Hurstville1’s Weblog

I know many of you may think what I’m rambling about is the advantage of trackwork.

I know how you hate having trackwork as in having to catch a bus to your destination, there are also advantages for us Trainspotters.

One of which in particular is trackwork on the Main South. It means I can see the trains which normally run via the Southern Highlands, in my own territory (South Coast/Illawarra) and also a area where there aren’t that much freights besides Coal and the Occasional Flour and Steel train.

Many of these things that I saw/have seen wouldn’t have happened without trackwork.

CLFs going via Wollongong

The Oil Train at Hurstville

Another of my favourite is when the Main West is closed so I can see the Indian Pacific go down south.

Signing off, Vince

As you guys may know, they left earlier and somehow mananged to score most of the days freight in the 2 hours they were up there before me.

I caught my 9.00 train from Mortdale to Central.

I had 16 minutes til my train to Wyong left so, I bought this months edition of Railway Digest.

I read it on the train, then 4426 called me. He said he’d seen 2 QRN trains, a Silverton Train, a few Pacnat Intermodals and a ARG grainie. But, I wasn’t too fussed about it.

When I got to Cowan, I saw a NR/DL/NR combo. While running to see it, I dropped my phone into the garden. I asked the Station Master and asked if he could retrieve it for me, while 4426 and 8050 looked on.(Kudos to the Station Master).

Then we all met up at our spot where I saw 2 freight but theyd seen bout 7 freights already).

Then, we decided to move on to Hawkesbury River seeing two Silverton Trains and a few Pacnat intermodals and went back home.

(Sorry bout the late post, school doesn’t help)

Today, the 19th of Juluy 2008, myself and some fellow Railpagains(42101, Raichase, Fred3801, 1979, Sydney_Gunzel and 42209) went down to the Highlands for a good day out.

I caught a Illawarra train to Wolli Creek where I met 1979, 42101 and Raichase.

Then we all caught a train down south to Campelltown with good chatter along the way.

At Glenfield, Sydney_Gunzel ‘found’ us on the train as we all thought he was getting on at Campelltown, but instead he got on at Glenfield(5 stops before Campelltown).

So when we got to Campelltown, we all get on the Endeavour and as we depart we see a very late MS9 which was due through at 3am but now it was 8.

We met Fred3801 and 42209 at Menangle where we saw the Melbourne XPT and 3MB7 headed by G533 in SCT livery which the decals still on it

G533 leads 3MB7 through Menangle

Then, we decided to head south to Moss Vale where some of us headed off in cars, some on the train.

When we get there, we meet up with the guys who decided to drive, and we decide to stay until 11 and have lunch. We see double NRs and a light engine 81.

Then we head on the Endeavour north to Yerrinbool where 1979 stayed on the train as he had to get to the city at a certain time.

We see triple NRs and 81/48/81.

Triple NRs head through Yerrinbool

Then we all decide to head south to Mittagong where we see a crane lifted a Tamper onto the tracks.After a heads up from 1979 telling us that he passed a freighter, we all started preparing for the arrival of SM9? which was headed by CLF3 and had another CLF/P behind it marshalled Elephant Style.A QRN train heads southbound Elephant Style

(If you don’t know, Elephant Style is when all locomotives are facing forward).

A Endeavour heads north

All stations to Rhodes

Down Silvrton lead by C508 heads south

Yesterday(14/7/08) myself(Hurstville1) went for a gunzel trip on the Short North.

I went a trip all stations to Rhodes.

Guess what happened when I spent half an hour at each place? Nothing.

All I saw were spark and V sets.

Saw 2 freights from the train and the only train I photographed was a SIlverton Train.

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