History of the Trains of Treasure Exhibition
Trains of Treasure is a visual, musical and poetic history of Australian Railways that was prepared by the Combined Railways Unions Cultural Committee in 1985 with the support of the NSW State Rail Authority, the NSW Labor Council, and the Australia Council of the Arts.
Much of Australiaʼs social history and development over the last 200 years has been closely related to the history of its railways. From convict days, when human power was used to propel rail- way carriages at Port Arthur, to early steam rail openings, through two depressions, a general strike, two world wars and changing technologies, railway workers and those who used railway serv- ices have endured the good and the bad. While doing so, they have often reflected upon the mood of the time with music, songs, poems, tall stories and other art forms. Trains of Treasure brings some of this colourful history to life.
Production of Trains of Treasure
Under the supervision of the Combined Railways Union Cultural Committee, 26 visual display panels of artwork were produced by visual artist Paul Cockram. At the centre of each panel of artwork is an Australian Railway song or poem. The artwork in each panel illustrates the background in which the railway poem or song was written, with photographs and drawings.
These visual artwork themes of each panel are supported by two audio tapes, one of songs and poems (Trains of Treasure), the other of interviews with railway employees (Railway Voices).
Financial constraints in 1985 prevented the artist from producing a support copy or copies of the exhibitionʼs visual content.
In the case of the audio material, master audio recordings were created of performances of the songs and poems, as well as interviews with older railway employees.
Recognition of Copyright during the production of Trains of Treasure panels
Research for the content of the Trains of Treasure panels was conducted in several different ways.
Initial research for the historical songs, poems, and music was carried out by members of the “Sydney Bush Music Club”. This research was spearheaded by Brian Dunnett (MA Leisure Studies) and Denis Kevans (poet). They were assisted by music historian and folklorist John Meredith. Where possible the author of every song and poem used was identified and permission to use the particular item in the exhibition sought in writing.
Audio / CD Copyright
The full details of music, songs and poems used in the audio tapes of Trains of Treasure and Railway Voices, with their source and copyright details, was submitted to the Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society Limited in 1987. All copy- right was checked, and necessary royalties paid to writers, artists and performers.
When updating the recording Trains of Treasure from audio to CD quality, the copyright details were again submitted to Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society now administrated by the Australasian Preforming Rights Association (APRA), and the Copyright Agency Limited. Details of this are set in the cover con- tent of CD Trains of Treasure.
Copyright details for the updated CD of Railway Voices will have a similar copyright profile for the music, songs and poems, with the additional details of the copyright of the recorded interviews. See attached details of audio version of “Railway Voices”. The audio tape will be upgraded to CD as part of our current project.
Visual Material
Sources of the visual material used in the exhibition panels are:
State Rail Authority of NSW, who supported the project in 1985, had a well functioning archival section at the time Trains of Treasure was produced. Permission to use State Rail records was authorised by David Hill, SRA Chief Executive Officer. All copyright ownerships used from this source were fully recognised under the supervision of the archival section. David Hill appoint- ed two corporate officers with whom all material from State Rail sources was discussed. These two officers were Ian Campbell of State Railʼs Publicity section and Garry Barenthien, of the Corporate Display section. Independently of the SRA head office support for the project, several items were provided by the Railway Institute. See below for details of individual items used.
The Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, who hold numerous collections of historical material which was not available in the SRA Archives. Permission to copy and use was given by Baiba Berzins, Manager Australian Research Collection at the time. Some 26 items were covered, including many images that had been produced and published by the Railway Unions, whose historical records were given to the Mitchell Library for research purposes and safe keeping. Much of this is now in the public domain and not subject to a copyright fee and only requires acknowledgment of the Mitchell Library or the Australian Railways Union. See details below. Copies of our correspon- dence and that of the State Library are available for your information
Official Trade Union Publications were another major source of material. Much of this material was published over 50 years prior to the date of use in the exhibition. In cases of material published after 1935, many of the photographs used had been commis- sioned by the union concerned or the Labor Council of NSW.
Permission to use material from these source were given by:
The Metal Worker – Frank Bollins, NSW State Secretary, Amalgamated Metal Workers Union
The Railroad - Jim Walshe, NSW Secretary, Australian Railways Union
National Office News - Ralph Taylor, National Secretary, Australian Railways Union
Labor Council of NSW Archives - Norm Little, Labor Council Arts Officer
ETU News - Keith Challenger, Organiser, Electrical Trades Union
The Worker – the Secretary, Australian Workers Union
Locomotive Journal - Bernie Willingale, NSW Branch Secretary, Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen
In addition, some interstate material was supplied by the Queensland, Tasmanian and Western Australian Branches of the Australian Railways Union, with the assistance of the Rail Authority in each of those States. Correspondence from the Queensland Branch of Australian Railway Union and Queensland Minister for Transport is available.
