Unusual movements

[David & Julie Donald <dsjmd@hermes.net.au>]

Two slightly unusual movements through Springwood today (7th July).

1.  I forget what time this was this morning, but there was a 7192.

2.  However, from my viewpoint, the more significant service has operated
today.  Train 8154 (despite being called other things by the train crew), being
led by 8149, has crossed W590 at Valley Heights.  8154 consisted of a number of
what appeared to be ore containers (very similar to those which operate  the
Eleura and Northparkes/Goonumbla services), but these appeared to be a reddish
colour (almost ochre red, or a dark crimson).  The containers (and the ones at
the rear of the train were sitting on NOHX container wagons, the standard wagons
now being for this type of traffic) were lettered for FCL.  FCL is the "freight
forwarding company" that operates the terminal at Blayney, in central western
NSW.  The waybills were marked from Blayney to Port Waratah, on account of FCL
and Pasminco.  This particular train wasn't all that long, with, for those who
know Valley Hgts, the engine and perhaps one or one-and-a-half wagons on the
Penrith side of the road overbridge, and the end of the trailing vehicle
basically sitting on the western/Springwood end of the platform.
Does this mean that the transport of ore from the Arcadia (or is it Cadia) mine,
near the old site of Cadia, to the south-east of Orange, has commenced, and that
FCL has won the transport contract ??
--

Regards

David Donald
Springwood, NSW

dsjmd@hermes.net.au