Diversions on a wet afternoon

Just sitting here on the farm, watching the creek rise. Figured it was time to do something productive so I have dug up more photos from Phil Clarke's collection.  These first three date from January 1982 and are taken at Bellambi on the south coast (the station can be seen in the background).  First up, 42204 and a 44 on the down Intercapital Daylight Express to Melbourne - diverted down the Coast.

Wherever the Daylight goes, the Riverina Express follows (or precedes, can't remember which).  So here is a little DEB goodness. Bit of an eclectic mix here, livery wise.

Then finally, at approximately 10:50 am or so (the train was scheduled into Wollongong just before 11), a scheduled service with five Budds and a Tulloch making up the down morning South Coast Express.

Phil was pretty good at giving details on the back of his photos but this one he missed. Anyway its 42212 on an air-conditioned passenger somewhere in NSW or Victoria.

Anyway, back to watching the creek rise.

Cheers

Don

 

Tulloch time

No, not the race horse. But a small collection of air conditioned rail cars (later de-motored carriages) which were a delight to ride in. Introduced in 1971, their first duties were the Riverina Express from 1972.  I am pretty sure this following shot shows this working, which lasted only until mid-1973.  I have an 8 year-old's recollection that I was present for this shot too, but haven't the foggiest where it was taken.  I was probably wondering where my next Icy Pole was coming from.  My priorities haven't changed much since.

Like all duds, the Tullochs made their way to the Illawarra.  Here is a mid-1970s shot of a lone Tulloch being jostled through North Wollongong at the speed of sound.

In January 1982 members of a notorious NSW south coast model railway club attempted a feat so daring it has never been repeated. On this day, the evening up South Coast Daylight departed Bomaderry station with every financial member in the loco cab.  Here is a shot of the train before the front suspension on the loco was severely tested.

The Victorians did a nice V/Line version. Here is one kicking around Spencer Street Station (as it was called then) in 1992.

But it was in the de-motored era from December 1981 that Tulloch sets grew in fame or infamy.  They were rostered for the 4:33pm ex Central to Wollongong on weekdays.  If I got to work early, I could leave in time to get this service.  after half the train emptied at Sutherland, it was a very cruisy experience.

These next shots are of the Sunday service from Mount St Thomas, in days when I was brave enough or foolish enough to pull up on the highway. I liked photographing here, because the power lines ruin the shots. The first is from 1986.

This one from 30 January 1990.

And this is what made them beautiful - faux wood panelling. I am a child of the 1960s. From 19 January 1991.

This last shot was taken while I was in transit to Wollongong on a down service. To demonstrate the worthiness of of calling it an 'express service' I alighted at Wollongong, travelled by car to Bombo, then waited an eternity for this next shot.

We stuck around Kiama for the up service, and were rewarded with another candy 422 hauling a motley collection of passenger carriages.

Wouldn't mind a trip to Kiama on a Tulloch set. Especially with a cab full of enthusiasts up front.  

And that is enough from me this year. Compliments of the season to all readers!

Don

38s on the south

I think its about time to unleash a few more 38s on the populace.  In 1969 the Esteemed Eldest Paternal Uncle pointed his Mini Cooper S in the direction of the southern highlands to capture the beasts in the final days of working passenger trains in that area.  He came back with shots of 3811 and the sublime '13, so lets get into them...

First,3811.  I am not 100% on where these photos were taken and therefore their order so I'll post them and leave it at that.  I am not even sure this all happened on the same day. Anyway, here's a departure from Bargo.

Then at speed...

On the curve at Maldon.

And Menangle.

Now, to 3813.

And again at Menangle Bridge.

I try not to be too sentimental about life but its difficult to make an argument that progress has delivered a better result for those in the highlands in the current rollingstock offering...

Seeya!
Don

Rail cars over the back fence

Just a short one tonight as I am digging for other stuff but I did come across a few shots of diesel rail cars providing passenger services through North Wollongong.

This first one - I think - comes from the early 1980s.  It is a north-bound morning service.

Around the same time the repainted versions were appearing. This 4 car set carries the white ' reverse 7' logos, which made them go faster and not break down.

Once done with the reverse 7s, some sets got the 'reverse' paints job.  These ones went even faster.

Finally, the painters went for the fastest colours in their tins - red and orange. 

Sadly this did not further improve their speed or longevity.

Cheers,
Don

An afternoon's constitutional

About 30 years ago I lived adjacent to North Wollongong station for about six months. Despite nearly getting rattled out of bed every time something bigger than a CPH came through it was fine. It was in the last days of pre-electrification and everything was on the coast - 44s, 421s, 45s, 422s and 442s. Even the odd 80 and a myriad of 48s.  And the rolling stock - past condemnation. Squeaky, leaky and decrepit.

And I took nearly no photographs.

Except one afternoon when I should have been studying. And here are some of them.  It was probably early to mid 1985 and it was a dull, cloudy day. And the earthworks for the poles was complete so you knew everything was about to change.

