Shepherds Siding

 A quick look at Shepherds Siding

Shepherds Siding was opened on March 10, 1893.  It is located at 270.3 miles (505.64km) from Sydney – between Junee, and Wagga Wagga on the main south railway.

Shepherds in 1997 – my picture taken from Byrnes Road

Named after the owner of a local property W.J. Shepherd, the name was shortened to Shepherds in October 1925.  The station was officially closed 19th July 1975.

3817 heads north through Shepherds in 1950. Note the loading bank platform on the siding

These two images “stolen” from the 100 mile House Facebook page.  They show a small timber platform, 2 sheds (purpose unknown) and a full size nameboard.  Imagine the size of the nameboard if they had retained the “SIDING” in the name

Philip Verigson captured this evening image in 1980, 5 years after the station officially closed. Note the change of platform design, station name, and one shed only

The arrangement of sidings, and points matches the 100 mile House project facebook images, but this arrangement changed later

In around 1982, I photographed Shepherds from a small plane.  Whilst my image is a bit blurred, the location of the former station near the level crossing can be seen.  There could still be structures standing, but that is guesswork.  Byrnes Road is the gravel road at the bottom of the picture.  Note that it does not run parallel to the main south line south of Shepherds – that will come later

The extension of Byrnes Road through to Wagga came later.  Initially it was gravel, but later improvements (by 1996) had it as asphalted.  The extension connected at Shepherds was roughly on the former station site.  Today, the road from Junee to Wagga parallels the main railway line, and is well worth the detour off the Olympic Way.  BTW, I photographed the sign just a few years ago – it is now hidden partially by bushes, but not vandalized or stolen

Recent pictures

The siding connection to the main line is now severed.

From the level crossing, the station location is now devoid of anything

The level crossing on the Shepherds Siding road is protected with booms, lights and bells.

Note the “Shepherds” nameplate – possibly the same plate as in the 1980 picture earlier

S016 silo on the now unused siding

Silo pictures

Modelling

I have a love of wheat hopper trains, and the chance to include Shepherds on my layout is too much of a temptation.  The space I have for it is a bit tight, being on a curve, and the siding will be similar to the current arrangement, with points at eather end, rather that the 1951 arrangement with a dead end siding for the silo.

The location for Shepherds is in the lower RHS of this plan.  Mainline radius is arouund 70cm, which will give just over a metre of siding, enough for a small train

As the station existed in 1970, I have another small modelling project going forward.  The other main structure is the S016 silo.  I have an Auscsion S024 silo, and was hoping to swap it for the smaller S016 – but it may be just as easy to kitbash, take off one of the large external bins, and modify the roof cupola.  Another option would be to construct one using a Kerian Ryan kit.  In the meantime, just using the S024 silo would save time

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And for those of you interested….

Train Room Progress

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Timing is everything.  Whilst it was great to get the electrics in so quickly, I had not been able to prepaint the walls.  So, it takes a lot longer for the preparation

Display wall painted.  The door to the rest of the garage is very close to where Shepherds siding will go

Ensuite wall (and sliding door)

Below is a short video I took showing the present state of the train room, which also showsall the junk I have not been able to store elswhere.  Yes, it does get in the way, and I spend too much effort to move it.

And I mounted the pair of signs I bought at the Cootamundra swap meet on the outside of the garage, either side of the train room entrance.  Sometimes the junk gets used effectively.