Mark Roberts #12 Slide 11 W44 Zinc Concentrate Train, Molong, NSW circa 1966

Zinc Concentrate Train, Molong

Almost a cliché those two huge steam engines

roaring through the level crossing 20 miles out of Molong.

A living thing, straining up the slight rise.

Behind them a snake line of covered wagons

disappearing behind the rocks. The gates of the crossing

closed though there were no cars on the road for miles. 

I stood with my family and Ida, Tom and Mill

watching from the gate keepers house. An old friend

of Tom's we had driven up for a visit.

Eating roast lamb and veggies 

between the W44 concentrate train

and the afternoon mail from Dubbo.