I started my 'break' from study by hanging around the southern end of the down platform. Nipped off a few photos of a two car diesel headed north.

Keen eyed viewers will notice that the overhead pedestrian bridge has been lifted to accommodate the catenerary and that the poles have reached the station from the north.. 

Next through was 48101, a former Dubbo loco, with a four car suburban set.

I won't post two photos of every train, but I will post as many photos of that signal that I can. Its a ripper.

 
The final from this location was 4899 rolling with empty BHP BLXAs and Government CHs. It was probably headed off to Corrimal Colliery, from the look of the consist, The Gipps Road level crossing is still in operation, with a car scooting over the lines in the distance.

 
Then I took myself off to Victoria Street - after 30 years I can probably confess that I walked a direct line (if I could remember). It didn't seem like trespassing in those days. 

I had plonked myself on a bit of an embankment on the western side of the line near the old Federal Cokeworks but didn't get much passing traffic.  So after taking my life in my hands (by walking through the narrow Victoria Street road underpass) I ended up on the eastern side which had the original alignment for the Mount Keira coal mine tramway and the Shell fuel siding.  There was still an old water column still in evidence and the alignment can be made out, just.

Then it was back to photographing trains.  I didn't record the order and the negatives are gone, so here is just a selection. First, another two cr diesel set headed into Wollongong.

Candy 4808 on an up local passenger service. Its marker lights show how gloomy it really was.

4456 on a passenger service from Sydney. I love this shot as much for the semaphore signals as the train itself.

Another one of the signals, this time with 4860 on a local passenger.

Now for the last train - 4859 with a very short ballast.

 
I'll wrap things up with a final shot of the signals.

All in all, a very good walk.

Ciao for now!
Don

Orange

Just  back from a few days in the Central West of NSW, observing the near wipe-out of all railway infrastructure and operations in that region.  Nowhere is this scorched-earth policy more in evidence than at Orange.  Before I show a few shots of Orange over the years, its worth seeing what is left - the station and platform, two roads, the shed and the signal box in the distance.

It wasn't always this way - even fairly recently.  Here is a snap of 5390 shunting a packed Orange yard around 1970.

In the mid and late 1980s Orange was always worth a drop-by, although it was a lesser venue than Lithgow, Bathurst or Parkes.  For example, in October 1985 I found 8046 leading another 80 and a 48 on a Sydney-bound freight, with 7332 adjacent.

Even five years later in August 1990 the Dubbo fuel train was often a daytime visitor.

It wasn't all freights -  Orange was 'home' to the Silver City Comet.  In the next three photographs it is seen in Orange in May 1977, May 1978 and at the end of its days - in June 1988.

 

  

The Comet was the signature rail service, but from the late 1970s the Central West Express became an XPT service.  Four years later we snapped one such service on the outskirts of Orange.

And to wrap up this installment,HPC 402 was caught at Orange station on 25 March 1993 during its numerous trips to the region when involved in radio testing for the then State Rail Authority.

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Will take a 'now and then' look at Orange East Fork in the near future.

Tin hares in the Illawarra

Continuing with the broad South Coast theme, though diverging from North Wollongong at times, its time to take a peak at the CPH rail motor class. Known affectionately these days as 'tin hares', their ubiquitous presence on Illawarra passenger services in the 1970s and early 1980s produced less affection.

Built for low level passenger demand on light regional and rural branch lines, their deployment on standard commuter services was a travesty. Linked into multiple workings, set on tight timetables and expected to carry full passenger loads during peak times at the end of their working life, they produced an unacceptably inferior service for South Coast passengers during the decade prior to electrification.

Enough grizzling; lets see what they looked like from the outside. Here is your standard 4 car working, roaring northwards to... surprise surprise... North Wollongong.

That train would have been off to Waterfall, where everyone would have tumbled out into a suburban electric service to complete the trip to the State capital.

In this next shot, CPH 5 leads two sisters into North Wollongong station, in early 1985. This train was actually the first service out of Wolllongong after a particularly protracted strike. From memory it was nearly a week's duration.

Moving away from Norff Gong, it is time to head to the place where it all happened, Wollongong itself.  At Wollongong loco depot, two hares slowly baste in the afternoon sun.

On duty in Wollongong east Dock is CPH 37 with a sibling. These were headed up the escarpment to Moss Vale, though it was relatively rare for double CPHs to work up the hill.

As if proof was needed, here is the same train actually on the climb to Dombarton.

Returning to the prosaic, here is another 4 car consist, going away from the Port Kembla terminus.

And to finish up, two shots from up the line. The first is a cracker of CPH 32 heading north with two others in tow. This photo is so good it doesn't deserve to be in our collection, which suggests it was knocked off the internet and inadvertently classified as one of ours. I certainly have no recollection of taking it. To the unknown photographer, apologies.

Finally, this one comes from an earlier period. CPHs top and tail a CTH trailer car into Helensburgh, with a Wollongong-bound service.

Until next time!