Recent content by RozzaDownunder

As it currently stands, the occasional talk that does crop up about high-speed rail is usually a pie-in-the-sky pork barrelling election promise. The current focus with the infrastructure that exists is geared toward improving freight transit times and reliability: resleepering, ballast...

Very true. However, I am somewhat surprised the Pelton PL's were scrapped, as they would have been ideal replacement units for the 48's currently in service on Western NSW grain work, PLs having of course been refurbished circa-1997 with much better forward vision. I'd be inclined to disagree...

Nice vid there, never been to SA. :) On a sad note, the PLs are slowly disappearing (if not already), all the Pelton coal units (Pelton being in the aforementioned Hunter Valley Coalfields for those overseas) have been withdrawn, and I'm unsure as to whether scrapping has begun. Not even...

Heaviest freight service in normal patterns would be Hunter Valley Coal trains (trains running from the coalfields of the Hunter Valley to Newcastle [Pt Waratah]), weigh in the vicinity of ~9,000 tonnes, and are nowadays mostly hauled by brand-new C44ACi locomotives, which pump out about 4,500HP...

No worries steevp, always nice to share an insight into the mind boggling world that is Australian railway. Matt, the line to Blackheath is very scenic in places, however, if you really want a breathtaking ride, you've *got* to do Sydney-Newcastle on a V-set. For about 15kms, the line runs...

Paul, Firstly, I would like to sincerely apologise for not responding, I am still trying to work out how this forum works. "Gunzel" is a term used in Australia, and to a lesser extent, New Zealand, and just means train buff or railfan/enthusiast, but more specifically refers to rail fans...

New liveries are no longer a novelty in Australia, with privatisation, new operators popping up and dropping off is the norm nowadays.

G'day all! I've lurked here for a while, so I thought it might be time to contribute to this board. I'm a rail enthusiast based in Sydney, Australia, and take an interest in modern day workings around Sydney, as well as greater NSW. I have included some photos of some workings around NSW...

Eastwood (Australia)

G'day from DownUnder! There are several reasons for the demise of the Monorail 1. It is a total mass transit lemon. It does a pointless circle from Town Hall (a major tube-style station), all the way to Darling Harbour (a rail yard redeveloped as a tourist attraction in 1988). 2. Poor route...

Lewisham (Australia)

Is the competition limited to UK participants?

G'day from Downunder, With regards to the Spiral loop tunnel, in NSW, Australia, there are two of these tunnels, one at "Cougal" and one at "Bethungra".They are simply referred to as the "Cougal Spiral" and "Bethungra Spiral" respectively. Bethungra spiral is actually a series of cuttings...