The Beechworth Golden Pioneer Railway

摘要

A short fishing holiday in Beechworth Victoria with my girlfriend (later wife) Shirley and her family between Christmas 1971 and the New Year brought with it more than a feed of fresh redfin. On a very hot Boxing Day, we turned onto what was then the dusty gravel road leading into the Lake Sambell Park, bumped over the formation of what had once been the railway to Yackandandah and approached the ranger's office looking for our caravan and tent site. I glanced to my left as we passed around the lakeshore and there, unexpectedly, about 50 metres away was a railway crossing sign. I had been to Beechworth a number of times before so my railway interest was already well and truly primed with the thought of exploring the old line out to 'Yack'. However, I didn't expect to find a railway in our caravan park! And it got even better. Shirley's father asked for a campsite within metres of a dirt bank beyond which, it appeared, lay the railway. One thing was certain from that moment, a family that could show such great choice in where to pitch a tent was one to which I wanted to belong!