Shop Committees and Rank and File Union Sources
A number of important items used in the exhibition came from the collection held by Combined Railway Unions Shop Committees and other union rank-and-file sources. For the purpose of copyright considerations, it should be noted that many of these organisations have since disappeared in the restructure of State Rail. At the time of production, many of these organisations carried out activities which they directly managed and financed. This involved the publication of leaflets, posters, newsletters and at one time their own news- paper, The Magnet.
At the time, researchers of Trains of Treasure had access to their records and were satisfied that these organisations either owned the copyright for all material used or provided other possible sources to investigated. Unfortunately these sources are now much harder to check or even to find, due to the massive changes in the railway industry and death of many of the participants. Where we were unable to establish or find the ownership of a particular item, we indicated our willingness to pay copyright to the copyright bodies by ( Control) system. Further, we emphasise that Trains of Treasure was a non-commercial exhibition produced to preserve the cultural history of Australian railway workers.
Custodians for these shop stewards committeesʼ collections and records at the time were:
Eveleigh Locomotive Shop Stewards Committee Custodian of Records, Vince Russo
Eveleigh Carriage Shop Committee Custodian of Records, Bob Wright
Chullora Locomotive Shop Stewards Committee Custodian of Records, Trevor Thorpe
ELCAR (Electrical Car Workshop Chullora) Shop Stewards Committee Custodian of Records, Ken Stokoe
Clyde Wagon Works Shops Stewards Committee Custodian of Records, Noel Treewick
DELEC (Diesel Locomotive Enfield) Shop Stewards Committee Custodian of Records, Harry Rogers
Much of the material once held by these committees has been deposited in the archives of the Australian National Library, Canberra and are available for research purposes.
More recent material from rank-and-file sources, like that of the ELCAR Camera Club that was established and financed by the Elcar Shop Stewards Committee, is clearly under copyright of the individual artist Bob Williams, who gave permission for use of the material in producing Trains of Treasure exhibition.
University of Newcastle - Denis Rowe (Archives Officer) supplied a photograph of the Murrurundi goods shed (1915) and permission to use it.
Department of Public Works - a copy of photograph of a flower festival held at the Railway Institute in 1891 and permission to use.
Mirror Australian Telegraph Publications - Photograph of Children at the Eveleigh Locomotive Picnic is owned by the Telegraph. A copyright fee was payed to use this photograph including Reproduction Fee, Authorised by B Mace. Copy available for your information.
John Fairfax and Sons Limited granted permission to use a photograph of Janet Oakden, the first woman to apply to become a Locomotive Driver, at Trades Hall, Footballer Frank Facer (for- mer Eveleigh worker) the Transport Institute Band, and 4 photos of Railway Workers participating in the wage protest of the early 1960s. Copy available for your information See further details below.
Oliver Strewe, 5/112 Campbell Pde, Bondi NSW - Reproduced photograph for Australian Workers Union who are owners of some of the material used in the 1917 Strike panel. See details below.
The 26 Individual Themes of the Exhibition and source details of song, poem, music, author, supporting artwork
Convict Power
Poem -“For the Company Under Ground”- Francis MacNamara 1813
Many Australians are surprised to find that Australia’s first passenger Railway was propelled by human power and not by steam. Convict poet Francis MacNamara who spent part of his sentence at Port Arthur tells us what it is like to work on such railway systems.
Image - C, Mundy, Our Antipodes, first published 1852, held by Mitchell Library Audio recording – Combined Railway Unions Cultural Committee, presenter D Kevans Artwork presentation for the Rail Unions Cultural Committee Paul Cockram
Early Openings
Music - “The Sydney Railway Waltz” - William Paling 1855
Openings of Australian steam railways in all states were grand occasions which were celebrated in different ways. The 1855 opening of the Sydney to Parramatta line saw large events both at the rail- way stations and the ballrooms of the city. Many a heart was broken dancing the night away to the Sydney Railway Waltz.
