and some sidings,” he said.
“We have around 1.8kms of track and sidings and the main track can run 7 ¼” and 5” trains.
“Dave’s track, which is the raised track and is named after the late David Martin - who donated the track to the railway so he could run his train here - can run 5” and 3 ½” trains.
“All the facilities we have at the railway were originally funded through loans that have been fully paid back from income derived from train rides, or more recently through grants from various organisations.”
The special 30th birthday celebration will be held on the weekend of October 19-20.
On the Saturday, a private event will be held for likeminded miniature railways from across the nation with speeches from John Wiggins and Alan Hart, both of whom were driving forces behind getting the railway up and running.
On the Sunday, Cobden Miniature Railway will open to the public from 11am to 4pm.
A free sausage sizzle will be held between 11am and 2pm, and tickets per train ride will be just $1 – just as they were in 1994.
Mr Howard said the occasion would be an opportunity to reflect on the years of dedication which has gone in to bringing the project to life, and ensuring its ongoing success in the Cobden community.
“In the early 1990’s the current members of South Western Model Engineers Inc, who run the Cobden Miniature Railway, decided they would like a permanent track that was always set up for use whenever they wanted,” he said.
“At this time John Wiggins was also a member of the Rotary Club of Cobden and one day, while he was talking to the local Police Sergeant at the time, Alan Hart (who everyone called “Sarge” and was also a member of the Rotary Club of Cobden).
“He asked about John’s new steam train where he was going to run it.
“John replied that he would have to take it to Altona.
“Alan Hart said “No, you won’t we will run it here”. That is how the Cobden Miniature Railway started.”
A partnership between South Western Model Engineers and the Rotary Club of Cobden was then formed.
Around about this time the Cobden Racecourse was closing up and the land was handed over to the Heytesbury Shire (now part of the Corangamite Shire) to be used for recreation purposes.
The shire was approached for some land to build a miniature railway.
“Many of the councillors knew nothing about miniature railways and were unsure as to whether this would be a good use of the land, but sense prevailed, permission was granted for the use of the land, plans were drawn up and so the Cobden Miniature Railway was born,” Mr Howard said.
“On the July 1, 2021, the Rotary Club of Cobden ceased to be involved in the running of the railway.
“Cobden Miniature Railway is a not for profit, fully volunteer-run organisation, reliant on grants, donations and train ride income to continue to maintain and improve the railway and its grounds.”
Mr Howard said the railway has not only proven a place to create beaming smiles for generations of local youngsters, but all funds raised from train rides and donations has been spent on updating or maintaining the facility.
He said there were many ways for people to volunteer and help out at the railway.
“It’s not all about driving trains,” Mr Howard said.
“There are lots of tasks to be done, some of them are lawnmowing, gardening, maintenance, administration, ticket selling, advertising, website and social media updating, helping the public on and off the trains, helping in our canteen on public run days or just coming along for a chat to other members and the public.”