THANKS BUT I’LL SKIP THE HIDDEN GEMS THIS TIME.I JUST WANT TO CHECK OUT THE BOOKS
CONTACT US
HERE ARE SOME OF THE GEMS
READ THE EPIC OF PERCY BROOKFIELD
The shooting of Percy Brookfield at the Riverton Railway Station in 1921 has been claimed that it was Australia’s first political assassination. John researched this extensively in his 2018 book, The Riesling Railway.
WATCH THE EPIC OF PERCY BROOKFIELD
A joint production by Sarlines Railway Books and Blue Goanna Digital.
The historical material was researched and written by John Wilson. This topic was originally presented within the 2018 publication, The Riesling Railway.
This audio-visual presentation has been produced in September 2024 by Stu Nankivell. Duration 8 minutes. This work is copyright but permission is freely granted for reproduction of the printed and audio versions provided there is no alteration and that appropriate acknowledgement is made.
LISTEN TO JOHN’S ABC RADIO INTERVIEW ABOUT THE SHOOTING
A Tribute to Bob the Railway Dog. This is a video of 38 minutes and a history of Bob, who rode the trains in South Australia from 1884 to 1895. There have been other railway dogs in the world but none with adventures as many and varied as those of our Bobs. We believe that Bob’s story is begging to be made into a full-length movie or a television series. We have made submissions to producers and are moving forward with this. There is Bob’s song that was composed as a simple melody in the style of an Irish jig by Glen Hadden. This melody appears in different themes and the video finishes with two (synthesised) orchestrations by Miho Nankivell.
THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF RAILWAY BOB
A work of historical fiction by John and Patricia Wilson. Each chapter is equivalent to an episode of a television series. There are two chapters that can be downloaded.
THE BREAK OF GAUGE – A SOCIAL HISTORY
For practical purposes this book is out of stock. We had invited expressions of interest with the view to doing a reprint later in 2024, but the response had fallen far short of what we need to commit to a reprint. We are holding a very few of these books for supply to researchers and libraries. There is an 8 minute promotional video that we have retained for historical purposes. There are three chapters that are significant and have turned upside down previous tenets about Australia’s railway gauge problem. These chapters may be freely downloaded. Chapter 3 deals with the rift in the early 1850s between New South Wales and the colonies of Victoria and South Australia. Chapter 4 deals with the origin of the 3 ft 6 in gauge in Queensland, and presents evidence that Abraham Fitzgibbon, who was responsible for that, was an incompetent engineer. Chapter12 is the longest chapter and is significant in the history of the break-of-gauge as it explains the failure by the fathers of Federation to include the railways.
Positive reviews are in!
Judy Brewer Fischer
I have had a deeply moving letter on behalf of Tim’s family. I asked permission to include it on this page, to which Judy replied: I would prefer not to have it reproduced as they were words meant just for you from the heart, if that’s okay. Agreed!
Des Smith
There are very few chapters where Des Smith, former Chief Civil Engineer of Australian National Railways does not get a look in and I had fed him the chapters as I completed them.
I have had the opportunity to preview of most of the individual chapters one by one. I took the book away on our 2-week houseboat trip and read through every word. Have put it aside and will do it again later. My immediate impression was how well it all came together as a coherent and interesting (if lamentable) story. There must be many who would want to have it, but I don’t know how to find them. For a start, it should be compulsory reading for all with political aspirations and educators in any transport subject.
M T. (A former locomotive inspector of Regional NSW)
I have just finished your Break-of-Gauge book and found it fascinating, it must have been interesting doing the research for the book, it just shows how useless and short sighted politicians have been…. Anyway thanks for such a great book.
Nick Anchen Ferntree Gully Vic
This extensive and detailed publication examines one of the most convoluted and embarrassing chapters in Australia’s history-namely the great railway gauge shambles The American author Mark Twain famously declared in 1890 upon changing trains at Albury in the wee hour: think of the paralysis of in intellect that gave that idea birth. Indeed a truly fascinating read.
Professor Geoffrey Blainey Melbourne Vic
John Hearsch of the Rail Futures Institute in Melbourne had referred me to The Royal Historical Society of Victoria which had kindly passed on a copy of the book to Professor Blainey, who is now in his 90s. I am proud to admit that my approach to history has been influenced by Blainey’s style, such as The Tyranny of Distance, The Rush That Never Ended, The Rise of Broken Hill. His letter is short but to the point. Congratulations on your eye-opening book. I am reading it with keen interest You have acquired so much knowledge on your theme. Best wishes, Geoffrey Blainey.
C H Adelaide CBD
What a Triumph! Dear John. I must tell you that I think ‘Break of Gauge’ is magnificent! It is of course an admirably in-depth exposition of matters narrow-gauge and the SAR, but it is also the pizzazz factor that makes it such a pleasant read — you have lifted the story from that of a typical railway history to a lively “fireside chat”, with all your side observations and other techniques by which you convey such a sense of fun. And your long experience of railway matters really shows.
B.S. Balwyn Vic
A comic and tragic tale of the appalling government stupidity exposed for all to see. Brilliant work John!
T. V. Adelaide Metro
A great read. Should be compulsory reading for all politicians as it explains how poor political decisions have resulted from following advice of highly-paid self-proclaimed experts, often with their own personal agenda…have provided short term savings but had long term social and economic costs.
I. J. Strathalbyn SA
I have found your books easy to read and understand, as there is a good balance between sufficient content to get the message across without labouring the point. And I like your wordsmith style of using common words tinged with some mild good Aussie idioms and slang. Obviously, you do a lot of research on the history and there never seems to be any gaps in a story or the reader is left hanging because something is missing. Your books are always a delight to read and I always look forward to them.
THE OVERLAND – A SOCIAL HISTORY
There is a very detailed synopsis.
Greg Judd
Greg has done many of the caricatures for the Sarlines books over the years. There is a video featuring Greg talking about these works, and particularly, the piece that featured on the front end-papers of the train to Oodna Woop Woop. The original has been donated to the Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society with the intention that it be auctioned. The video was done in August 2023. Greg passed away on 10 April 2024.
Olivia Savvas MP in the House of Assembly
Olivia is in praise of our efforts to get ‘Bob the railway dog’ up as a movie.
The naming of The Ghan
The popular version is that The Ghan was named in 1929 in honour of the Afghan Cameleers who provided the transport to the outback before the coming of the railway. But that is total fiction. It had its origins in 1923 when a sleeping car was added to the fortnightly Oodnadatta ‘express’. As the railway workers stood around at the Quorn Railway Station to see who was aboard, there was a solitary Afghan. The comment was made by one Ernie Smith. “Strewth! If that is all that is travelling we’ll have to call it the Afghan Express”.
Kane of Kane’s Trains
in a short video about wheel squeal on railway curves.
An interview with Des Smith
A video produced by Kane of Kane’s Trains. Des was formerly the Chief Civil engineer for Australian National Railways. He was in charge of the construction of the Tarcoola to Alice Springs railway, opened in 1980. Des talks about concrete sleepers and has some stories about the old narrow gauge railway to Alice Springs.
Our Next Book
A follow up to the Amazing Adventures of Railway Bob. Title yet to be advised. It will contain chapters Bob at Bugle Ranges and Bob Riding the Cockle Train.
Other publications by Sarlines Books