Exhibition: Railway Portraits - Lovett Gallery

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Wed 26 Feb 2025

Way back in the swinging 1960s, two adventurous teenagers named Robert and Bruce Wheatley decided that the world of NSW railways was their oyster, thanks to some surprisingly chill parents. With backpacks stuffed with snacks and a bit of spare change for emergency ice creams, they hopped on every train they could find. They crashed in railway waiting rooms, hitched rides on goods trains like they were auditioning for a countryside version of Mad Max, and eventually worked their way up to joining the crew in the cab. Oh, and they didn't forget to take along a trusty 35mm camera to capture all the mischief, leaving us a glorious collection of candid snaps from the last days of steam power.

This exhibition is plucked right from the first five volumes of the Wheatley brothers' beloved Railway Portraits series. It showcases a range of their photographs, many of which highlight the unique people, picturesque places, and those iconic locomotives dotting Newcastle and the Hunter Valley. And guess what? Entry won't cost you a dime. The exhibition opens its doors on 18 March 2024 and can be browsed whenever the Local History Library is open. If the brothers' stories reel you in, you can snag a ticket to their Book Launch for Volume Six on 15 November at Newcastle (City) Library and dive even deeper into their railway adventures.

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