Music score - Mitchell Library
Photograph of W H Paling from the “History of Sydney”, George Forbes, 1926, permission of
Mitchell Library
Photograph / Sketch Lewisham – Summer Hill Viaduct, 1855 Copyright NSW State Rail Archives
Photograph Stone Masons Central Station, Copyright NSW State Rail Archives
Sketch Stone Masons Union Banner, 1855 Copyright Labor Council of NSW Archives
Photograph / Sketch Grand Opening Spencer St Station, 1855 Copyright Victorian Rail Archives
Portrait / Sketch William Sixsmith, Driver of first train, NSW, 1855 Copyright NSW State Rail Archives
Portrain / Sketch William Webster, Fireman of first train, NSW, 1855 Copyright NSW State Rail Archives
Photo / Sketch First Train Sydney – Parramatta, 1855 Copyright NSW State Rail Archives Art presentation of Navies Celebrations - Paul Cockram
Audio Recording - Combined Railway Unions Cultural Committee, presented by Railway Band Artwork presentation for the Rail Unions Cultural Committee Paul Cockram
Night Operator
Poem - “The Night Operator “-The Railway Budget, 1893.
This poem’s theme deals with the working life of early railway Signal and Telegraph Operators who provided the first telegraph services in Australia.
Photograph Night view of Sydney Railway Yard from early Signal Box, Copyright NSW State Rail Archives
Photograph Old Helensburg Signal Box, Sources: Maurie Mulheron, Signalbox section of Australian Railways Union, Copyright NSW State Rail Archives
Photograph Centralised Traffic Control Box Redern, Sources: Maurie Mulheron, Signalbox sec- tion of Australian Railways Union, Copyright NSW State Rail Archives
Photograph Old Helensburg Signal Box, Sources: Maurie Mulheron, Signalbox section of Australian Railways Union, Copyright NSW State Rail Archives
Photograph 2 Early Signal Box Sydney Yard, Sources: Maurie Mulheron, Signalbox section of Australian Railways Union, Copyright NSW State Rail Archives
Second Photograph Early Signal Box Sydney Yard, Sources: Maurie Mulheron, Signalbox sec- tion of Australian Railways Union, Copyright NSW State Rail Archives
Artwork Copies of early telegrams, Copyright NSW State Rail Archives Artwork presentation for the Rail Unions Cultural Committee Paul Cockram
Navvies
Poem - “The Navies”- Ralph Rogan
‘We blazed the long trail over mountains and plains
We bridged the wild torrent in flood.’
This panel says it all, about a breed of worker who came from the four corners of the earth to build our railways with little more than a pick and shovel, a few explosives and a modest amount of horsepower.
Photograph Horse Teams, Copyright NSW State Rail Archives, North Coast Collection
Trains of Treasure is a visual, musical and poetic history of Australian Railways that was prepared by the Combined Railways Unions Cultural Committee in 1985 with the support of the NSW State Rail Authority, the NSW Labor Council, and the Australia Council of the Arts.
Much of Australiaʼs social history and development over the last 200 years has been closely related to the history of its railways. From convict days, when human power was used to propel rail- way carriages at Port Arthur, to early steam rail openings, through two depressions, a general strike, two world wars and changing technologies, railway workers and those who used railway serv- ices have endured the good and the bad. While doing so, they have often reflected upon the mood of the time with music, songs, poems, tall stories and other art forms. Trains of Treasure brings some of this colourful history to life.
Production of Trains of Treasure
Under the supervision of the Combined Railways Union Cultural Committee, 26 visual display panels of artwork were produced by visual artist Paul Cockram. At the centre of each panel of artwork is an Australian Railway song or poem. The artwork in each panel illustrates the background in which the railway poem or song was written, with photographs and drawings.
These visual artwork themes of each panel are supported by two audio tapes, one of songs and poems (Trains of Treasure), the other of interviews with railway employees (Railway Voices).
Financial constraints in 1985 prevented the artist from producing a support copy or copies of the exhibitionʼs visual content.
In the case of the audio material, master audio recordings were created of performances of the songs and poems, as well as interviews with older railway employees.
Recognition of Copyright during the production of Trains of Treasure panels
Research for the content of the Trains of Treasure panels was conducted in several different ways.
Initial research for the historical songs, poems, and music was carried out by members of the “Sydney Bush Music Club”. This research was spearheaded by Brian Dunnett (MA Leisure Studies) and Denis Kevans (poet). They were assisted by music historian and folklorist John Meredith. Where possible the author of every song and poem used was identified and permission to use the particular item in the exhibition sought in writing.
Audio / CD Copyright
The full details of music, songs and poems used in the audio tapes of Trains of Treasure and Railway Voices, with their source and copyright details, was submitted to the Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society Limited in 1987. All copy- right was checked, and necessary royalties paid to writers, artists and performers.
When updating the recording Trains of Treasure from audio to CD quality, the copyright details were again submitted to Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society now administrated by the Australasian Preforming Rights Association (APRA), and the Copyright Agency Limited. Details of this are set in the cover con- tent of CD Trains of Treasure.
