1981 - Rosie goes to Mudgee - Portland Cement Works

Bert Scales Rail Archive - Digitally transferred from Movie film to HD.
A delightful film of the Lachlan Valley Rail Society's 'Rosie' operating a rail fan tour from Lithgow to Mudgee hauling N car set 111 plus FS car on Saturday 28th March 1981.
We stop off at Portland to witness some remarkably rare footage of well worn green saddle tank engine No.5, performing the habitual and laborious task of shunting wagons in the station yard, then hauling trip trains along the branch to the Portland Commonwealth Cement works.
Engine no5 was built by Andrew Barclay and Sons Scotland in 1914, seeing active traffic on the branch until withdrawal in 1983.
Next to nothing remains of the Portland station and yard today. These scenes give insight into the daily workings of the branch line and the tasks performed by employees operating the yard and Engine No5. Operations staff wear hard hats, an early form work health and safety, to manage risks associated with shunting wagons, minimising head injuries of the low cab ceiling height of engine no. 5.
We then continue on to see the regular rail vantage points of the Mudgee line, with 'Rosie' in full throttle assaulting the many curves and gradients of this pioneer railway line.
It's interesting to note that a handful of private railways in Australia still operated steam engines into the mid 1980s of which the Commonwealth Cement Works Portland were one.

[@australiantrains8988]

I had no idea how much history was lost at Portland NSW, the station and platform, Goods Shed and five ton hand crane all demolished as were the sidings from the cement works. I walked the full length of the sidings in 2019, still bits and pieces can be seen by a keen eye. Great video, really enjoyed it. Pity the lien remains closed at Rylstone.

[@MartinAsleep]

The Locomotive is actually number 3, it and number 5 look incredibly similar (both being built by Andrew Barclay). Great to see footage of the Portland Cement works Railway

[@nswrailvideos7113]

Thank You for sharing that information and correction. I also have approx 10 mins of film from 1974 of 2605 shunting and working the branch, along with what appears to be no5 with the number painted on the side of the engine. I will upload in due course.

[@MartinAsleep]

@@nswrailvideos7113 Your welcome, I would love to see it!

[@MySteamChannel]

Enjoyed that very much - thank you from S.A

[@nswrailvideos7113]

Glad you enjoyed it. I found engine no.5 and the history of the cement works branch fascinating to research.

[@AmbianEagleheart]

08:08 That couldn't be a young mark Stapo' could it?