Historic Photo of the Day: 2026-01-30

Today’s historic photo of the day: Exactly 43 years ago today, EMD branchline diesel loco 4910 on a southbound Gwabegar tour train just north of Coonabarabran, NSW, January 30 1983. Coonabarabran is 508km from Sydney on the 430km-long Wallerawang to Gwabegar branch line. The was a 3-day Australia Day long weekend LVR tour train from Sydney to Gwabegar, Dubbo and Parkes. This Gwabegar line opened as far as Coonabarabran in 1917, and the final 95km from Coonabarabran to Gwabegar via Baradine, the southernmost part of which features in this photo, was opened in 1923 in part to serve previously undeveloped land that was granted to soldiers returning home from WW1. The line carried regular passenger trains for many years, but by the time of this tour, it was goods-only north of Mudgee. The section north of Binnaway to Coonabarabran and Gwabegar has been out of service since 2005.