18/9 Wollongong<->Newcastle

[Railway Rasputin3 <james_ccj@my-deja.com>]

Early this morning I arrived at North Wollongong about to catch 724 to
Redfern, I was planning to go to East Maitland and photo some coal
trains. Unfortunately the ticket machine was not working, it wouldn't
take notes nor coins.The ticket office was opened but no one was there
to take care of us. So me and 3 other passengers had to watch the V set
departed. Eventaully the station mater showed up (Apparantly he was
talking to those standby bus drivers)The follonwing service(729) is
slower and operate with G set, which translates to less comfortable and
slower trip. Nevertheless according to the timetable, I should be able
to catch 912 ex-Central service to Newcastle and transfer to East
Maitland.

G set ride roughly when speed and not as quiet as V set. Everything
went well until we reach Redfern. Saw a standby 81 class at
WaterfallThe train held outside the station for 12 minutes due to
platform was not available for us. The passengers went really impatient
as most of them had connection with another mode. Hence I missed my
connection to Newcastle and had to take the follwoing servcice. (942 ex-
Central)


A very clean V set awaited me at Central station. We went off on
time,met Indian Pacific at Strathfield. Saw <The Flame> at a distance
from Concord West,

Everything went well till we reached Hawkesby River, we been sent to
the wrong road, Northern Tableland Explorer can be seem in a distance.
We been told someone wouldn't come down the powerline at Gosford and we
have to wait till police take care of it. An hour and half spent at
Hawkesby River doing nothing. The station mater then called connection
bus. All of us left the train and walked to the nearby street. But by
the time buses arrived, police arrested the guy and line was cleared.
We then walked back to the train and continued our journey one and half
hour late. While approaching Broadmeadow we been told the train had to
turn back and we again have to wait for connection bus!!! I had enough
with it and decided to take a cab to Beresfield instead. Didn't get to
see many coal trains as most of the coal trains pass by around noon.

I only managed to see 2 coal trains (compared with last time i had 2
rolls of films). Heading back to Sydney waited at Hamilton for 332pm ex-
Newcastle, only to found out all service now starts and terminates at
Broadmeadow, and 2 sets of 620 class DMU ran shuttle between Broady and
Newcastle. Well I always wanted to take 620 class DMU, maybe not
everything turned out to be bad.....

Nothing can be seem at Cardiff EDI-Rail works except a NRC 81 class and
something looked like a component/struture.

On the way back bushfire serverly burned forests around Fassifern, some
got really close (and were still burning) to the raiwlay line. But that
didn't slow us.

Had a brief break at Central before heading back to Wollongong,
Alotgether I spent 8 hours on V set today and I didn't find anything
atrrcative about them..... give me a V/line N set anyday.


--
Cheers

RR3

PS: So far problems I experienced:

Cityrail:    8 (1 derail, 1 vandals, 1 level crossing accidents, 5 fail)
Countrylink: 4 (1 derail, 3 failures)
V/line:      0
Connex:      2  (2 fails)
Bayside:     0
GSR/AN:      0
QR:          0 (include Citytrain and Travel Trains)
Auckland Tranz Metro:  1 (failure)
Tranz Scenic:0
TransAdelaide:0 (tram and Train)

Yarra Trams:  2  (all fails)
Swanston Trams: 2 (accidents)
WCR:           2 (fails)




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