Work has officially started on the project

https://www.thnsw.com.au/post/work-on-chullora-heritage-hub-begins

Chullora as a workshops has been in operation for 70 years according to the press releases, but how long has the Eveliegh precinct been going for similar work?  So far I have not read anything as to the future of the LES except that it was said to be the location for a large entity named GOOGLE who were to make it their home base in Australia after rejecting all other locations.

While the old Chullora workshops and seemingly associated areas makes for a dramatically huge storage area for the history of the NSWGR as far as railway items are concerned, along of course with the abilities to overhaul many items that have been neglected over the years which has been sorely seen in many photo's of their condition in being stored in the open in many locations such as Thirlmere & Broadmeadow.

I am glad that the likes of 3203 is to go to Cooma and a shed to be built for it, would love to see it operating on the line if it ever was brought back into operation, (just dreaming).

I guess the delayed and time frame for the moving of items from BMD to Chullora will be something that wont happen overnight, but once its cleared out the current state government has plans for a wholesale development of the site, which will mean the destruction of the whole of the loco depot area and at this stage much has been kept secret as to what will happen for the future.  For me and many others this would be a shame as there is no reason why at least part of the area can be retained as a rail heritage site for the NCLE region.

A Google earth zoom in shows the large areas to the West of the actual depot/roundhouse area that could well be sold or rented off within any future redevelopment plans and leaving at the least the #2 shed and shed, along with the main building which was the large meal room and office staff along with the Mech Branch bosses, DLE etc.  The long building closest to Newton St is the "new enginemens barracks" which I understand to be rented out by a community group.

If one was to partition/fence off the areas on the Western side of the barracks building, and continue to the yard boundary, leaving the area that has the two roundhouse areas, buildings as a local rail museum to present the rail history of Newcastle which more than a few groups are calling for, the sale of the land mentioned could go towards getting the items there that are relevant to the area restored, eg 5096 that hauled the last steam hauled non air coal train.

One bug bear I find with heritage train operations is that aside from the single elephant water column at Gosford which I understand has been put back into service along with the often blocked column in the old depot area, are the only operating water columns between Sydney and ?? I had heard the elephant column between the up main and loop at Hawkesbury River has been repaired but is it able to be used?  Having working columns in the depot would help in a big way for heritage items.

the sale of the land mentioned could go towards getting the items there that are relevant to the area restored, eg 5096 that hauled the last steam hauled non air coal train.

Good Luck with that proposition!

Hawkesbury water column was not in a good condition when I passed it last Sunday, it looked like it had been dismantled. This could have been related to the ongoing upgrades at the station.

Nothing has been set in stone for Broadmeadow, the last I heard was that the government was looking at several different options for the site.

The large brick & concrete former administration & amenities building at Broadmeadow is currently basically condemned & awaiting demolition due to the ceiling cavities being insulated with loose spray asbestos.

The long 1980's vintage barrack building is still in use by Pacific National, the original 1924 barrack building was leased to a community group after it was replaced, but it fell out of use & was demolished c2009.

Any use of the depot area proper at Broadmeadow for uses other than light industrial & rail uses will require a large amount of  ground de-contamination due to heavily contaminated ground in the depot area proper.

Groups have been told to vacate the Large by end of June next year.

Groups have been told to vacate the Large by end of June next year.

The video uploaded by THNSW gave the impression that the Chullora storage area would take years to complete, where would everything coming out of Eveleigh move to?

Groups have been told to vacate the Large by end of June next year.

The video uploaded by THNSW gave the impression that the Chullora storage area would take years to complete, where would everything coming out of Eveleigh move to?

How many items currently at Eveleigh are owned by THNSW? If the items are not THNSW (or state) owned items, it would then be the responsibility of the owning organization to find a new home for the items.

Groups have been told to vacate the Large by end of June next year.

The video uploaded by THNSW gave the impression that the Chullora storage area would take years to complete, where would everything coming out of Eveleigh move to?

How many items currently at Eveleigh are owned by THNSW? If the items are not THNSW (or state) owned items, it would then be the responsibility of the owning organization to find a new home for the items.

LVR have a footprint in 1, 5 & 6 roads at the moment. ECHR have a footprint in 4 road. THNSW have 2 & 3 roads. Its up to LVR and ECHR to find a place to go to. Chullora will be used only as a staging area for trips out of Sydney once its operational.

LVR is pursing with getting Orange East Fork as a base. E Frame on West Fork was booked back in last week after a sleeper renewal project was completed. A move was going to happen last Friday evening from Orange Yard into Orange East Fork, but the Golden West Tour stopped that with operational issues.

Hawkesbury water column was not in a good condition when I passed it last Sunday, it looked like it had been dismantled. This could have been related to the ongoing upgrades at the station.

Nothing has been set in stone for Broadmeadow, the last I heard was that the government was looking at several different options for the site.

I had to go to Sydney this morning for visit to a surgeon, a very interesting day, especially the number of Up freight movements that I saw between BMD & Epping on the up, there was at least 3 full block of wheat hopper trains, one mixed load with wheat hoppers on the rear, along with the Crawfords container trains, and 3 other container train loads. Also an empty wheatie heading North through Victoria St a 0540. Then an up mixed steel load into PTW and the empties to Cobar at around 1315.  

On the return home I took particular notice of the Hawkesbury River elephant column and the one on the one at the northern end of #2 platform.  The standard column in what is left of the loco roads to the TT, appears out of use as the flex hose has been removed and while its been silver painted, there was no drips from it like has been for ages, I would say its had the main valve turned off and not in operating condition ATM.

As for the two elephant columns both have new platforms built and both the columns have been given a new lease of life as they both look brand new. White timber platforms and grey columns.