Hi ComTrain,
Further to your very interesting history lesson (which all Australians should learn), might I concur the rivalry?.
Around late 1870's/80's, it became apparent that there was indeed a need to extend the rail network to service the eastern areas of the Riverina in NSW.
The line from near Echuca to Deniliquin was laid & proved most active.
So then the Narrandera_Tocumwal branch line began it's southern push.
Firstly from Narrandera in the north, to Jerilderie (about half-way of the eventual route). Then some time later that was extended to Berrigan.
And later still, it headed westward to Finley.
Now comes the interesting bit.
For many years, Riverina farmers & those further north-westward had used the old Cobb & Co route down through Hay_Deniliquin to Echuca.
Similarly, further to the east, down through Jerilderie_Finley to Tocumwal.
The Narrandera_Tocumwal branchline carrying the wool to Sydney, & grain to Melbourne. Funny that.
Anyway, what with the mutual distrust & greed of the two states, a stalemate now took place for several years. NSW refused to push all the way to Tocumwal, in fear that Victoria would gain most of the lucrative trade.
However after several years delay, the branchline eventually arrived at Tocumwal, to meet up with the Victorian line already across the Murray River.
Both states in fact benefited considerably from this hook-up.
One of the most significant benefits being during WWII, when the largest airfield in the Southern hemisphere was built by Australians for the Americans, who called it McIntyre Field. Covering approx 25 square miles, & taking the total output of BHP for three months (bitumen for sealing four long runways & many miles of taxiways & roadways), it was a mammoth task.
The airbase camp being an extention of the township of Tocumwal (population near 500). Later, the on-base population swelling to just over 5,000 after the base was handed to the RAAF, as the war headed further north with the retreating Japanese.
This airbase was to be very much a last-ditch stand for the defence of the south-eastern area of Australia. Darwin was being constantly bombed, Singapore had fallen & Japanese were already sending the equivalent of SAS soldiers several miles inland in the Top End.
The Narrandera_Tocumwal branchline had thus become probably the most strategic defence line for Australia. A vast number of troops & supplies were ferried through Tocumwal during the war years. The yard at Tocumwal rapidly became a maze of NSW/VIC/& dual-gauge lines, with long transfer platforms & I think four gantry cranes.
Both NSW & VIC gauge lines were extended onto McIntyre field, & also as loop lines to the west, where an immense Munitions area once existed.
Apologies for no pic of a train, yet.
Dear my good friend Dreddman,
