Kim Thurlow's Portfolio of Queensland Steam - Toowoomba
This picture was taken around 1961 by Ivor Thurlow using Feraniacolor, a 35mm
transparency stock promoted by photo shops around Australia. If my memory
serves me correctly (should we shorten that in this email age to a form such
as IMMSMC, like "my humble opinion" becomes IMHO?), Ferania offered
a home processing kit. The only reason my father would have used it, would
have been because it was cheaper. Most color films of this era would have
been 10 or 25 ASA rating. For that reason I find this particular photo remarkably
good. The camera was probably a Voigtlander Vito B, a little compact camera
similar to Kodak's Retina, with a viewfinder above the lens..
The Sydney Express, bound for Toowoomba
and Brisbane. It is early afternoon, probably Saturday circa 1961,
and the sun is shining fully on the camera side of the train.
About half an hour earlier, the train had crossed its southbound
counterpart at either Wyreema or Cambooya- if everything was on
time.
The pressed steel piloted engine is 4-6-2 Class BB18.1/4,
perhaps number 1041 or possibly 1043, of which I saw both around
Toowoomba frequently. The train is approaching the Herries Street
crossing in Toowoomba, guarded only by the train whistle in the
days before "Safety" considerations. Every person had
to look out for themselves. In the background is the Wheat Board
storage sheds and the accompanying spur line. Now on this site
every Sunday, you can visit the open-air markets and buy pumpkins,
tools, and kiddies clothing, from stalls and car boots.
The background housing has since made way for service industry sheds and
showrooms.
