Before I knew it, I was on my way to Marrickville where I was hoping to see the POTA Yennora Trip Train, which had the Patricks Trip Train running in it’s place. I wasn’t that dissapointed though.

I then hopped on my train to Sydenham to get a train to Tempe and meet Liam. Thats what I expected to happen.

However, I missed my connection at Sydneham and decided to walk to Tempe. Not a smart move I made.

The walk was longer than I originally thought, especially when I walked into the side streets and saw they were dead ends, silly me. Anyway, when I finally saw the station, I heard a rail squeek noise. I though, bleh just another spark. But when I saw some whirly-birds on top of the carriages I got a little suspicous.

But when I finally met up with Liam at Tempe station after a about half hour walk(Sorry Liam, should’ve been more prepared), we hopped onto the next train to hopefully beat it to the South Coast.

As Liam headed towards Sutherland, I ran back home to grab some supplies and got the next train to Sutherland. We then waited for our South Coast train which passed the train at Waterfall while it was watering. We decided to get off at Thirroul, where we first saw the Manildra Container Train then the Steamer. Afterwards, we went for lunch and when we returned, we found out we just missed it.

Anyway, about half an hour til the train was due, a 8 Car G set pulled into Platform 1 which we assumed was a Driver Training thing terminating and going into the yard but then when the doors popped open, we went to ask the guard if it was a passenger train and where it was going. We then found out that it was an extra train to to the Sound Relief Concert at the SCG.

As far as we saw, Liam and I were the only ones on the train, which we both found quite amusing. When we got to Sutherland, we had a 18 minute wait for our train to Oatley.

After getting off at Oatley and a brisk walk to the end of Yarran Road, we taackled the bush, walked into many spiderwebs and slipped off many rocks to finally find the spot.

While we were waiting a good 2 hours for the steam tour to arrive we had a couple of surprises.

The first was the driver was an OSCAR, whistle at us(good on him!), and a El Zorro grainie with 2x ELs, T and G514.

After the steam train came through, just before a storm moved through, we went back home.

As In my other blog post, the holidays or foamer season began and I had all the time in the world to gunzel.

From a quick memory I went to

Hunter Valley twice(early wake ups, one involving a nightride bus), Metro Goods about 5 times, South Coast and Various Spots in the Metro.

At least a couple hundred photos taken, a complete sucess! Cant wait for next years ones.

You know what, i’ve never experienced the summer holidays as a true gunzel.

I’ve got heaps of places I want to go in mind so I won’t get bored.

Things to do in the holidays:

See 4152 from Broadmeadow to Sydney

See the new Cootes Industrial Train on the South

See the new El Zorro train on the South(Grainie)

Get a travelpass n go crazi =P

Places to go to;

Metro Goods – been there for half a day so far

South Coast

Blue Mountains

Central Coast (23/12/08)

Newcastle Area

Hunter(never been there before for a proper foam)

Botany Line Again

Short South(maybe even a quickie to Goulburn)

See Manildra Job

See B65..

Too bad they don’t have a monthly travelpass for concessions….

Oh well, it’ll be great!

ARG

ARG also known as Australia Railway Group’s

New South Wales Manildra contract will end on the 22nd of November 2008 after having the contract for over 4 years.

ARG is one of Australias Largest Private Rail Operators, operating over 10 000kms with operations from Western Australia to New South Wales.

ARG started operating in Western Australia in Demember 2000 when they purchased Westrail Freight Bussiness. It is a mainly Western Australia wholy owned subsidairy of QR(Queensland National).

The main commodities of Australia Railway Group in Western Australia are Grain, Mineral, Sands, Coal, Iron Ore and many other bulk products. In New South Wales, they transport Freight Containers and Flour to and from their base in Bomaderry.

The Organisation was developed in 2000 as a consourtium of US based Geneese and Wyoming and Australian Company Wesfarmers to purchase Westrail which was to be sold by their State Government Owner.

In Febuary 2006, Wesrail and their joint owners had reached an agreement with it’s joint venture partners to sell ARG for 1.3 billion Australian Dollars.

Babcock & Brownwould run ARG’s Rail bussiness in WA, mainly track and infrastructure.

Also at that time, Queensland Rail would buy the bussiness’ rolling stock and costumer contracts, making it a Major Player in Australia’s Rail Indusry. They would also run the the Rail Haulage Business and Infrastructure.

