Cockle Creek

Situated on the Short North between Sydney and Newcastle, Cockle Creek feeds into the northern end of Lake Macquarie.

When the main line was realigned in 1957, a twin span, through truss replaced an earlier plate girder bridge which remained in use until 1982 to carry coal traffic from the Northern (Rhondda) and Stockton Borehole Collieries.

Cockle Creek station was once a busy place. The 1957 buildings were as substantial as the ones they replaced and were used by residents, miners, workers at the nearby Sulphide Corporation and weekend picnickers. It was once a major interchange point between ferries that plied Lake Macquarie, steam trams between Speers Point and Wallsend and the trains to Newcastle.

The diorama represents the locality between the 1960s and 1990s and was constructed by Graeme Goodsell, Greg Sadler, Mick Lovell, Barry Wilcockson, Geoff Rann. The layout recently underwent an extensive refurbishment by a great group of friends.

Bridges are heavily modified kits while bridge supports and buildings are scratch built. Landforms are made from sculpted foam plastic and sceniced with a variety of techniques and natural or manmade materials.

At various times steam or diesel hauled coal trains of private owner wagons can be seen on the coal roads at the rear of the scene departing or returning from Newcastle. On the main steam and diesel hauled local and inter-city passenger trains will share the tracks with all manner of freight and coal trains.

The operators trust that you will enjoy their efforts and are happy to answer your questions

Go Aussie N Scale!