21 September 2025
Valley Sunrise Edition 852
0600 ~ 0900 AEST
During this edition, two chart-busters each hour, from the Top 40 charts of this week in 1971 and a mix of recent tracks from indie artists and other easy-listening music which you won’t hear on mainstream radio.
► Today’s photo – On the evening of 20 September, 1893, Drama on the Tasmanian main line railway, when an attempt was made to derail the Launceston – Hobart express train on the Horseshoe Bridge, near Brighton.
The culprit had, apparently, intended to send the entire train over the edge of the bridge, into a deep gully; an act which, if successful, would have caused major loss of lives.
The fireman slipped from the locomotive cab, but saved himself at the last moment, by grabbing an outside handrail.
All three crew (driver, fireman and guard) were later commended for safely assisting all passengers off the bridge in the darkness. Being a railway-only bridge, there was no decking, just a void between each sleeper. Very few passengers were injured; those who were, sustained minor cuts.
The next day, a large team of gangers had the unenviable job of retrieving the train. One of their number was fatally injured when two trolleys collided in nearby Bridgewater, the next day.
A local resident, Charles Briggs, was arrested on, what would today be regarded as circumstantial evidence, imprisoned and sent for trial.
The jury couldn’t arrive at a unanimous verdict, so Briggs was returned to prison to face a second trial the following year.
The second jury was also undecided. This was fortunate for Briggs, because if either jury had made a “guilty” verdict, he would’ve certainly had an appointment with an executioner.
As it was, he then walked free.
So, the mystery remains, to this day. Guilty, or not guilty? If he wasn’t guilty – who was? And, why?
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► BORN on this day in 1931, in Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.A. – Larry Martin Hagman, film and television actor, producer and director famous for his roles as oil tycoon J.R. Ewing in the 80s television soap opera Dallas. Died 2012.
► DIED on this day in 1936 in Maghull, Liverpool, England – Frank Hornby, English businessman, politician, and inventor of Meccano and Hornby model trains. Aged 73.
► DIED on this day in 1974 in Oxnard, California, U.S.A. – Walter Brennan, actor who was frequently cast in roles of characters considerably older than he actually was, due to various personal characteristics, including his unusual vocal intonations. He also released several records during the early 1960s, including Old Rivers, The Epic Ride of John H Glenn, and Don’t Go Near The Indians. Aged 80.
Photographer unknown.
Today’s Playlist (V S):
| TRACK | RELEASE YEAR | TIME | PREVIOUS PLAYS | LAST PLAYED |
| British Jigsaw – Sky High | 1975 | 06:06 | 0 | |
| Charting this day 1971 Daddy Cool – Eagle Rock | 1971 | 06:13 | 6 | 11/11/2022 |
| Charting this day 1971 Johnny Chester – Gwen Congratulations | 1971 | 06:17 | 4 | 10/11/2019 |
| Manfred Fartek – Der Platz an Meiner Seite | 2025 | 06:21 | 0 | |
| No Promises – Underground | 2025 | 06:24 | 0 | |
| Andy Williams – Here There And Everywhere | 06:30 | 0 | ||
| James Last Orchestra – Intermezzo | 06:35 | 2 | 17/1/2016 | |
| Foster & Allen – All Kinds Of Everything | 06:40 | 0 | ||
| Elisabeth Hope – Beneath Still Waters | 2025 | 06:43 | 0 | |
| Vintage Vinyl Platters – Only You | 1955 | 06:50 | 4 | 8/12/2023 |
| Billy Fury – A Thousand Stars | 06:55 | 4 | 22/6/2025 | |
| Daniel O’Donnell – Da Doo Ron Ron | 06:59 | 5 | 6/3/2020 | |
| Al Martino – Volare | 07:05 | 1 | 23/3/2025 | |
| By Request: Bobby Darin – Mack The Knife | 07:11 | 2 | 28/2/2016 | |
| Charting this day 1971 Tony Christie – I Did What I Did For Maria | 1970 | 07:15 | 5 | 17/11/2023 |
| Charting this day 1971 Dusk – I Hear Those Church Bells Ringing | 1970 | 07:19 | 7 | 19/10/2018 |
| By Request: Judith Durham – Memories | 1968 | 07:23 | 8 | 16/4/2023 |
| By Request: Elvis Presley – Way Down | 07:26 | 5 | 20/7/2025 | |
| Kamahl – Old Toy Trains | 07:30 | 2 | 21/9/2014 | |
| By Request: Ferrante & Teicher – Sunny | 07:34 | 2 | 11/6/2017 | |
| Vintage Vinyl Tommy Sands – I Know About The Bees | 1954 | 07:38 | 0 | |
| Lyndel Lucas – Country-Livin’ | 2025 | 07:39 | 0 | |
| Walter Brennan – Don’t Go Near The Indians | 1962 | 07:44 | 4 | 21/9/2018 |
| Sisters In Country – If That’s The Way You Want It | 2025 | 07:47 | 0 | |
| Mark Griffin – Taking Over My Mind | 2025 | 07:52 | 0 | |
| Tex Ritter – Deck of Cards | 1948 | 07:55 | 3 | 15/10/2017 |
| Lionel Richie – Tonight Will Be Alright | 2025 | 08:05 | 1 | 17/8/2014 |
| Charting this day 1971 Susan Raye – L A International Airport | 1971 | 08:14 | 9 | 8/10/2023 |
| Charting this day 1971 Dave Mills – Love Is A Beautiful Song | 1971 | 08:16 | 5 | 14/10/2022 |
| Anthony Baxter – Top Of The World | 2025 | 08:22 | 1 | 12/9/2025 |
| Lily-Grace Grant – Permanent Scar | 2025 | 08:25 | 0 | |
| Great Grand-Pop Dick Powell & Lou Forbes Orchestra – Have You Got Any Castles Baby | 1937 | 08:34 | 0 | |
| Henry Mancini Orchestra – The Thorn Birds Theme | 08:39 | 1 | 2/10/2015 | |
| Lisa Crouch – I Love You More | 2025 | 08:43 | 0 | |
| Ray Malcolm – The Answer To Everything | 2025 | 08:46 | 1 | 19/9/2025 |
| Vintage Vinyl Buddy Holly – Heartbeat | 1959 | 08:51 | 6 | 7/9/2025 |
| Mel Tillis & Sherry Bryce – Don’t Let Go | 1974 | 08:54 | 4 | 5/9/2021 |
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