Heritage Express: Gosford Trip (NSW).

On Sunday, the 22nd of November 2009, I went on a heritage train ride to gosford, hauled by a powerful, classic diesel locomotive (4490). This trip was originally scheduled to be hauled by steam loco 3642 (restored in 2008), but total fire bans for NSW on the day, ment that this train had to be hauled by diesel 4490. About 15 minutes after we arrived at Sydney Central Station, diesels 44211 & 4490 arrived in push-pull mode with a long train. For a reason not known to me, 44211 was detached from the train and only 4490 was to pull us! At 10:10 am 4490's horn sounded and we pulled out of the station. We sped through stations like Redfern. Near Redfern, I stuck my head out the window of the heritage carriage and looked over to the Large Erecting Shop (LES), wile thinking what future it has (probably not a good one!!). As we pulled into Hornsby station, a long freight train (hauled by Pacific National NR class diesel locos) passed us. Near Cowan we crossed another freight (hauled by an NR class, a 44 class & a DL class). We arrived at Gosford around 12:30 pm and left for Sydney around 2:20 pm.

It was a very enjoyable day. GOOD JOB HERITAGE EXPRESS!!!

Steam Events (November 2009 - May 2010)!

2009

November 21- Rail & Sail to Wolongong. (3642).

November 22- Central Coaster to Gosford. (Santa Steam Train, 3642).

2010

March 7- Thirlmere Flyer to Thirlmere Festival Of Steam. (3642).

March 7- Thirlmere Festival Of Steam. (2705, 3526 & 3642).

April 4- Thirlmere Flyer to Thirlmere Railway Museum. (Loco- 3526?).

April 4- Thirlmere Heritage Railway running, in conjunction with Thirlmere Flyer, Thirlmere Railway Museum. (2705).

May 15- Day Out With Thomas, Thirlmere Railway Museum & Thirlmere Heritage Railway. (Loco ?).

May 16- Day Out With Thomas, Thirlmere Railway Museum & Thirlmere Heritage Railway. (Loco ?).

A large gap!

PLEASE NOTE- WHEN YOU GET TO THE BOTTOM OF "PHOTOS OF MY BIRDS", THERE IS A BIG GAP. BUT IF YOU SCROLL DOWN, ALMOST TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE, YOU WILL FIND "STEAM TRAIN TRIP TO KIAMA, WITH 3642!

SORRY ABOUT THE GAP!

Pictures of steam train 3265, on its first official tour.

Steam Locomotive 3265 is seen here at Sydney Central Station, before a round trip to Bankstown, on September 20th 2009. This was the locos first official run, after an 11 year restoration to operation!

Photos from Featherdale Wildlife Park.

Photos of my birds.

Steam train trip to Kiama, with 3642.

Many people know that I have two loves- railways and birds. I go on many steam train trips and my most recent was to Kiama, on the NSW south coast. The train (hualed by famous steam loco 3642 and vintage desiel locos 44211 & 4306) departed Sydney Central Station at about 10:30am and passed the large erecting shop, at Redfern about 10 minutes later. The old, stored Red Ratterlers and 48 class desiels at the redfern sheds had seen better days. About an hour and a half or more later, we arrived at Wolongong station, to pick up passerngers. As we were here

for about 25 minutes, I got to get some GREAT

Above- The 3642.

photos of there 36 class. Soon we departed wolongong, with a cloud of steam! We arrived at Kiama pretty much on time and huge crowd of people, wanting to see the steam train, greeted us as we pulled in.

We were at Kiama for about 2 hours and before we left, I got to go in the cab of the fantastic 3642.

We had a smooth and fun ride home and arrived back in Sydney at about 5:30pm.

It was a great day and I highly recommend riding behind one of these great machines, with the NSWRTM (a steam train operator), even if your not a train lover!