Re: C508 - What a chase!

[Michael Kurkowski <mk@netstra.com.au>]

Warning fellow rail transport conniseurs, we have a potential gunzel! :)


Peter J. Sweetten said in message <7ub7f0$l3k$1@toto.tig.com.au>, I
therefore quote: 

>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
>
>
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