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Re: Canb - Syd Sightings: 29/02/2000
Aus loco discussion mailing list
When I started hols there were 4 speed restricions between Bundanoon and
Moss Vale on the Up (and 2 on the down). 1 of which is 40kph through
Exeter's Up platform. So much for concrete sleepered track being better
than wooden sleepered track.
On the south Danny
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan Thompson" <athomp@speedlink.com.au>
To: "Aus loco discussion mailing list" <Ausloco@listbot.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2000 8:23 PM
Subject: Re: Canb - Syd Sightings: 29/02/2000
> Aus loco discussion mailing list
>
> Too many speed restrictions on the South
> Alan
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Melanie J. Dennis <meld.asg@netspeed.com.au>
> To: Aus loco discussion mailing list (E-mail) <Ausloco@listbot.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2000 3:47 PM
> Subject: Canb - Syd Sightings: 29/02/2000
>
>
> > Aus loco discussion mailing list
> >
> > Canb - Syd Sightings: 29/02/2000 - Once in a BlueMoon....
> >
> > With Countrylink offering the "Once in a Blue Moon" special fare
(anywhere
> in the state on the 29th Feb. for $20), Gerardus and I decided to head
first
> class to Sydney for the day. Xploder set EC2525 - EB2517 - EC2501 sat in
> the platform road awaiting departure. 8007 sat alone in road 2, having
> arrived solo on the oil train. An on-time departure steadily degenerated
to
> behind time: although station work along the way was slick (often under
one
> minute), safeworking requirements on the Canberra - Goulburn section took
> between 2 and 4 minutes; Tarago being the worst in both directions.
> >
> > Our hasty notes show 8156 / 8175 on a loaded wheatie, possibly overtaken
> at Goulburn which, in contrast to recent visits, actually had locos and
> wagons in the yard. We were checked to a 30 second stand between Goulburn
> and Towrang. At Medway Jcn., 8132 and MT limestone train was in the loop
> before heading up the branch. The section Bundanoon to Exeter was taken
> relatively slowly. Moss Vale yard and Berrima Junction were virtually
empty
> but just north of the junction a southbound MT limestone was passed.
> Unfortunately, inside the railcars, you get very little warning of
> approaching traffic and the loco has passed before one realises it!
> >
> > At 09:53, Tahmoor Colliery had an 81-led train loading - too far away
for
> a number sighting but with reference to Ivar's Great Day Off sightings,
> possibly 8183/8133 on TM12 Tahmoor push/pull.
> >
> > By Campbelltown, we were 13 minutes down and had lost our path through
the
> suburban maze. We were routed into No.3 platform (Down Main) which
allowed
> T14 Tangara set in Platform 2 (Up Main) to depart 'stopping all-stations'
> ahead of us! We awaited a down Tangara to cross from the Down Main to
> Platform 1 before crawling back to the Up main via the crossovers. By
> Minto, we were suffering signal checks as we caught up to the preceding
> Tangara but at Ingleburn, we switched to the un-wired third line and raced
> past the subbie at Macquarie Fields then turned back onto the Up Main
after
> Glenfield Junction then into platform 1 at Liverpool.
> >
> > The high speed run was then checked for a right turn at Cabramatta.
> Leightonfield produced solo NR67(?), 4716 and a candy 47 (more info
> anyone?). 48213 was seen shunting Mungo Scott's sidings as we approached
> Flemington. A Down Endeavor service led by 2811 checked our entry to
> Central - arrival in Platform3 was 11:21 (25 minutes down). The Grafton
XPT
> was in Platform 1, topped and tailed by 2012 and 2018.
> >
> > After some bookshop browsing, we took a subbie up the north shore to
> Hornsby riding in Tangara car ON5807. Changing at Hornsby for a trip down
> to Strathfield, we just happened to chose Tangara car ON5817 - a bit of
> fodder for the number-superstitious. A north-bound MT Wheatie,
> double-headed by two 81's, roared past us north of Beecroft at 14:55.
> > A trip west to Granville, saw 8215, 8230 and 8153 (or 2) at the east end
> of Clyde yard. Heading back into town, 42220 with three cars shot past us
> around Strathfield at 16:04.
> >
> > Back at Central, a five car Exploder set EA? - EB? - EC2523 - EA2506
> (missing some side-skirt panels) - EC2526 sat in platform 1 and departed
> before us - is this the service that splits at Werris Creek? Our train
> EC2524 - EB2516 - EA2507 awaited in platform 3 and departed on-time at
> 18:14. The sprint through the suburbs was much faster compared with our
> indifferent morning performance. The tail of a north-bound freight was
seen
> disappearing around the North Strathfield avoiding curve and 8168 was
> spotted leaving Flemington west end on a freight. Leightonfield produced
> nothing!
> >
> > Timekeeping on the return journey was much the same as the trip up
whilst
> trying to identify passing workings in the dark was almost impossible.
Two
> hopper trains and one steel train were passed between Campbelltown and
> Goulburn but the most common sightings were the backs of my eyelids.
> Arrival back in the ACT was slightly late. One must ponder on the
> consistently late running: a) is the timetable too tight?, b) do track
> conditions prevent time being recovered? or c) are the Xploder cars
> underpowered when fully loaded? Anyone care to comment?
> >
> > Two local ARHS members went as far as Maitland (an hour to spot there)
> whilst another went from Yass to Melbourne and return in the day allowed,
> giving 13 hours in the southern capital. Thanks to Countrylink for this
> imaginative fare deal.
> > I hope we don't have to wait until another 'Blue Moon' for a repeat.
> >
> > Melanie Dennis & Gerardus Mol
> > Australian Steam Group
> >
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________________
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>
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