DavidB-AU Posted September 29, 2013 Author Share Posted September 29, 2013 4520 on yesterday's Southern Highlander. Cheers David 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
69843 Posted September 29, 2013 Share Posted September 29, 2013 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... 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRman Posted September 29, 2013 Share Posted September 29, 2013 Some very nice video footage of the 45 there, David. Interesting 'substitution' too, 69843. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazmanjack Posted September 29, 2013 Share Posted September 29, 2013 Nice video David. Personally, I would like to see a 44, 42 or a 421 on the front, reminesent of the old Central West Express, or Daylight Express's... But, then again, beggers can't be choosers...! 69843, (hi mate, AMRA soon?) you say that there was a fire ban,(presumably the Southern Highlands) but today (Sunday), the Heritage Express/RTM was running a steam hauled train from Central to Hurstville. Before returning their train to Thirlmere, leaving Central around 12.30, passing Padstow just before 1pm... Cheers, Gary. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
69843 Posted September 29, 2013 Share Posted September 29, 2013 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. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidB-AU Posted October 7, 2013 Author Share Posted October 7, 2013 The second Carnival of Flowers steam train form the Sunday, which was supposed to be unassisted but it didn't turn out that way. It shows the two torturous climbs on the route to Toowoomba, the Little Liverpool Range just west of Grandchester (the second half of the first video) and the main slog up the Great Dividing Range where the line climbs 2500 feet in 29 miles. In first part of the second video you can see how much of the track (with orange tape beside it and/or new ballast) was completely rebuilt after the 2011 floods. If you know where to look there is also a brief shot of me hanging out of one of the windows. Cheers David 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
69843 Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 With the large bushfire currently burning out the back in the Blue Mountains, the news is looking terrible for the Zig Zag Railway. As of 10:47PM, it would seem according to the NSW Rural Fire Service website that the line has been hit, and hit hard. The attached is a screenshot of the fire spread over the Zig Zag (Top points under slider, Clarence over on right). Valley Heights (RTM outpost) is currently near another out of control fire as well. Whilst I know I am talking on the railway side of it, I also hope that there are no fatalities or serious injuries with the fires, not only in the Blue Mountains, but throughout the whole of NSW. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidB-AU Posted October 18, 2013 Author Share Posted October 18, 2013 There has been at least one fatality from the fire and the number of homes destroyed is now in the hundreds. The news from the Zig Zag Railway is not good. All accommodation carriages, some operational carriages and 2 rail motors have been destroyed. The office has been destroyed and the workshop damaged. The carriages inside the shed, the station and signal box have survived. No significant damage to locomotives apart from paintwork. No word yet on Top Points, Edgecombe or track damage. Clarence appears to be intact although the fire came very close (houses were destroyed nearby). The nearby Lithgow State Mine Heritage Park & Railway has been spared, but this is how close it came. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidB-AU Posted October 18, 2013 Author Share Posted October 18, 2013 Update: One of the first photos from Bottom Points: https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/q71/1392011_10200973171998577_1083327492_n.jpg David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidB-AU Posted October 18, 2013 Author Share Posted October 18, 2013 Some more pics of the fire damage. https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/1186737_10152284107882067_1895097219_n.jpg https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/q71/1384042_10152284107262067_1987775437_n.jpg https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/q71/1377305_10152284107337067_635338333_n.jpg https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/q71/1390673_10152284107757067_644656151_n.jpg https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/q71/1378544_408125519313253_1994239926_n.jpg Confirmed losses at Bottom Points are RM2016, accommodation carriages, six other carriages, the machine shop and the office. Damage at Top Points was confined to the relay hut. