DavidB-AU

Some video of the Southern Highlander. Cheers David

Even 32 cars is nothing special. A standard double length Indian Pacific is 36 cars during the wildflower season. The Ghan has been up to 45 cars. Cheers David

Something different from all the "little" coal trains, a "little" passenger train. The Indian Pacific running via Melbourne combined with the Overland. I believe this was recorded in April but only posted a few days ago. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ4ckCVe7Qs And no that's not an optical illusion. Our main lines really are that steep! 1 in 50 is not unusual. Cheers David

August appeal for Zig Zag reopening Lithgow's Zig Zag Railway will next month make an appeal to be allowed to operate again, after being shut down because of safety concerns. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-19/zig-zag-date/4830030

13,560hp on Cowan Bank with Black Caviar in the lead. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixOMN1a6Jx0 Cheers David

This doesn't really fit into Modern Scene, but since all three locos shown are now preserved this seemed the better place to put it. The delivery run of one standard gauge Spirit of Progress set from Melbourne to Sydney in April 1962. It was run as a fan trip with steam north of the Murray. There was a considerable amount of low flying on this run with reports of crockery sliding off the buffet from rounding the Bethungra spiral at high speed. It also shows so many things you just can't do today, including set back photo runs and standing on the railway reservation to get photos. And not a safety vest in sight! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4QXm6PH_lQ Cheers David

Got another idea for you. From the prologue to Fellowship of the Ring, "On the ordering of the Shire". Some sort of mail van might be in order. Cheers David

8000hp on the Veolia rubbish train from Sydney to Tarago. Cheers David

And smoke a little pipe-weed, whatever Professor T intended that to mean. Cheers David

Pacific National orders genset locomotives National Railway Equipment Company (NREC), United States, has won a contract to supply seven multi-engine N-ViroMotive locomotives to Pacific National, Australia, for shunting operations operation at the BlueScope steelworks at Port Kembla in New South Wales. http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/locomotives/pacific-national-orders-genset-locomotives.html

Apart from the livery it's the same as the QR 3800 class and PN 71 class. Cheers David

The newest loco in Queensland. http://www.flickr.com/photos/47626638@N02/9252629857 Cheers David

A Class 313 suburban electric multiple-unit leased from Beacon Rail has been converted into a mobile laboratory as part of infrastructure manager Network Rail's ETCS programme. Alstom's Wembley depot has fitted dual-system 25 kV 50 Hz/750 V DC unit number 313 121 dating from 1976-77 with on-train ETCS equipment, engineers' workstations, batteries to power onboard equipment, a kitchen and a toilet. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/suburban-emu-converted-into-mobile-ertms-laboratory.html

Paul Shepherd's video from Sunday. At 0:58 the photographer in the lower right is me! Cheers David

1089 is doing the honours to Pinkenba today. EDIT: It was running with 1079's tender. That's why the tender was shiny! Cheers David

Some more of the brown bomber. Cheers David

National Geographic has recently published a photo of one of the houses from the set which may be of use for the detail. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BOXoa9xCcAAtM-_.jpg Cheers David

When the loco was restored in 1980, parts from Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 were found. It is common for parts to be swapped around in the workshops. But the frame is definitely No.1 and that's what gives a loco its identity. Cheers David

Two historical photos of 4473 showing the No.2 end. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bs3BIrxdjR8/UEr27UW2t6I/AAAAAAAABFY/NWX9TcxoyO0/s1600/01+4473+-+Don+Jones.jpg http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AxURvMKIpJM/UEr3gZfdr7I/AAAAAAAABFg/07dI8FCVhq4/s1600/02+4473+-+Don+Jones.jpg Cheers David

Alcos are well known for blowing more black smoke than many steam locos. http://www.flickr.com/photos/38353234@N04/7219271812/ Cheers David

Melbourne's new E class tram http://www.yarratrams.com.au/media-centre/news/articles/2013/melbourne%27s-next-generation-tram-arrives/ CHeers David

Riding the grain train It weighs 3030 tonnes, is more than 600 metres long, and can take five kilometres to stop. It's the mega-train taking our grain to the docks. And beside the track as it passes — and sometimes on the platform — the diesel has a loyal fan base who will admire it regardless of the time of day. At 2.27am when it slows to a halt at Bendigo railway station for a crew change, two young gunzels (rail fanatics) are waiting with cameras on the platform alongside the crew. http://www.theage.com.au/national/riding-the-grain-train-20130627-2ozrv.html

The unmistakable sound of an R class.... Cheers David

Qube owns Macarthur Intermodal Shipping Terminal Pty Ltd, the parent company of IR. Cheers David