THERE'S a growing awareness out there of the importance of preserving our heritage so there was applause from all quarters with the announcement that the James Street railway viaduct has won a prestigious National Trust award.
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The triple arch sandstone viaduct dates back to the 1870s and is one of the oldest on the Sydney Trains network.
But it's one of those things that has always been there and the citizens that pass through the arches every day probably never spare a thought for its significance.
But not any more; now it's recognised with the same heritage status as other award winning railway icons.
Last year Sydney Trains invested around two million dollars in a lengthy upgrade that involved a specialist heritage stonemason.
Now the work on the viaduct has won the Conservation of Heritage category in the 2020 National Trust awards.
The work included a detailed cleaning of the 150 year old sandstone so that it positively glows in the sunlight and under its after dark floodlighting.
The floodlights themselves could do with a little adjustment though; on the northern side it seems to be tilted downwards and on the southern there's now a tree obscuring things.
A little landscaping to complete the job would be nice too.
Meantime we watch with interest another important railway heritage restoration currently under way on the landmark sandstone station that has highlighted Wallerawang's Main Street for generations.
Christmas specials
YOU really can get anything in stores in Lithgow.
On a billboard touting offerings outside a retailer in the Valley Plaza a sign 'Kids In Store'. No mention though of returns or refunds.
We've also noticed some early Christmas lights appearing around town. Good thing too; we could all do with a little light relief from the greyness of this year.
It's a good start
IT was a nice touch by Council to erect banners on power poles in Main Street praising the work of our volunteers, emergency services and other front line workers.
The fluttering pennants really do lift the CBD. Maybe it could be inspiration to do something long overdue about all of those 'naked' flagpoles around town, starting with Quota Park on the highway, moving on to the Masonic Memorial in western Main Street then the cenotaph in QE park.
A flagpole without a flag is just a one finger salute to the passing world.
Horror story
ANYONE who travels our roads has good reason to be horrified at news in recent days of an inter state truck driver pinged twice in a matter of hours for failing a drug test.
Positive to methamphetamine at Mt Boyce, banned from driving for 24 hours but a short time later arrested while attempting to evade police at Katoomba. Great. Being monstered by a tail gating huge rig with the driver affected by 'ce'. And they want to put even bigger buggers across the Mountains!.
