The Marulan and District Historical Society is hosting the Marulan part of the celebrations, with Bundanoon groups staging their contributions earlier in the day.

A train carrying dignitaries will arrive from Bundanoon at the Marulan Station at 12.13pm. Among those joining our celebrations will be The Honourable TF Bathurst AO, Lieutenant Governor of NSW and Mrs Bathurst, Goulburn MP Pru Goward, Howard Collins, OBE chief executive NSW TrainLink, Goulburn Mulwaree Mayor Bob Kirk and representatives of the local quarries and organisations.

The RSL Youth Choir, which includes local girl Georgie Baker from Tallong, will be on hand with members of local groups and the public at the railway station to greet the train as it arrives and start proceedings with the national anthem.

The railway gardens, tended by station master Frank Jordan and his wife, won prizes for many years in railway garden competitions. In later years these gardens have sadly become neglected but is it with great pleasure that we learn that NSW TrainLink and Sydney Rail have agreed to commence beautification and replanting of these gardens and hope to have great progress before the celebrations.

The two Boral South Marulan quarries have donated a granite rock to be placed in the garden outside the station, with a small plantation of trees and shrubs and the Lt Governor will unveil a plaque commemorating the occasion and plant a tree.

The party will then move to the Marulan Memorial hall, where displays of railway history from the towns of Penrose, Wingello, Tallong and Marulan will be staged.

The official party will then be invited to a lunch hosted by the Marulan and District Historical Society.

There will be market stalls, food and drink stalls, old engine displays, a replica train, jumping castle and many more fun events for everyone to participate in commencing from 10.30am Sunday.

The organisers are looking for a great turn-out from the community and further afield. Special trains have been organised for the day and everyone is welcome.

We’d love everyone to dress in period costumes and there will be prizes for the best costumes.

The Historical Society would like to hear from the community with any ideas, any names of former railway employees or any photographs or artefacts which could be borrowed and displayed on the day.

All are welcome and if you have any enquiries please contact either Russell Montgomery on 4841 0288 or Rosemary Turner on 0409 244 574.

August 6, 1868 was decided on as the opening date of the line terminating at Marulan to honour the 24th birthday of Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Alfred, second son of Queen Victoria.

He had recently been on an official tour of the colony and was seriously wounded by an Irishman, Henry James O’Farrell, whilst on a picnic at Clontarf in Sydney. The Duke recovered and returned to England although Henry O’Farrell didn’t fare so well as he was hanged for his actions.

“Three special trains were laid on for Marulan; the first starting at 8 o'clock in the morning with the members of the Ministry, a large number of the members of both branches of the Legislature, and other gentlemen; the second at half-past 8, with the civil servants of the Government and the third at 9, with the general public, for whom passages were provided at low fares. After various stoppages it reached at five minutes to 2 o'clock - an hour and a half later than it ought to have been,” The Daily Mail reported.

Fortunately, rail travel has improved somewhat since then.

“At Marulan a large number of people had assembled to witness the arrival of the first passenger train and it was evident from the display of bunting and other indications of rejoicing that the people of that exceedingly quiet place had aroused themselves to the importance of the occasion,” The Daily Mail of August, 1868 reported.

“The Ministers and other gentlemen present then proceeded to a large marquee, erected about a hundred yards from the station, in which an excellent luncheon had been prepared. Tables were laid for 150 persons, and about that number sat down.

“Amongst those present were Mr Henry Parkes, (Colonial Secretary), the Hon. T. A. Murray (President of the Legislative Council) Mr. WM Arnold (Speaker of the Legislative Assembly) Mr Wilson (Minister for Lands), Mr Eagar (Minister for Finance and Trade), Mr Docker (Postmaster-General), the Consul for France, the Consul for Spain, and Captain Montgomerie, of HMS Blanche.

“The Legislative Council was represented by six members and the Lower Chamber was represented by fourteen men. There were also present Professor Smith, Mr Whitton (Engineer in Chief for Railways), Mr C Moore (Mayor of Sydney), Mr E Manning, Mr John Fairfax, the Rev. John Graham, Mr GW Allen, Mr R Hill, Mr Francis Mitchell, Captain Purcell RA, Mr H Prince, Captain M'Lerie, Mr W Speer, and several of the city aldermen, besides a large number of other influential gentlemen.”

Many toasts were drunk to everyone from Queen Victoria onwards; these toasts were accompanied by speeches as to their reason, with return thanks involving lengthy flowery speeches praising all and sundry.

“A few minutes after 4 o'clock the Civil Service train was dispatched, and shortly afterwards that provided for the public. At half-past 6 o'clock the train with the Ministers and party left Marulan but in consequence of the want of that proper arrangement on the part of the traffic department which had marked the journey up, it did not arrive in Sydney till past midnight!

“At one part of the journey the train came to an absolute stoppage, where the incline was only one in 55, and there it remained until more steam was got up. It is to be deeply regretted that a trip which otherwise would have passed off most pleasantly should have been marred by the stupidity, or carelessness, or something worse, of those whose duty it was to provide an engine and engine drivers equal to this occasion. It is hardly necessary to add that the delays and slowness of the train were in no way chargeable upon any member of the Government,” the newspaper reported.