Copyright details for the updated CD of Railway Voices will have a similar copyright profile for the music, songs and poems, with the additional details of the copyright of the recorded interviews. See attached details of audio version of “Railway Voices”. The audio tape will be upgraded to CD as part of our current project.
Visual Material
Sources of the visual material used in the exhibition panels are:
State Rail Authority of NSW, who supported the project in 1985, had a well functioning archival section at the time Trains of Treasure was produced. Permission to use State Rail records was authorised by David Hill, SRA Chief Executive Officer. All copyright ownerships used from this source were fully recognised under the supervision of the archival section. David Hill appoint- ed two corporate officers with whom all material from State Rail sources was discussed. These two officers were Ian Campbell of State Railʼs Publicity section and Garry Barenthien, of the Corporate Display section. Independently of the SRA head office support for the project, several items were provided by the Railway Institute. See below for details of individual items used.
The Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, who hold numerous collections of historical material which was not available in the SRA Archives. Permission to copy and use was given by Baiba Berzins, Manager Australian Research Collection at the time. Some 26 items were covered, including many images that had been produced and published by the Railway Unions, whose historical records were given to the Mitchell Library for research purposes and safe keeping. Much of this is now in the public domain and not subject to a copyright fee and only requires acknowledgment of the Mitchell Library or the Australian Railways Union. See details below. Copies of our correspon- dence and that of the State Library are available for your information
Official Trade Union Publications were another major source of material. Much of this material was published over 50 years prior to the date of use in the exhibition. In cases of material published after 1935, many of the photographs used had been commis- sioned by the union concerned or the Labor Council of NSW.
Permission to use material from these source were given by:
The Metal Worker – Frank Bollins, NSW State Secretary, Amalgamated Metal Workers Union
The Railroad - Jim Walshe, NSW Secretary, Australian Railways Union
National Office News - Ralph Taylor, National Secretary, Australian Railways Union
Labor Council of NSW Archives - Norm Little, Labor Council Arts Officer
ETU News - Keith Challenger, Organiser, Electrical Trades Union
The Worker – the Secretary, Australian Workers Union
Locomotive Journal - Bernie Willingale, NSW Branch Secretary, Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen
In addition, some interstate material was supplied by the Queensland, Tasmanian and Western Australian Branches of the Australian Railways Union, with the assistance of the Rail Authority in each of those States. Correspondence from the Queensland Branch of Australian Railway Union and Queensland Minister for Transport is available.
Shop Committees and Rank and File Union Sources
A number of important items used in the exhibition came from the collection held by Combined Railway Unions Shop Committees and other union rank-and-file sources. For the purpose of copyright considerations, it should be noted that many of these organisations have since disappeared in the restructure of State Rail. At the time of production, many of these organisations carried out activities which they directly managed and financed. This involved the publication of leaflets, posters, newsletters and at one time their own news- paper, The Magnet.
At the time, researchers of Trains of Treasure had access to their records and were satisfied that these organisations either owned the copyright for all material used or provided other possible sources to investigated. Unfortunately these sources are now much harder to check or even to find, due to the massive changes in the railway industry and death of many of the participants. Where we were unable to establish or find the ownership of a particular item, we indicated our willingness to pay copyright to the copyright bodies by ( Control) system. Further, we emphasise that Trains of Treasure was a non-commercial exhibition produced to preserve the cultural history of Australian railway workers.
Custodians for these shop stewards committeesʼ collections and records at the time were:
Eveleigh Locomotive Shop Stewards Committee Custodian of Records, Vince Russo
Eveleigh Carriage Shop Committee Custodian of Records, Bob Wright
Chullora Locomotive Shop Stewards Committee Custodian of Records, Trevor Thorpe
ELCAR (Electrical Car Workshop Chullora) Shop Stewards Committee Custodian of Records, Ken Stokoe
Clyde Wagon Works Shops Stewards Committee Custodian of Records, Noel Treewick
DELEC (Diesel Locomotive Enfield) Shop Stewards Committee Custodian of Records, Harry Rogers
Much of the material once held by these committees has been deposited in the archives of the Australian National Library, Canberra and are available for research purposes.
More recent material from rank-and-file sources, like that of the ELCAR Camera Club that was established and financed by the Elcar Shop Stewards Committee, is clearly under copyright of the individual artist Bob Williams, who gave permission for use of the material in producing Trains of Treasure exhibition.
University of Newcastle - Denis Rowe (Archives Officer) supplied a photograph of the Murrurundi goods shed (1915) and permission to use it.
