(NSW) Tourist Dining Train Attacked at Couridjah

[petercook9709@my-deja.com]

At approximately 8.30pm at a level crossing at Couridjah (south of
Thirlmere on the Picton-Mittagong Loop Line) a tourist train (CN1747,
HN2197, BCS????, BCS2356, RMS2359, LAN????, PHA2394 hauled by double
headed diesel locos - a 48 and a 49) was struck five times by ballast
rocks, breaking four windows, two on CN1747 and two on HN2197 (the
porthole window on the up left door of CN1747 was struck twice and has
two holes in it). Additionally, one of the windows on either BCS2356 or
RMS2359 was also believed to have been struck, although it did not
appear to have penetrated either the inner or outer glass.

Miraculously, nobody was injured during the attack although several
passengers travelling in the two carriages struck were understandably
shocked.  It is also believed that one of the locomotives was also
struck, though there was no apparent damage to either upon inspection
at Thirlmere.

The train was a Christmas in July dinner service, which had left Picton
Station at 6.45 heading to Buxton.  It was intended to proceed back to
Thirlmere, then to Buxton again and back to Picton.  The tour was
intended to finish at Thirlmere around midnight.  As the tour operators
did not want to tempt fate, the second trip to Buxton was replaced with
another return trip to Picton.

It is believed the persons responsible were local youths.  It is also
believed these people also attempted a second attack on the train near
Thirlmere ten minutes later.

IMHO, it is a disgrace that this occurred, and it is a shame this may
affect future tourist services on the loop line.  However, none of the
passengers abandoned the train after the incident, deciding instead to
continue on board the tour until it was completed.

Peter Cook
Passenger

For the record, at the time of the attacks, I was sitting in HN2197 one
seat behind one of the smashed windows.


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