4829 & 4908 Gobondery NSW. Mon 03rd Mar 2025

Running over one day late, due to the failure of 4908 at Tottenham NSW, a reduced load of just 10 loaded grain wagons (original consist was 20) 4829 is entrusted to get the train to Parkes NSW. Although 4908 is powering up there is no voltage delivered to the traction motors.

Not a lot happens at Gobondery NSW which opened on the 15th of December 1908 as part of stage two of the Tottenham NSW branch line project. Gobondery was first settled around 1874 and once boasted the "Gobondery Hotel" a crude structure known as a "shanty inn" at the time.

It was said that bushranger Ben Hall had met other outlaws at the hotel, the hotel burned down in 1900. There is no town or village at Gobondery which means "Cuba Tree" in aboriginal language.

The station sign still remains where the small passenger platform once stood on the Up Main side, however, the Loading Bank has long since been demolished. The Goods Siding now forms part of the 273 metre long Silo Siding. The concrete silos were built in 1933 and the grain Bulkhead shed was erected in 1970, GrainCorp closed grain handling facilities after the 2011 harvest.

The branch line from Bogan Gate NSW through to Tottenham NSW opened in three stages from1907 to 1916 and was built as a "Pioneer Class" branch line at minimal cost. Numerous grain sidings along the line are now closed due to reforms introduced by GrainCorp with only Trundle and Tottenham left open. Trains run on an ad hoc basis as demand requires.

Passenger trains ceased on the line in the mid 1970's with the last train operating on the 05th of August 1974. The SRA of NSW suspended freight services (stock train, wool and produce) in 1981 with road transport due to the line "running at a loss".

Today, in 2025 only the grain survives albeit in a very diminutive state. The only passenger trains to operate the line are the rare special rail enthusiast charter services from time to time, or the annual Abba Festival train to Trundle.

Once there were 165 members of the 48 class locomotives built by A. E. Goodwin at Auburn NSW between 1959 and 1970 from five or six orders placed in that period. Designated ALCO "World Series" DL531 they were built to replace steam traction operating in rural NSW.

Powered by an "in-line" six-cylinder turbo charged four stroke ALCO 6-251B prime mover delivering 950hp. Published track speed is 121KMh. They proved to be a very durable and reliable locomotive with a small number still operating today.

4829 is one of the few surviving Mark-1's of the series. It was delivered new by Goodwin's at Auburn NSW on the 01st of May 1961.

The 49 class once numbered 18 in all resulting from three orders of six locomotives per order. Built by Clyde Engineering at Granville NSW, between 1960 & 1964, they were introduced to rapidly replace steam traction on country branch lines across NSW. 4911 was delivered new on the 19th of October 1962.

Designated EMD model G8C they are powered by a Roots Blower aspiration two stroke V8 EMD 8-567C or EMD 8-567CR prime mover delivering 875hp. Published track speed is 124KMh. They are closely related to the popular, and once numerous, Victorian Railways "T" class, also built by Clyde Engineering.

1340hrs on Monday 03rd of March 2025.