Department of Public Works - a copy of photograph of a flower festival held at the Railway Institute in 1891 and permission to use.
Mirror Australian Telegraph Publications - Photograph of Children at the Eveleigh Locomotive Picnic is owned by the Telegraph. A copyright fee was payed to use this photograph including Reproduction Fee, Authorised by B Mace. Copy available for your information.
John Fairfax and Sons Limited granted permission to use a photograph of Janet Oakden, the first woman to apply to become a Locomotive Driver, at Trades Hall, Footballer Frank Facer (for- mer Eveleigh worker) the Transport Institute Band, and 4 photos of Railway Workers participating in the wage protest of the early 1960s. Copy available for your information See further details below.
Oliver Strewe, 5/112 Campbell Pde, Bondi NSW - Reproduced photograph for Australian Workers Union who are owners of some of the material used in the 1917 Strike panel. See details below.
The 26 Individual Themes of the Exhibition and source details of song, poem, music, author, supporting artwork
Convict Power
Poem -“For the Company Under Ground”- Francis MacNamara 1813
Many Australians are surprised to find that Australia’s first passenger Railway was propelled by human power and not by steam. Convict poet Francis MacNamara who spent part of his sentence at Port Arthur tells us what it is like to work on such railway systems.
Image - C, Mundy, Our Antipodes, first published 1852, held by Mitchell Library Audio recording – Combined Railway Unions Cultural Committee, presenter D Kevans Artwork presentation for the Rail Unions Cultural Committee Paul Cockram
Early Openings
Music - “The Sydney Railway Waltz” - William Paling 1855
Openings of Australian steam railways in all states were grand occasions which were celebrated in different ways. The 1855 opening of the Sydney to Parramatta line saw large events both at the rail- way stations and the ballrooms of the city. Many a heart was broken dancing the night away to the Sydney Railway Waltz.
Music score - Mitchell Library
Photograph of W H Paling from the “History of Sydney”, George Forbes, 1926, permission of
Mitchell Library
Photograph / Sketch Lewisham – Summer Hill Viaduct, 1855 Copyright NSW State Rail Archives
Photograph Stone Masons Central Station, Copyright NSW State Rail Archives
Sketch Stone Masons Union Banner, 1855 Copyright Labor Council of NSW Archives
Photograph / Sketch Grand Opening Spencer St Station, 1855 Copyright Victorian Rail Archives
Portrait / Sketch William Sixsmith, Driver of first train, NSW, 1855 Copyright NSW State Rail Archives
Portrain / Sketch William Webster, Fireman of first train, NSW, 1855 Copyright NSW State Rail Archives
Photo / Sketch First Train Sydney – Parramatta, 1855 Copyright NSW State Rail Archives Art presentation of Navies Celebrations - Paul Cockram
Audio Recording - Combined Railway Unions Cultural Committee, presented by Railway Band Artwork presentation for the Rail Unions Cultural Committee Paul Cockram
Night Operator
Poem - “The Night Operator “-The Railway Budget, 1893.
This poem’s theme deals with the working life of early railway Signal and Telegraph Operators who provided the first telegraph services in Australia.
Photograph Night view of Sydney Railway Yard from early Signal Box, Copyright NSW State Rail Archives
Photograph Old Helensburg Signal Box, Sources: Maurie Mulheron, Signalbox section of Australian Railways Union, Copyright NSW State Rail Archives
Photograph Centralised Traffic Control Box Redern, Sources: Maurie Mulheron, Signalbox sec- tion of Australian Railways Union, Copyright NSW State Rail Archives
Photograph Old Helensburg Signal Box, Sources: Maurie Mulheron, Signalbox section of Australian Railways Union, Copyright NSW State Rail Archives
Photograph 2 Early Signal Box Sydney Yard, Sources: Maurie Mulheron, Signalbox section of Australian Railways Union, Copyright NSW State Rail Archives
Second Photograph Early Signal Box Sydney Yard, Sources: Maurie Mulheron, Signalbox sec- tion of Australian Railways Union, Copyright NSW State Rail Archives
Artwork Copies of early telegrams, Copyright NSW State Rail Archives Artwork presentation for the Rail Unions Cultural Committee Paul Cockram
Navvies
Poem - “The Navies”- Ralph Rogan
‘We blazed the long trail over mountains and plains
We bridged the wild torrent in flood.’
This panel says it all, about a breed of worker who came from the four corners of the earth to build our railways with little more than a pick and shovel, a few explosives and a modest amount of horsepower.
Photograph Horse Teams, Copyright NSW State Rail Archives, North Coast Collection
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