I have been trying to improve my use of the 'labels' feature of this blog, which makes searching easier for me if not for my readers. I was a bit surprised to find no fewer than 8 posts covering CPHs in whole or part. I guess it shows just what a versatile piece of rolling-stock they were/are.
This versatility is reflected in the following rather lengthy blog, as I attempt to post a bunch of previously unused shots of varying quality taken over a 45 year period. This period ended a decade ago and there are still a number of units plying their trade honourably around NSW's rail system.
I will start with a photo which I am guessing was a 'point and shoot at that' opportunity. Not sure who got this one - I was about 1 year old when 3268 and CPH 32 were photographed around Menangle in 1964.
About a decade later, CPH 34 was picked up arriving at Thirlmere with the shoppers' special in 1975. We were out there as Dad was helping to establish the RTM's site. This is one of his shots. I won't be posting my effort!
The following year Dad took a ride to Hay and return on a CPH. He still complains about the quality of the ride/seating.
Around 1980 I idly snapped this consist of CPH 22, a CTH and another CPH at Sutherland. It was idling, waiting for a near-clapped out Budd set to arrive. It was raining, which is also something you don't see much of these days.
This next one is also a point and shoot - from the road at Dunmore. Perhaps not the greatest composition but I have always liked railmotors being juxtaposed against the landscape.
One of the first CPHs to operate as a heritage item was CPH 6, photographed here in Dubbo on the long weekend in October 1985.
While some were in heritage operations, others were still trundling along in revenue service for the NSW Government. A grotty CPH 33 was providing hair/hare raising rides to Moss Vale at the time this photo was snapped in 1989.
In Easter 1994 CPH 24 and CPH 16 were to be found at Cowra.
CPH 18 can be found in 2019 trundling the Picton to Mittagong loopline. Here is, having just been returned to service, at Sydney Terminal at Central Station's 100th birthday celebrations on 5 August 2006.
Any review of tin hares must acknowledge the great work of the Railmotor Society in maintaining its collection of these beasts. Here are a couple at Maitland Steamfest in 2009.
Cheers!
Don
Over nearly a hundred posts on this blog I think I may have displayed a fairly parochial view of railways. To recompense, it may be time to display a broader horizon, starting with my various travels in the United States of America.
I have been there a fair few times - some might say a few too many times. Say what you want about the place, the central place of railroads in modern America has been a particular interest of mine. The first trip I made around the States taught me a lot about how big and different railroads were over there.
Growing up accustomed to an hourly freight train being a good day on many NSW lines, I remember being gobsmacked at the Transcon in western California and Arizona when first there in 1990. Seeing four, five and even six diesels sitting on 90mph pacing the Interstate was something you just didn't see anywhere in NSW at that time. With four mates, I did 4,000 miles over five weeks in December 1990. Scenes like the following were, to coin a phrase, a dime a dozen.
The States has many examples of railroad decay - though not as many in 2014 as they did in 1990. One Sunday morning in Alabama the rest of the touring party were in bed while I toured the former station at Montgomery - Amtrak had relocated to a utilitarian building adjacent to this majestic shed.
This was my first train trip in the States - 3 January 1991 on the Texas Eagle. Over the next eight days I travelled from Texas to Chicago, then to Portland Oregon on the Empire Builder, then back to LA on the Coast Starlight. A truly great experience, starting with this quick snap of me about to board in Austin on a freezing morning.
Later that day in Dallas I hopped off for a walk to find this crazy guy doing a few running repairs.
I actually managed to fluke a half decent shot of the Empire Builders crossing in the middle of Nowhere.
I saw the snow drifts build up to the window level, so the following shot was pretty mild.
Again, from the rear carriage of the Empire Builder... a view of Nowhere, next stop, Oblivion.
Will finish up with a couple of shots of the Starlight. The first from Oregon and the second much closer to southern California.
So its been nearly 25 years since my first trip Stateside. Over the next 100 blog posts I will try to bring you a few other half interesting shots from the Land of the Free.
Ciao!