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bodmin16 Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 Some more pics of the fire damage. Confirmed losses at Bottom Points are RM2016, accommodation carriages, six other carriages, the machine shop and the office. Damage at Top Points was confined to the relay hut. David So very unfortunate, the Zig-Zag is a wonderful and unique railway and it it such a pity that the odds have been stacked against the preservationists in recent times. I sincerely hope that they can recover from this latest set back. Went there when we were in Australia some 5 or 6 years ago, a brilliant and different experience. Good luck guys!! Alan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidB-AU Posted October 19, 2013 Author Share Posted October 19, 2013 Fire tears through iconic Zig Zag RailwayFire damage running into the millions of dollars has crippled Zig Zag Railway, one of the Blue Mountains' renowned tourist attractions.The railway was, until Thursday, on the cusp of reopening train rides to the public when it became a victim of New South Wales' crushing spring bush fire disaster.http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/fire-tears-through-iconic-zig-zag-railway-20131019-2vt6v.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted October 19, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 19, 2013 Terrible shame - it is a great line and I hope it can recover. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidB-AU Posted October 20, 2013 Author Share Posted October 20, 2013 Zig Zag Reserve after the fire. https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1102412_408631842595954_1968087336_o.jpg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozexpatriate Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 Very distressing. Assuming it found it's way to the southside, there's a good chance I travelled on RM2016 during it's service life. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted October 21, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 21, 2013 2016 in happier times (10 February 2005) at Clarence 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidB-AU Posted October 22, 2013 Author Share Posted October 22, 2013 1089 running from Brisbane to Landsborough last Saturday. I had hoped to go on this trip but had a convention meeting (shameless plug in my sig). Cheers David 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted October 22, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 22, 2013 Very nice thank you David - all I got to see at Landsborough was diesels on freight (but there was a very nice bakery there ). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidB-AU Posted October 23, 2013 Author Share Posted October 23, 2013 I can recommend the Just 4 Gossip cafe. Really good coffee! Cheers David 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidB-AU Posted October 23, 2013 Author Share Posted October 23, 2013 Some remarkable drone camera video of the Lithgow fire, including some of the damage to Zig Zag. Cheers David 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
69843 Posted October 26, 2013 Share Posted October 26, 2013 Well, to take the topic away from the fires and the sad plight of the Zig Zag, Heritage Express is running the Newcastle Flyer tomorrow (although with no 36, due to the fire bans). The consist is now, as far as I'm aware loco wise, 4490/4520, GMS, MCA, FS, RFN, CN, HN, ABS, PFZ, 4490/4520 (I'm not sure right now which engine will be leading and trailing). Timings are: Sydney Terminal 0848, Strathfield 0901/0903, West Ride 0913, Hornsby 0936/0938, Cowan 0953, Hawkesbury River 1003, Gosford 1027/1050 (trailing diesel detaches*), Morriset 1142, Broadmeadow 1202, Civic 1210/1212, Newcastle 1215. The train will then be turned and return: Newcastle 1527, Civic 1529/1531, Broadmeadow 1540, Morriset 1622, Gosford 1701/1721 (*diesel re-attaches), Hawksbury River 1747, Cowan 1803, Hornsby 1826/1829, West Ride 1854, Strathfield 1904/1907, Central 1922. *Diesel departs Gosford 1055, Morriset 1132, Broadmeadow 1210, Newcastle 1220/1533 (not sure of mid arrangement with the altered train consist), Broadmeadow 1545, Morriset 1627, Gosford 1715* The light movement may change, but that is to been seen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidB-AU Posted November 10, 2013 Author Share Posted November 10, 2013 As if Zig Zag haven't suffered enough, a few nights ago the remains of the damaged workshop were ransacked. A compressor and generator which had escaped fire damaged and stocks of brass and copper were stolen. Cheers David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
69843 Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 That is absolutely shocking to hear. Is there no length the scum of society won't go through just to make a quick buck? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidB-AU Posted December 1, 2013 Author Share Posted December 1, 2013 3237 on the Main South. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
69843 Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 Some footage of last month's Steam to the Surf trip, with a good chunk of my own footage (at Sutherland) 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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