In March 2006, the ACAC(Australian Competitions and Consumer Commision) could not oppose the takeover as competition between the two Companies were limited.

The Takeover was completed in June 2006.

Currently, ARG run many services around Australia with the majority of them in Western Australia and with one or two in New SOuth Wales.
They have up to 1,000 staff, transport over 55 milion tones of bulk freight in WA itself, have 60 narrow guage and 40 standard gauge locomotives, and have 10 locomotives depots.

ARG currently use a variety of ex WA, SA and NSW locomotives some including ; SA’s 600 class, WA’s L class, NSW’s 422 class and AN’s CLP/F class.

In New South Wales, ARG haul Manildra products (Flour and Containers) from their base in Bomaderry to places over 500kms of track which include Sydney, Narranda in the SOuth, Gunnedah in the North and Manildra in the West.

These trains currently utilise ex NSWGR 422 class and ex WA L class.
Both classes have been renumbered the 22 class and the 31 class respectively.

Most recently, due to a large locomotive shortage, ARG have been spot hiring locomotives from Southern SHorthaul Railroad and CLCFA.

Currently, Australia Railroad Group have lost their only contract in New South Wales to Pacific National. Their contract ends on the 22nd of November with the contract going to the Patricks Portlink division of Pacific National.

The Blue and Yellow 81 and 48 class will be a huge change from the current “Bumblebee” Orange and yellow colour scheme and the currently colourful lease locomotives with SSR GM Class, many leased locomotives from CLCFA and even G512 in SCT livery even had a short stint!

Before we know it, the colourful ‘Bumblebee Locomotives will be banished to Western Australia to be replaced by 81 and 48 class Locomotives.

I suggest you guys get out there and get as many picture as you can before they vanish.

Farewell ARG…..

We met at Marrickville where we saw the down ARG flour train sitting outside the Junction(too far out to photograph).

After a fair bit of chit chat, we were not dissapointed. AN hour after we arrvied, KL80 and KL81(formerly SRA 4904 and 4910) both long end leading, pulled into Marrickville headed for Botany.

KL80 and KL81 long end leading, branch off the Goods Lines towards Botany

Without notice, six minutes later, another heritage loco pulls in. Before we know it, 4717 working for IRA with 4461 pulls in with 4717 long end leading.

4 minutes later, we hear a distinctive noise in the difference.
Soon, GM27 leading 44204(formerly JL404). As soon as the friendly crew saw us, they put on a show with 44204 doing what vinatge Locomotives do best. Smoke.

Just as were about to get lunch, the points suddenly change for something coming out of the Botany Line. Before we know it, ex VR, SAR and SRA locos Cs5, 602 and 442s2 come out of the Botany Line with the driver giving us a friendly toot.

7 minutes after this goes through( we decided not to get lunch yet as we thought there’d be a pile up of trains coming out), 4717 this time short end leading again leading 4461 roared through towards Minto.

After lunch and a few coalies at 12.24, the points once again changed to the Botany Line and after a long and nervous wait, EL64 and GL108 headed towards Botany with a snake of empty container flats from Sandown.

An hour later, we hear a distincitve roar. Before we knew it the all Victorian Combo of X54 and B76 came towards us with QRN’s trip train to Yennora. Then they halted to a stop. The points were set for something coming off the Illwarra. If the trip train proceeded further, theyd trip on the catch points.

About 10 minutes later, the points swung back towards the Botany Line and before we know it, they were on the Goods Line on their way to Yennora.

Twent Minutes Later, two Jumbos(One former) in the form of 44206 and GL110 headed out of Botany towards (Sandown?) with a container train.

Then, we called it a day and headed back home.

A few days ago, saw a kid riding a scooter(sadly from my school), riding along Platform 1. As you’d guess, a train was terminated there and a guard was hanging outside his cab. He rides right past him without the guard doing anything.

And then he sees a train pull into Platform 3. So he jumps the Platform, running right in front of a train terminating into Platform two, and climbs back onto the 3 & 4 island platform and hops on the train.

I know they need the gap between the tracks and yellow line however, a normal person could squeeze through this gap to switch platforms and run the track. As I know, there is a fence normally with a padlock on it. I believe that the driver/guard needs the key to swap end if they overshoot etc.

On the 20th of September, I went up to the Blue Mountains to see NSWRTM’s triple header to Lithgow.

I left home at7.10 for my train to the city.

