The Great Nothern Australian Adventure

Pauls Rollasons M15B QR 368 with Peter Burdens M15B QR 316 share the afternoon sun with RM93 Gulflander at Normanton station

As I "put pen to paper" my mind is cast back to the late 1990's when a group of Section Car owners, myself included, had run out of different track to explore. No longer was it acceptable to jump on a piece of disused railway line and go for a run...although we all did it back then despite those now in denial. Railway Historical Society's still welcomed us for the "work for ride" scenario which allowed us to run our cars on their track in turn for some labour and assistance. This arrangement, which is still being practiced today with some groups, was a good, safe and legit way to operate our cars but we were confined to singular pieces of track...when there was so much track out there to do. A society specific to operating Section Cars was needed so a few of us banded together and ASSCO was formed.

As one of the founding members of ASSCO I had a number of visions. One was to see my passion for Section Cars taken on board like those in the States. There were plenty of cars here in Australia with lots of people doing their own thing. To get people talking and share the hobby a group such as ASSCO would achieve this. It would also allow me to extend my research and piece some more Section Car history together. The other dream was if ASSCO got off the ground and became an operator under its own right it would be able to gain access to unique pieces of railway line that are found in Australia....The line from Mareeba running out to Forsyth being just such a line and on top of mine and everyone's list, being one of Australia's most unique pieces of railway line still down, is the isolated line between Normanton and Croydon in North Queenslands Gulf Country.

In October 2006 after several years of planning and hours and hours of work by a dedicated few the dream was realised with ASSCO finally gaining access to both the Mareeba/Forsyth and Normanton/Croydon lines.

I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in this historic event and as time permits I will tell the story here over the coming weeks..Stay Tuned

Mark - January 2007