69843

Speaking of 81s and 82s (and C44aci's), we have the latest round of spotting, from Monday 23/9: Edit: Also note 8202, which was spotted 60-odd kms North at Cowan on the Tuesday (as in above picture with 8206 leading). Edit 2: Number annomily corrected

Is it me, or are the tenders of Rocket and Sans Peril the same (bar colour)?

Fire ban was just for yesterday, due mainly to the high wind (it must have been about 40-50km/h down at Robertson). The ban was lifted today, due to better conditions for the run both th Hurstville (twice) and the run back to base. The firebans could be a problem for the rest of the year, as conditions are predicted to be a bit less favorable this Summer, but we all hope it won't happen. And AMRA as soon as it's back open, and I can get there.

It was a bit of a shame we had 4520 on yesterdays trip, but due to a fire ban, it was not possible to use the pig. That being said, I didn't hear one complaint from the train arriving until sweeping the train in the evening, and everyone on the train was happy enough with the trip. And, as a bonus, a substitute 4-6-0 was found at Robertson...

With work having been done all through the week on the Cronulla branch, there has been an ecclectic mix of stock reported on the line, from GMs to 81s. 44206 seems to be the last left, as it was ticking over light engine by the end of the down line at Sutherland. 44206 (and 44204) were both up until this year in a modified version of the SRA scheme, with 44206 previously wearing Green with Yellow whiskers. Also present were a couple of funny little rail mounted cherry pickers on the back of a flatbed truck.

Well, yesterday has to be the best day of spotting I've had (until next week... ) BRM002-G514-G511-BRM001 pass the end of Hawkesbury River bridge. These shots was taken on Railcorp property, with full supervision and permission. 4473 heading light engine on the down to pick up an A-set from Newcastle (A59 aparrently came down that evening). LDP002-LDP006-LDP009 went past on the up. LDP001-003 are in EDI/QR National Blue and White, and LDP004-009 are in QR National livery. NR51-NR109 Sandfly II on the up. This is the first time I've actually caught a Ghan NR, so that was good. MTPV2 surprised us, as as far as I was aware, it was still on test. C505-RL307-C506 were next on the up, with C505 in Blue and Yellow, and RL307 and C506 in Greentrains Green. This is where it gets a bit confusing, as C505/C506 are owned by Pacific National, and RL307 by Greentrains, but RL307 is in Cootes Industrial Green and C506 is in Greentrains livery, on what seemed to be a Qube service... The mind boggles. NR37-NR6-NR19 were next, with NR6 and NR19 still in debranded National Rail livery LDP005-LDP001 appeared on a down intermodal service, but we missed it as we were transferring back to the station. The Brisbane XPT was next to show, going through the station with a roar of Paxton engines and a helping of clag from trailing XP2008 MTPV2 passes back through the station. Track Patrol Vehicle staff have this great habbit of going crazy when a camera is pointed at them... Qube 1100s 1106 and 1102 rolled through the station. Sadly they were missed, as we had just started a change of scenery to Cowan...drat! On arrival at Cowan, our old enemy of SPENO grinder RR36M24 was waiting in the sidings, undergiong a wash and test. 'Cheeseburger 1' heads to Newcastle on a normal service. Southern Spirit NR85-NR98-NR66 pass North on a down intermodal. Seeing NR85 means I have now seen one of each of the four special liveries (NR18 'new' Indian Pacific, NR26/27 Indian Pacific, NR85 Southern Spirit, NR109 Ghan). 8206-8202-8218-8243 pass on the JW73 12:00 freight service...two and a half hours late! A change of side sees newly redone NSW TrainLink V45 pass with V26 on the rear. A quick snap was taken to compare the two schemes head on. And in what has to be the best spot all day, CF4412 Black Caviar and CF4411 Revenue showed up on the Freightliner 1581 intermodal. Jokes had been being made all day about seeing CF4412, but we didn't seriously think it would happen...someone must have been listening!

Looks a bit like a single-ended Class 70. I must now try and hunt that down.

^Stop spoiling us with these beautiful shots!

Surprisingly, no!

I shall hold out for #2007 when she is produced soon.

Having a week, in bits and pieces, to go spotting I did just that. Monday, and we see the new gangways fitted to T65, now nicknamed the Tangaratah as a result. Tuesday, and a good mix of freight showed up. First to come through was 8238, 8181, 8230 and 8207. 8181 was apparently filling in for a dodgy 82. Next was 8134 and 8103 on a down grain service. 8103 shows off its small cabside numbers, as well as having the large numbers on the bodyside (I am unsure of the reason for the small numbers) And 8130 with 8109 barreled through with a down ballast service Wednesday saw 8203, 8239, 8208, 8209 on the morning coalie, and nearly being blocked by a T-set T20 popped it's head in, and for those who don't know it is the first built Tangara of the lot And the real reason for going out. Mechanised Track Patrol Vehicle ML-039 pulls into, and stops at Sutherland platform 3 during it's weekly run down the ES&IL. Thursday, and with prior knowedge of the timetable, I travelled to Sydney Terminal to see Boyd Munro's train. Actually bumping into Boyd himself was a plesent surprise, and he was a very kind and well spoken man. EL58 was the other surprise of the day. The two coaches are ex-SAR coaches The other piece of stock was V16, which deserves the nickname of the 'Flying Cheeseburger'. The Lilac interior is a nice change! Back in April, 8202 caught fire. So, appropriately enough, my first sighting of it after it was repared came on Friday 13th. And the new taillight in use (wonder if any RMwebber can see just what type it is... ) 4403 flat end first with the Boyd Munro train. EL58 was pointing nose first on the end of the train.

'IT'S ALIVE!!!' (sorry!)

The thread is 'Locomotive Portraits'. All I see here is about 30-odd people and the glimpse of an LNER machine... I'll guess 61264 is there somewhere. Edited for mistaken number

........ That's all I can say

I have no idea, but judging by the top photo and cross refrencing with Google, they appear to be stored on the marked siding out the back of Golbourn, next to the mainline (photos were taken from the returning Harden day train). I am planning to visit Golbourn in the next few weeks, so I will update then.