19 September, 2022
50-year milestone marked with model railway show
THE Woodford-based Australian Narrow Gauge Railway Museum Society (ANGRMS) will mark 50 years with a Model Railway Show and Public Running Day at its Margaret Street location on Sunday, October 2.
The model railway show will take place from 9am to 3.30pm, and heritage train rides will be available from 10am to 3.30pm.
While the event will be similar to the heritage train rides run at the Woodford venue on the first and third Sunday of each month, the ANGRMS board of directors decided to do something extra to mark the 50 years since incorporation.
ANGRMS member Laurie Erb said the ANGRMS had invited the Australian Model Railway Association to set up model train displays for the day.
Having been a member of ANGRMS since the beginning, Laurie said ANGRMS hoped to see a big crowd featuring locals and visitors to experience a ride on a diesel hauled train.
“In 1970, I heard about a group of people interested in forming an organisation to preserve both steam and diesel locomotives from the sugar industry,” he said.
“Steam locomotives were fast being replaced by diesel locomotives to haul cane from the farms to the mill.
“I had always had an interest in steam, and I saw this as a chance to get involved with preservation of these fantastic locomotives.
“I went to the first public meeting in January 1971 to hear what was proposed.
“From that meeting, ANGRMS was formed and I have remained a member ever since.”
Laurie said he was interested to help save the remaining steam locomotives and some old diesel locomotives as they came to the end of their economical life.
“As soon as the Society was formed, there was a concerted effort by members of the board of directors to find a suitable site for a museum close to Brisbane,” he said.
“Many sites were looked at between 1972 and 1978 and all proved to be unsuitable for various reasons.
“The search widened to look at locations outside Brisbane, but still close enough to make it an attractive place to set up a museum for visitors and tourists.
“Woodford and the formation of the closed Queensland Railways Kilcoy Branch railway line was investigated, and found to meet most of the Society’s needs.
“Land was eventually secured from a local landholder in Woodford, and the venture was supported by the Caboolture Shire Council at the time. This was 1978.”
