The group’s secretary and treasurer Faye Simpson said volunteers were at the site on Saturday cleaning a tanker in preparation for repainting. When they turned up on Sunday to continue their work they found a window had been smashed in the lever room on the platform to the main station buildings.

Considering the group funds itself by a monthly barbecue that raises $80 each time, the $500 bill is a lot of ground to make up.

Mrs Simpson said to say the volunteers were angry and disappointed was an understatement.

“We are only a small group and we have been working on restoring the Bombala Railway since 2012,” she said.

 “In that time we have purchased rolling stock, we’ve cleaned up the land and the rails and maintained the grass and mowing, and we’re now in the process of doing up the rolling stock.”

The matter has been reported to Bombala police.

“We were very upset but by the end of Sunday we had nearly finished undercoating the fuel tanker so that lifted our spirits a bit.”

The group opens the railway from time to time, showing people through and informing them about the history of the line that has been closed since 1986. 

The Friends of Bombala Railway hold their barbecue on the first Saturday of every month at the information centre and welcome support from the public.

Faye and Allen Simpson would also like to invite anyone who would like to join their small but dedicated group of  volunteers: please call 64584426

You can also like Friends of the Bombala Railway on facebook.