Peak Hour At Cowan

[Paul Hogan <pghogan@spam_nyet_bigpond.com>]

Some interesting sights at Cowan tonight, (north of Sydney for those from
foreign parts).

There were about a hundred people packed on the down platform at 8.30pm,
waiting for an Intercity set to take them further north. They had been
conveyed by several buses from Epping, due to the almost complete 
shutdown at Hornsby for trackwork this weekend.

A packed platform is an unusual event at a station that is lucky to sell a 
half dozen tickets a day normally.  Cityrail appeared to be coping well,
as there were stalls set up providing free coffee, and a few
entrepreneurs trying to sell further goodies to the captive audience.
Security staff attempted to keep order on the narrow platform and
stop people getting too close to passing freight trains.

There was plenty of entertainment for the mob while they waited.
SteelLink BY4 occupied the Up platform, with two NR class,
waiting line clear on the single line section. Then PB4 arrived,
behind 3 x NR,having run wrong road on the Up from Epping, and
crossing back to the Down at the Sydney end of Cowan platform.

No sign of the shuttle Intercity set while all this was going on - it was 
stuck somewhere on the Bank!   Also in the frame was an 81 class on
an up wheat. 

No doubt control was having a fun night.  Hornsby yard is also 
interesting to observe under floodlights, with only one through track
open and *no*  suburban or interurban services at all for the 
weekend. In many years of living here, I can never recall a 
similar shutdown on all lines out of Hornsby.

Cheers,

Paul Hogan