This last week saw Nyngan identities, Gladys Eldridge and Leonie Montgomery, hold a book launch at the Nyngan Museum for their exceptional book Life Along the Railways West of Nevertire.
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As Leonie remarked in her editor's notes, the compilation of this remarkable history of railways out west has been “a labour of love”.
For many years, Glad, who spent years working at the Nyngan Railway Station, has wanted to write a book about the western railway system and over this time a great many people have given her old photos and snippets of information on this topic.
With freshly retired schoolteacher, Leonie, joining Glad as a volunteer at the Nyngan Museum every Wednesday morning from the beginning of this year, the scene was set for them to work together to fulfil Glad's dream.
So began the rewarding but daunting task of collecting a large and varied assortment of stories from locals about the Western railway stations, platforms and sidings.
The book has been thoughtfully planned, with four main sections: The Main Western Line to Bourke, The Brewarrina Branch from Byrock, The Warren Branch from Nevertire and The Cobar Branch from Nyngan.
Leonie has also sourced relevant newspaper articles from the National Library of Australia, and these, together with the stories, the many historic and beautiful, coloured photos of steam trains, old stations and sidings and other icons make for a very interesting and at times humorous description of life out west, when life revolved around the railways.
Thank you Glad and Leonie for devoting a large part of your year to producing this invaluable resource for us to learn from and enjoy.
Congratulations on creating what is quite a masterpiece!
The book will be on sale again on Wednesday at the Nyngan Museum and at the Nyngan Garden Club Christmas Markets on Saturday, December 9.
For more information, or to purchase a copy, phone the Nyngan Museum on 68321 052.