I knew the steam train had to leave at 8.00 as it was running ahead of a Cityrail Interurban train to Lithgow.

So, I got off my train at Central before heading to the Intercity Platforms for my Intercity V set to Emu Plains. After alighting at Emu Plains, I introduced myself to the station master.

After a chat with the SM, I found out that I wasn’t the only gunzel.

The station master would provide us with information over the PA etc:

In one announcement ” Attention all photographers, the Indian Pacific is approaching Emu Plains and the Steam is departing Penrith. There is a good opportunity to photograph them passing. I repeat the IP is aprroaching Emu Plains and the Steam as departing Penrith”. As much as I was hoping it would happen, it actually ended up happening to everyone on the Neapean River(even Fred, Liam and Andrew(Bwana).

The Indian Pacifc passes Emu Plains

3642 heads 3830 out west past Emu Plains

After both train went past, I hung ‘roud for my interurban to Wentworth Falls in which overtook the triple header steam at Valley Heights as it was attaching the 35 there.

When my train arrived at Valley Heights, I saw some foamers/gunzels and though f***.

However, it turned out these ‘gunzels’ were actually Fred, Andrew and Liam to my relief.

Before we knew it, the steamer came and my cameras zoom decided to do something. So, I got some measly shots of the train.

I left home at 7 and got to Mortdale Station and met 8203(Adam), 1979(Kaine), Mark and Mitchell.

We got to Central where we met with the other New South Welshmen herded together by Trent ‘Raichase’ Nicholson.

About 5 minutes after arrived, the Mexicans arrived to join us and so did Maikha. The said the bus was at Eddy Avenue, so the 20 or so of us gunzels herded down to the bus(a MKII) driven by TheLoneGunMan.

We had a toilet stop at Wyong service station, before heading direct to Richmond Vale.

After branching off the F3, Maikha sold raffle tickets with many Railway Prizes in which I bought 8 tickets which were 15-22

After arriving at Richmond Vale, we were briefed by our tour guide Richard and Maikha held the first raffle prize ‘ 10 cab rides(one per person). First ticket drawn 21. Oh yay thats mine, so I glady recieve my cab ride ticket. A few later; 16. That’s mine but as anyone would, I put it back as I already had one. Next one gets drawn 17. Mine again and I take it back. Maikha’s reaction was ” Go away Vince!!”. hehe

Then we went into the mining museum.  Well not really, we were a little late and the train from Pelaw Main pulled in and everyone had a foam over it.

SMR30 runs around her train

Then we hopped on into the carriages(former U boat) while Maikha and Liam(Sydney_Gunzel) hopped into the cab for their cab ride. Well Maikha hopped in because if we raised over $1000(which we did) we was allowed in fire SMR30 which he did.

Once the 1.5km journey to Pelaw Main had concluded, we alighted the train at Pelaw Main where we where given a quick tour of the colliery and we got the train back to Richmond Main where I took advantage of my cab ride and so did Trent(he got in because he organised it as well as Maikha).

After alighting at Richmond Main, we were given a walking tour of the Locomtive workshops which had many passenger cars, some U Boat cars and a few coal wagons.

After the locomotive workshop tour, we headed for our privately charted room in which we had a very good lunch. After lunch, we had a presentation for the rest of the raffle and the handing over of the $1136.20.

The handing over of the money

After the presentation, we returned to the station where we were given some information about the colliery by Graham and Richard.

Following the information session, we hopped on the train to Pelaw Main for a photostop of the train coming up the grade. So we got off and got a picture of it coming up the grade.

SMR30 climbs the grade at Pelaw Main

After the photostop, we headed for the train back to Richmond. After alighting at RIchmond, we went to check out the line of wagons and locos to the left of the line

SMR22

After the tour, we went back to the station for our tour to Mulbring Road.

Turns out the loco was at the wrong end and could not shunt due to the U set cars on the road. So, we headed forward to the junction to the triangle where we piloted to the end of the triangle. Then we proceeded to the station then to mulbring Road.

Then after the tour at Mulbring, we headed back to the station, where we departed Richmond Vale for the long trip back home.

2:Keep the end of Platform Gates locked. I know this sounds stupid, but most of the gates at the end of the Platforms are unlocked  with the trains and track easily accessible by vandals.

Etc: Let’s say I catch the 3.25 from Hurstville.

This train will normally depart at 3.24.30 as that’s when they are technically allowed to depart.