XPTs, Act II

Here is the next XPT installment, starting around 1992. 

1992NP067A 2 car diesel set and the North XPT eye each other off at Maitland on 22 August 1992.

The up Riverina XPT rests for a moment at Moss Vale in 1992.

On 25 March 1992 the down West XPT nears Spring Hill.  Thank you work for sending me to the country on this day.

The up Muwillumbah XPT rolls across the bridge just north of Gloucester on 11 February 1993.  This is one of my favourite train watching locations.

Getting bored yet? I will try to mix it up a bit.

Here's an XPT at platform 16 at Central, due to close-down of the Sydney Terminal yard, on 1 October 1994.

Another one of my favourite places - Urunga, late 1994.

And the big thing that happened to the XPT in the 1990s was that it went south - sadly replacing the loc hauled overnight trains.  But I rode it anyway.

Here's A76 and the XPT at Spencer St Station on 2 August 1994.

And two days later... the City of Cootamundra soon to depart.

Cheers!

Don

Orange was the new black at Spencer Street in 1993

I have never been a big fan of the V/Line livery, though as it recedes into history I am more inclined to appreciate for its 80s ambience.

I got to see a fair bit of V/Line orange in the early 1990s, thanks to my employer (the NSW Government) insisting on sending me to Melbourne for long stretches to partake in various legal proceedings. I wasn't the defendant in these proceedings either, for the record.

I was never silly enough to admit I simply loved these trips - so they kept sending me.  But it was the best of times - breakfast at Pelligrinis, a race around Melbourne's hobby shops at lunchtime, afternoons watching trains roar into and out of Spencer Street station, plus the bonus of pre-XPT rail travel to and from Victoria. If I stayed down over a weekend there were tram rides, footy games with real pies and beer and a pretty good nightlife.  A Sunday stroll out to Dynon was always worth it too.  

Anyway, little wonder that the following photos taken on 7 June 1993, a mere 28 years ago now, feel just like a couple of years ago.  This particular trip was a quickie - down on the night of the 6th of June and return the next. I failed to photograph the 81 or G on the MEX, but I did get Y150 shunting the bum of the train as I headed off to work.

In the opposite direction, A66 temporarily diverted this public servant from the intended purpose of his trip.

The afternoon was pretty productive.  In no particular order I managed to photograph A70 on an up Ballarat train.

I always liked the way the trains needed double-stacking at Spencer Street.  I have this next photo recorded as N469 on a Geelong train, with P20 behind it.

And P20 for posterity.

I could never hang out to departure time to eat in the Sydney Express's dining car, so usually dinner was taken at Spencer Street's fairly ordinary dining room, or in a local hotel.  I managed to butcher this photo of A60, seemingly newly repainted, on the 6:25pm Bairnsdale train.  Probably shaking from cold or hunger, or both.

Returning from dinner there was a very pleasant surprise.  R766 rolled in on the 'Just Jeans Special'.  It was the first time I had seen a R class in steam up close.  A very impressive sight.

And then it was off to bed, which was someone down the back of this following train.  8166 was the less than glamorous power up front, but it did its job.

Not a bad day at the office.

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

Southern sojourn, 1957 style

Who doesn't love a Victorian holiday? I know I love the opportunity to go somewhere where you can talk footy 24 hours a day and not appear deranged, and to drink beer from ridiculously small glasses. And to photograph at manly, ferocious-looking locomotives.

In this blog posting it seems I can confirm our Mr Brady also enjoyed a trip to Victoria.  He took one in May 1957, covering Melbourne, Ballarat and Maryborough. As you readers know as much or more of those parts as I do, I won't attempt extensive captions... just sit back and scroll to your delight!

Two of L1162 ...

 

Steam power!!! 

 

And what I am guessing is a near new B class?

And to finish up - a pretty self-explanatory situation involving a tram and a large block of cheese.

 

Cheers!
Don

Albury town

A Wednesday lunchtime contribution... working from home has its advantages/distractions. 

As another distraction,I thought I would start an occasional series of location reviews, using an alphabetical sequence.  You can look forward to Zig Zag appearing on this blog - but not yet as I am staring at the other end. If I have them, I will post up to 5 shots of the particular location... might need to be a few roughies so bear with me.

So, A for Albury. The next five shots have one thing in common - they leave the viewer with the impression that Albury was a busy and crowded yard once.

I am going to start in black and white from one of Dad's Nurail trips he took while he left me in primary school around 1975 (thanks Dad, that extra 2 weeks of education certainly paid dividends).  This is an early morning shot of 4416 (or 4418) with what passed for the Riverina Express that day - it looks like 3 cars was considered sufficient to manage the patronage that day. A 421 is ready to follow the Riv north, while an interstater is ready to cross the border.

Now, three shots, all from 1983 I think, if memories and notes are accurate. Here is a basking 42105 and 4894.

(From memory) the following day  42202 and X44 rumbled by Albury signal box.

One the same day, the 40s appeared - X40 and a freshly candied 44240 sharing the platform roads.

And finally, never let it be said big engines don't shunt. Here's 8133, a shunter's float and van, going about their daily duties around 1985.

Will be back with the Bs soon (I hope).

Don

Junior's efforts Part II

I just came across a small pile of digital files (if digital can be stacked) from Junior's rail travels about a decade ago.  Damn child always had a better eye for things - and a better camera - so these are a standard above the usual shown on this blog.   

First up a couple of West Ryde visitors.  Silverton's 442s6 leads 4872 and 442s3 on 1441 up containers at West Ryde on 23 January 2006.

A bit later on on the same day the pleasing combination of JL404, 4472, 4458 and 4488, passed through the same location with 4168 up LVRF containers. Good to note that all bar 4472 are still trawling around pretty regularly.

Over to Marrickville now to find 4833 coming up the grade with an XPT carriage in tow on 1 May 2006.

Down south to Maldon for the afternoon steelie with NR7 and NR113 up front on 13 July 2006.

Further south to Werai this time NR113 is leading another NR and another on 27 April 2006.

Over to the coast for 2204, 2208 and semi-obscured 3102 on a down ARG flour at Scarborough on 13 December 2007.

Moving over the border and forward two years to April 2008 the lad was track side at Tottenham to get NR79.

And NR75 around the same area.

And then he started photography of ballast - which led him ultimately to a science degree with a geology major, but that is another story.

More ballast - at night - at Goobang Junction.

I will sign off with his shot of the crossing arm at Koolewong crossing going up or down.

Cheers!
Don