Sydney (NSW), Thursday afternoon

["Bill McNiven" <wmcniven@gunzel.ozemail.com.au>]

Two items of interest at Sydney Central (or whatever it's called) around 3
pm:

On the Up Airport line at Flying Junctions (where the Up Illawarra used to
be), a ballast train with the usual 4827, 4819, 4850 at the airport end.  At
the Central end:  Candy 42203 + Tuscan Red 42220!

Does anybody know when these trains arrive / depart?  I've only seen them
sitting there during the day!

Over at platforms 2 and 3, a double-consist IP departed on time at 2.55.
The 12 cars in Platform 3 were indicated "boarding time 1.30 to 2.20".  The
13 cars in platform 2 were indicated "PERTH - PARKES THEN ALL STATIONS"
(Oodla Wirra here we come!).

The moves for this departure are: two NR's shunt the sole motorail vehicle
from the dock road to platform 3 at around 2.37, pick up 12 vehicles, draw
forward to Cleveland Street (blocking all paths to/from the Main lines),
propel back to platform 2 around 2.48 to pick up the next 13 vehicles.  Away
on time!

Today's consist:

NR 49 'Coffs Harbour', NR 109, AMPZ 238N (with six cars loaded), HGM 205E,
BRJ 912T, ARL 289, ARL 925N, AFC 213C, DF 934B, ARM 987N, ARJ 272R, ARL
992T, ARL 308F, ARL 923S, ARM 953N, ARC 307Y, DF 304E, ARJ 941K 'Mt.
Christie', ARL 962S, BRJ 915A, BRJ 302P, AFC 936L, CDF 966K, AG 372S, AG
374N, HM 957o, ER 909B, HGM 298M.

BTW, what's the story with the named sleeping car 'Mt. Christie' - is this
an old AN idea or a new GSR thing?

Rgds

Bill