RailCorp may have railway signs for you!

Sydney Trains are embarking on a three-year station upgrade which involves replacing station signage across more than 187 stations by bounded Scone, Richmond, Bathurst, Carlingford, Goulburn, Bomaderry, Port Kembla, Cronulla and Bondi Junction.

Transport Heritage NSW (on behalf of Sydney Trains) is currently inviting preliminary submissions about how to best dispose of the surplus. While some signs will be acquired into the State-owned Movable Heritage Collection, the remainder may be made available for collection through an Expression of Interest (EOI).

Historical societies and museums with demonstrated collection policies addressing general transport or rail themes, or as part of a story relevant to their local area, are eligible to apply.

It’s a case of ‘speak now, or forever hold your peace’, as it’s a once-off chance to add a contemporary object to your collection. Get creative and think about how these signs could be used: in an education program, to modernise your rail display, and/or provide context about trends and changes in technology, design and transport.

Can you digitise and reproduce the signs on a postcard, or other locally-themed collateral that will brand your museum and attract visitors? Think about how you could use the items in branding your location, museum identity or Facebook page. Demonstrating innovative uses for the signs, as well as being able to demonstrate you can care for them in the expected manner, will boost your chances of acquiring one.

If the first phase of distribution goes ahead and it can be demonstrated that it has been successful, it might be possible to have it extended to NSW TrainLink stations further afield. So save this moveable heritage from the scrap heap and put your hand up now!

Request an EOI package by emailing Christian Fielder: christian.fielder@transportheritagensw.com.au.

Submissions from historical societies and museums close by COB 18 September.