Driving away from Michelago there was some really scenic hills and mountain formations to see.
The beside the rocky mountain ranges , the local farmland was typical Monaro generally flat and treeless - mainly due to century old tree felling practices.
Drove through the town of Bredbo where the railway station used to exist but sadly nothing remains except the station masters house. The platform was maybe still in place i am told.
The RTA cut the railway line off by paving it over with new road....so CBL is cut there for good.
After Bredbo i arrived at Cooma. I didn't stay too long as i would come back in a few hours to stay overnight and check the railway yard in the morning.
After a quick lunch and recalling the last time i was in Cooma.... October 1994... i headed onto Nimmitabel and then Holts Flat.
Nimmitabel Railway Station
Nimmitabel was a big railway station and once the original terminus of the CBL until the line was extended to Bombala. The station was designed as a large yard and has a timber station building, turntable - now removed, goods shed, crane, fettler shed and male toilet building.
A loading ramp was built as well for stock movement and freight movement.
A locked front gate keeps people out of the station area, as it is not under any community coperation at the moment. This may change later on in 2011.
As seen from front gate...a very beautiful and picturesque station.
Up the line is a level crossing which offered some distance views of the station and yard infrastructure for me to photograph
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The goods shed is intact and still standing
I do hope this yard can be saved and turned into a local town tourism destination like other railway yards at Tumut or Gundagai are now. The place is very scenic and really only needs some care / attention i believe to draw more people in.
Holts Flat
After leaving Nimmitabel, a small line side siding stop located about 15mins south of the town is found. Holts flat was a small stopping point on the line for locals. It was closed in 1975. This small siding has remarkably withstood nature and time. It still stands albeit with some damage.
A small road side tells you where the siding is..
Yet again the windswept Monaro landscape is dominating the area , low grass and few trees. The afternoon light was just superb for photographing i found. The only traffic the line sees nowdays is cattle / cows as they feed on the grass on the siding and surrounding hillsides.
Next installment - Bombala the terminus of the CBL.
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