Re: C508 - What a chase!

["Gareth Hunter" <hunter_gareth@hotmail.com>]

Thanks for the descriptive chase.
Makes us house bound fathers relive many happy moments past...and just
waiting for the chance to hit the road...with a van full of happy train
chasing kids.
Gareth Hunter
Peter J. Sweetten <aeropics@tig.com.au> wrote in message
7ub7f0$l3k$1@toto.tig.com.au">news:7ub7f0$l3k$1@toto.tig.com.au...
> C508, leading NR62 and NR44 departed on AB6 at 14:15hrs Saturday 16
October.
> Here's an account of how I managed to photograph it!
>
> Earlier that afternoon I had been photographing C505 going about its
> shunting manouvers at Sth Dynon. Then I decided to go down to the Dock
Link
> Road end of the yard with the intention of seeing if there was a DL on
MX6.
> Luckily I travelled via Dynon Road and Sims Street to enter Footscray
Road,
> which was jammed solid with traffic in the westbound lanes. There had been
> an accident on West Gate involving 4 vehicles and a fuel spillage. The
> bridge was closed, causing massive traffic headaches for anyone wanting to
> head in the Geelong direction.
>
> Anyway as I turned the corner into Dock Link Road, the booms were
lowering,
> then to my amazement C508, leading the two NR's appeared, obviously on
> departure, and wasting no time about it.
>
> So with a quick u-turn, and with the option of heading to Tottenham out of
> the question, back I went to City Link - (thank goodness it's open now!),
> onto Tulla Freeway and via Mickleham road to Somerton Road. By this time
I'm
> low on fuel, so with my intentions to get that "must have" shot, I quickly
> refuel at a Caltex servo at Somerton. Just as I reach $13.00 worth I see
the
> train passing Somerton Loop. As luck would have it I have the correct
money,
> the better half dashes in and throws it on the counter whilst I start the
> car, then off we go. It's not easy to sit on the 90kmh limit on the Hume
> Highway from Somerton Road to Craigieburn, knowing there's a train in
front
> doing at least 100kmh.
>
> On the Craigieburn overpass we glance towards the tracks to see AB6 is
> wasting no time - at this stage its passing Summerhill Road, halfway
between
> Craigieburn and Donnybrook. Then we're stopped at the last traffic lights
on
> the  highway, but it's not over yet! Two semi-trailers carrying steel rod
> decide to hog both lanes of the northbound carriageway. For at least 2 to
3
> kms, the drivers appear to be racing each other before the right hand one
> finally pulls over to the left lane. Meanwhile I'm uttering a few
> expletitives!!
>
> Finally I'm able to position myself for a hard and fast run on the
freeway,
> as we watch in disbelief at the sight of AB6 nudging ahead. I'm trying not
> to exceed the 110km limit, knowing that a radar trap  is always a
> possibility on this road. Passing Wallan, the train is finally slowing
> slightly for the ascent to Heathcote Junction. However I now realise my
only
> option is to beat it to the Broadford weighbridge, where there's a grade
> crossing on a small side road. As we pass Wandong I glance right and see
we
> are finally ahead of AB6.
>
> I arrive at the weighbridge and set up with only 5 minutes to spare. I'm
> joined by two other photographers. We get a nice shot as the train rounds
> the corner from Broadford loop.  I'm content to follow to Seymour just in
> case there's a cross with WP4, however the last we see of AB6 is the rear
> wagon as we pass Dysart.
>
> Also got C508 returning from Junee this morning (Sunday 17/10) BA6,
however
> it was long end leading behind NR61 and NR56 (blue). Passed Summerhill
Road
> at 08:45, after departing Junee 03:30.
>
> Look for my shots on Rail Images Australia early next week
> --
> Peter J. Sweetten
> Craigieburn, Victoria
> E-mail: aeropics@tig.com.au
> ICQ # 9637565
> View my Rail Images Australia website at:
> http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~aeropics/rail.htm
>
>
>
>