Re: RTM NSW Kandos Train 20/5 Report

["Ross (Goldie) Goldspink" <goldicom@powerup.com.au>]

You let fig/mist put you off?

Some of my best rail photos (B & W) have been in those conditions.

Goldie



Eric Cartman wrote in message <392683aa@news.iprimus.com.au>...
>Today (20/5), 4201/44211 ran to Kandos on an NSWRTM tour.  I thought I'd
>give my car a run and go for a drive.......
>
>My original plan was to see the train crossed by the Central West XPT at
>Penrith and then follow the train west. However, the centre of Penrith was
>very foggy so I gave that idea a miss and decided to get ahead of the XPT
>and the Tour Train.
>
>Nothing of rail interest was seen in the mountains before my first photo
>stop just west of Mt Victoria (on the Darling Causeway). I thought I might
>see some work trains as buses replaced CityRail trains between Mt Vic and
>Lithgow. The only evidence of any work in the Mt Vic - Bell section (apart
>from me deciding where to stop) was the now traditional worksite protection
>fencing.
>
>After waiting half an hour (basically my head start on WT27), the XPT
>appeared with the Sydney 2000 car trailing. I then had a good thought about
>the viaducts just west of Lithgow which became my next destination as I
>jumped into the car. While driving along the Bells Line of Road, I crossed
>the main west line and saw WT27 again (obviously running under caution due
>to the trackwork).
>
>On arrival at the viaduct on the highway on the Bathurst bound side (near
>Lithgow jail), I prepared myself for a short wait for WT27 which duly
passed
>by at higher speed than the last two times I'd seen it today, obviously
>clear of the trackwork induced speed restrictions. After this, it was time
>to wait for the tour train (which would slower than WT27) in a new spot
near
>the Farmers Creek twin viaducts. Rather than have to contend with highway
>traffic zooming past me for 30 or so minutes, I found a spot off the
highway
>with allowed views of the creek, the two viaducts and the train, which
>arrived with both locos sounding great, 4201 leading.
>
>It was then time for me to head further west towards Kandos (unchartered
>waters so to speak for me). I knew that I would beat the train because of
>the state of some of the line and the open road ahead of me. Despite this,
I
>almost found myself donating to the Lithgow Highway Patrol without even
>realising whilst on the Mudgee Road (lucky I backed off when I saw him, 135
>in a 100 zone would not have been good on the clean driving record!)
>
>Arrival at Kandos was right on lunchtime and I was disappointed to find no
>name plate at the station (the building was in relatively good condition
but
>the track was not. I could see excatvating occurring around approximately
>every 3rd sleeper).
>
>Due to the surrounds of the station and the fact that it was on a curve not
>to my liking relative to the train (and the fact there is no runaround
>facilities at the station), I had to decide on an alternative spot for good
>pics. I then found the approach to the Cement siding was a good spot next
to
>the disused turntable. The noise of the two locos soon  disturbed the
>country peace and quiet as the train approached the siding. A cast of (it
>seemed in comparison to the people on the train) thousands clad in safety
>vests left the train to shunt the train and run the locos around. I took
>this as my cue to leave and try and find another spot, which I did just
>before the station. I then asked the crew about the return journey,
planning
>a night shot at Penrith with some 800 speed (it was due at 2215).
>
>After several shots of the train reversing into the station, I thought it
>was time to leave and head for home as the train was due to stay at Kandos
>until 5pm. After a nice comfortable drive home, I had planned to see and
>photograph the train on arrival at Penrith at 2215. In what must be a
first,
>the train arrived around 30 minutes early as I was leaving home to drive to
>the station (I can hear freight trains but not passenger trains from my
>house). A quick phone call to the station confirmed this.
>
>All in all, it was a good day passenger train gunzel wise. Full credit must
>go to the RTM for the presentation and the performance of the train (pics
on
>my website Monday!)
>
>
>Eric
>http://www.erk.au.com/erktrans/
>(new direct URL for my Transport site)
>
>All cows on or near the running line need to
>to have a Track Safety Awareness
>Certificate and an approved safety
>vest when on or near the line.
>
>