Railway_Digest__February_2018

Moss Vale Sesquicentenary
Ben Chatwin
On Saturday 9 December 2017, 150 years (and one week) to the day
after the Main Southern Railway was opened between Mittagong and
Sutton Forest (as Moss Vale was then known), the railway stations
at Bowral and Moss Vale celebrated their sesquicentenaries –
trackwork closing the line between Moss Vale and Macarthur the
previous weekend necessitating the slight delay in celebrations.
With Moss Vale the more significant of the two centres, at least
from a railway perspective, festivities were focused there.
Formalities started when Kevin Andrews, Duty Manager Moss
Vale, was presented with a certificate commemorating 50 years
of railway service. After this, and following the arrival of The Rail
Motor Society’s 620/720 railcar set from Paterson, which later ran
four return shuttles to Mittagong, speeches were given by Paul
Daly (Station Manager Moss Vale), Howard Collins (Acting Chief
Executive, NSW Trains) and Pru Goward (Member for Goulburn)
promising a bright future for Moss Vale and looking forward to
returning in another 25 years to celebrate the 175th anniversary. As
Moss Vale is the only vice-regal railway station in Australia, Justice
Margaret Beazley (acting on behalf of the Governor of New South
Wales, who was unable to attend) was the next to speak and took
the gathered crowd on a journey through the station’s history.
Over the years, Moss Vale has grown into an important station on
the interstate network, having fed troops during the wars, enabling
state governors to summer in the Southern Highlands along the
way. In 1900 the future prime minister, Edmund Barton, even missed
his train after lingering too long in the station’s refreshment rooms.
There’s not much Moss Vale hasn’t witnessed. With the speeches
concluded, the gathered dignitaries then unveiled a plaque
commemorating the occasion, located in the station courtyard.
Then came the cake. For what is a birthday party without cake?
Even those not inclined to sit and listen to speeches were in for
a treat. Pacific National made an 82 class locomotive available
for inspection by all interested, while the NSW Rail Museum
displayed a collection of railway artefacts. The RSL Youth Choir and
Highland Pipe and Drum Band provided musical entertainment,
and a collection of historical photos and drawings were exhibited.
As a special treat, the Vice Regal Waiting Room was also open
for inspection. With the local branch of the Country Women’s
Association providing refreshments in the station, and Rotary outside
the station, everyone was well catered for.
All involved in planning the Moss Vale Railway Station
Sesquicentenary celebrations are deserving of thanks and appreciation.
They showed not only what can be achieved when community is
involved in planning celebrations, but that railway stations continue
to play a significant, and special, role in the community. While much
has changed in the 150 years that Moss Vale Railway Station has been
serving the Southern Highlands community, this certainly hasn’t.
Above: The Rail Motor Society’s railcar set 621/721 arrives at
Moss Vale station. Bob McKillop
Below: Dignitaries unveil the commerative plaque. From left to
right: Howard Collins OBE, Acting Chief Executive NSW Trains,
Dympna Irwin (obscured), Co-ordinator, I50th Committee, Paul
Daly, Station Manager Moss Vale, The Hon Justice Margaret Joan
Beazley AO, P​resident of the Court of Appeal (NSW) appearing
in lieu of the Chief Justice of NSW and the Governor of NSW
(who were both at a state funeral in Sydney), The Hon. Pru
Goward, MP, Member for Goulburn. Ben Chatwin
Preservation & Tourist
FEBRUARY 2018
53