DavidB-AU

First electric train on the Moreton Bay Rail Link. https://www.flickr.com/photos/pjreading/25196639714/ Cheers David

"The Yank" running between Brisbane and Cooroy.

Last weekend saw the first train on Brisbane's new Moreton Bay line, a pair of light locos making several runs to descale the rails. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5_xLKpRlrQ Cheers David

The first run of the new Crawfords Freightlines locos (UGL C44aci, same as the 93/6020/CF/CEY/etc) replacing the C class between Sandgate and Botany. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZITWf9rI9Y Cheers David

Some narrow gauge action in North Queensland. Cheers David

An interesting variation on an old idea. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/isle-of-wight-light-rail-conversion-proposed.html This is particularly interesting: "One of the two tracks between Smallbrook Junction and Ryde St John’s would be transferred to the preserved Isle of Wight Steam Railway" Cheers David

This could possibly be the last triple C class run. Withdrawal of the class is imminent. Cheers David

It had a perfectly good South African 3 chime. Cheers David

Live closed captions simply gave up.

I read on a mailing list that a lineside photographer who is also a pilot has raised this formally with the CAA. Cheers David

You wait 10 years to see it then this happens. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DCRALZ6a3k But to their credit Virgin offered the photographer a free trip to the US on Virgin Atlantic! http://www.itv.com/news/2016-02-25/flying-scotsman-bad-luck-for-one-trainspotter/ Cheers David

One sleeper was taken to Italy for evaluation about 6 years ago and never returned. It did not, as the Courier-Mail claimed several times, go for a swim in Moreton Bay. Cheers David

One of the Great South Pacific Express sleeping cars has been sighted being taken by road to the Port of Brisbane. 20 of the 21 GSPE cars have been in highly secure storage at Ipswich for more than a decade and are reportedly being taken to Peru. (Belmond, which owns the GSPE cars, also operates PeruRail which runs from Cusco to Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca.) Cheers David

Commuter Settles On Electoral Candidate After Seeing 783rd Identical Poster http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2016/02/17/commuter-settles-on-electoral-candidate-after-seeing-783rd-identical-poster/

The first of the new NGR 700 series EMUs being hauled from the Port of Brisbane to the new maintenance facility at Wulkuraka today. Cheers David

Asciano board accepts Qube takeover bid Asciano's board has recommended investors accept a $9.05 billion takeover bid from the Qube consortium and will pay Brookfield Infrastructure a $88 million break fee after the Canadian group missed the deadline for making matching or superior offer for the ports and rail group. http://www.smh.com.au/business/asciano-board-accepts-qube-takeover-bid-as-brookfield-doesnt-counteroffer-20160215-gmuymw.html

There are (or were) a couple of prototype Inglenooks around NSW. Some bits of Clyde Yard, the down end of Glen Innes, the repair sidings at Goulburn and Grafton, the flour mill at Murruburrah, the Keys sidings at Narrabri. Just a few I have spotted looking at signalling diagrams. Cheers David

Until a few years ago they had to couple up and connect the brake hose. There was a lineside light at the summit to help the crew uncouple. AIUI they now put a U bolt across the top of coupler on the lead bank engine that prevents the locking pin dropping. Cheers David

An Aurizon coal train on the torturous Ardglen Bank. 8,300hp up front and 13,000hp banking. Cheers David

This is clearly referring to movies.

(I have cleaned up the punchline of this one. Use your imagination.) The local town band had been running for nearly 100 years and due to dwindling numbers had gone through a few mergers. Their instruments were in need of replacing so the committee decided to do a bit of fundraising in the local area. The Treasurer himself decided to start in his own street that Saturday morning, starting at house #1. He knocked at the door, a young lady answered and the Treasurer and gave his prepared fundraising speech. "Good morning, I'm the Treasurer of the Harford-Predingworth-Woolingham-Lowsley-Fletchney Beautiful Brass and Pleasing Percussion Ensemble and we're doing some fundraising to buy new instruments. I wonder if you'd be interested in making a small donation?" The young lady said "Of course, I always enjoy listening to the band." She put her hand in her purse and donated £10. The Treasurer was pleased with this and moved on to the next house. He knocked on the door, a middle aged man answered and the Treasurer and gave his prepared fundraising speech. "Good morning, I'm the Treasurer of the Harford-Predingworth-Woolingham-Lowsley-Fletchney Beautiful Brass and Pleasing Percussion Ensemble and we're doing some fundraising to buy new instruments. I wonder if you'd be interested in making a small donation?" The middle aged man said "You know, my grandfather helped start that band so it's the least I can do." He put his hand in his pocket and donated £20. The Treasurer was very pleased with this so moved on to the next house. He knocked on the door, a rather frail old lady answered and the Treasurer and gave his prepared fundraising speech. "Good morning, I'm the Treasurer of the Harford-Predingworth-Woolingham-Lowsley-Fletchney Beautiful Brass and Pleasing Percussion Ensemble and we're doing some fundraising to buy new instruments. I wonder if you'd be interested in making a small donation?" The old lady put her hand to her ear, adjusted her hearing aid and said "Eh?" The Treasurer tried again. "Good morning, I'm the Treasurer of the Harford-Predingworth-Woolingham-Lowsley-Fletchney Beautiful Brass and Pleasing Percussion Ensemble and we're doing some fundraising to buy new instruments. I wonder if you'd be interested in making a small donation?" The old lady put her hand to her other ear adjusted her other hearing aid and said "Eh?" The Treasurer tried again, much louder this time. "Good morning, I'm the Treasurer of the Harford-Predingworth-Woolingham-Lowsley-Fletchney Beautiful Brass and Pleasing Percussion Ensemble and we're doing some fundraising to buy new instruments. I wonder if you'd be interested in making a small donation?" The old lady fiddled with both hearing aids and said "I'm afraid I can't quite hear you." The Treasurer gave up, smiled politely and turned to leave. As he was walking down the path the lady said "Mind the gate". As he approached the end of the path the Treasurer muttered under his breath "Oh, sod your gate". The old lady put both hands to her mouth and shouted "And sod your Harford-Predingworth-Woolingham-Lowsley-Fletchney Beautiful Brass and Pleasing Percussion Ensemble!"

Qube consortium makes $9b takeover offer for Asciano Brookfield Infrastructure's $9 billion takeover bid for Asciano has been formally challenged, with a Qube-led consortium making a binding offer valuing the ports and rail group at $9.08 per share. http://www.smh.com.au/business/qube-consortium-makes-rival-9b-takeover-offer-for-asciano-20160127-gmflef.html