18 October 2026
► EVENTS on 18 OCTOBER;
On this day in 1869 in Lithgow, New South Wales – The ZigZag Railway, on the western side of the Blue Mountains, was opened to provide rail access between Sydney and inland districts. It was regarded as a major engineering achievement at the time, but operating difficulties influenced a decision to construct a bypass line in 1908.
The Zig Zag railway closed upon completion of the bypass in 1910.
In 1972 a volunteer group was established to re-lay the track on the Zig Zag railway, but difficulties in obtaining locomotives and rolling stock from the New South Wales railways led to a decision to use a gauge of 3ft 6ins, as used in Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia, to allow use of stock from those States.
1922, London, England – The British Broadcasting Company (now a Corporation) was founded by a consortium with the aim of establishing a network of radio transmitters to provide a national broadcasting service.
1926, St Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. – BORN, Charles Edward Anderson Berry alias Chuck Berry. He became a pioneer of rock and roll music with songs such as Maybelline (1955), Roll Over Beethoven (1956), Rock and Roll Music (1957) and Johnny B Goode (1958), Died 2017.
1931, West Orange, New Jersey, U.S.A. – DIED, Thomas Alva Edison, aged 84. He was an inventor, scientist, and businessman who developed many devices which influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb.
1937, Darwin, Northern Territory – Jean Batten arrived in Darwin to set a new England to Australia flight record of 5 days, 18 hours and 15 minutes.
1966, Manhattan, New York, U.S.A. – DIED, Florence Nightingale Graham alias Elizabeth Arden, aged 87. She was a Canadian businesswoman who built a cosmetics empire in the United States. At one time, she was one of the world’s wealthiest women.
1967, The Soviet space probe Venera 4 entered the atmosphere of the planet Venus and became the first spacecraft to analyse the atmosphere of another planet. It returned a reading of mostly carbon dioxide, with a few percent nitrogen and less than one percent oxygen and water vapour.
* 2000, Encino, California, U.S.A. – DIED, Gayle Peck alias Julie London, aged 74. She was a jazz and pop singer and actress renowned for her smoky, sensual voice. She released 32 albums during the 1950s and 60s, with her signature song being Cry Me A River.
Today’s photo: – Sorell Creek, near New Norfolk. (Yours Truly)
| TRACK | RELEASE YEAR | PLAY TIME | NUMBER OF PREVIOUS PLAYS | YEAR LAST PLAYED |
| Damian Davis – When The Roses Bloom Again | 2026 | 06:07 | 1 | 2026 |
| John R Cockburn – Broken | 2026 | 06:11 | 3 | 2026 |
| Mikey Mc – Livin’ On Love | 2026 | 06:15 | 0 | Debut |
| Vintage Vinyl + Tommy Edwards – It’s All In The Game | 1958 | 06:20 | 6 | 2024 |
| + Roger Williams – Young And Warm And Wonderful | 1958 | 06:23 | 0 | Debut |
| Scott Dann – If I Were You | 2026 | 06:27 | 0 | Debut |
| Acker Bilk – A Hundred Years From Today | 06:32 | 3 | 2026 | |
| Dale Duncan – The Grit Of The Ghan | 2026 | 06:36 | 0 | Debut |
| Chuck Berry – Roll Over Beethoven | 1956 | 06:42 | 2 | 2020 |
| Brandon McPhee – Echoes Of My Mind | 2026 | 06:46 | 0 | Debut |
| For A Listener: Winifred Atwell – The Black And White Rag | 1952 | 06:49 | 14 | 2026 |
| Shaza Leigh – To Live In Love And Light | 2026 | 06:52 | 3 | 2026 |
| Bill Nadeau – Georgina | 2026 | 06:56 | 0 | Debut |
| M J Kay – She Showed Up | 2026 | 07:06 | 1 | 2026 |
| HAZEL & The Thief – The Magic Of The Country | 2026 | 07:12 | 0 | Debut |
| Niamh Lynn – Before The Next Teardrop Falls | 2026 | 07:15 | 1 | 2026 |
| For A Listener: Gary Puckett & Union Gap – Young Girl | 1968 | 07:21 | 8 | 2021 |
| Sound of the 70s + Daniel Boone – Beautiful Sunday | 1972 | 07:24 | 26 | 2025 |
| + Simon & Garfunkel – Cecilia | 1970 | 07:27 | 4 | 2025 |
| Billy Vaughn & His Orchestra – Roses Are Red | 07:33 | 2 | 2021 | |
| Julie London – More Gayle Peck alias Julie London, died this day 2000, aged 74. | 07:37 | 3 | 2025 | |
| Bohemian Rogue – Days On The Green | 2026 | 07:41 | 4 | 2026 |
| Diamond 45 Charting on this day 1966 + Gene Pitney – The Boss’ Daughter | 1966 | 07:47 | 8 | 2026 |
| + Left Banke – Walk Away Renee | 1966 | 07:50 | 1 | 2026 |
| Dermot O’Hara – Rhinestone Cowboy | 2026 | 07:55 | 3 | 2026 |
| Elisabeth Grey – Don’t Stop The Dancing | 2024 | 08:05 | 3 | |
| For A Listener: Foster & Allen –Rose Of My Heart | 08:10 | 35 | 2026 | |
| COMFORT ZONE – Familiar artists/Familiar songs + Mark Holden – A White Sport Coat | 08:15 | 2 | 2019 | |
| + Jim Reeves – It’s Nothing To Me | 08:17 | 4 | 2022 | |
| Victoria Eman – Lieve Ma Lieve Toos | 2026 | 08:23 | 0 | Debut |
| LaCosta Tucker – It Matters To Me | 2026 | 08:30 | 0 | Debut |
| Hank Levine & Gaslight Band – The Golden Wedding | 08:36 | 4 | 2016 | |
| Diamond 45 – Charting on this day 1966 + Seekers – Walk With Me | 1966 | 08:41 | 7 | 2026 |
| + Gerry & Pacemakers – Girl On A Swing | 1966 | 08:44 | 7 | 2026 |
| Simon Orton – Davey’s Story | 2026 | 08:48 | 2 | 2026 |
| Ray Malcolm – Before The Next Teardrop Falls | 2026 | 08:52 | 6 | 2026 |