2014 comes to an end...

I hope you've all had a great Christmas... This year I have travelled  far and wide with my trusty girlfriend and my camera, photographing locos and rollingstock in South Australia and New South Wales. Early next year I will go to Tasmania for the first time and hopefully get to photograph a few trains while I'm there. Here are some pics I've taken over the course of this year that did not make the blog but are worthy of a look. Wishing you all a safe and happy new year..

6023/6027 power across the bridge at Murray Bridge SA

G513 and G514 rumble over a road overpass towards Lithgow
from the state mine NSW

VL356 sitting in the Chullora yard NSW

NR107 plus another NR roar through Peterborough SA

3237 crosses the Hunter river on a tour train NSW

8125 sits idle in the Manildra group yard Bomaderry NSW

HL203 at Trainworks Thirlmere NSW

3237/5917 crossing the bridge at Dora Creek NSW

7319 looks almost abandoned in Bomaderry NSW

Till next time
 Mathew Hughes

Hunter Valley Railway Trust pt2

Here are a few more pics from The Hunter Valley Railway Trust in Rothbury...

1048 30T Cowans Sheldon breakdown crane

The end of the line for this carriage 

7350 is a diesel-hydraulic locomotive built by Walkers
Limited  Maryborough QLD

This is an interesting 12 wheeler maybe a former way and works van

This is another interesting piece of rollingstock. Was this one of the
wagons on the museum train?

X215 a little diesel shunter for the NSWGR

A former NSWGR PHV power van currently used on the Blue Zephyr

4703 in a rather unique paint scheme

The tank off a bogie water jin

4903 with a modified nose from use with Patrick Corporation 
container services

Till next time
Mathew Hughes

Hunter Valley Railway Trust

Well the misses had this crazy idea to see if we could get into the Hunter Valley Railway Trust in Rothbury, before we chased the 32cl to Singleton (I know, what woman wants to go look at trains??). With a call, a text and a bit of researching/organising, the next thing I know we were allowed to go look around. After a short drive out there, we arrived at the main gates and drove in to the property which was very quiet and seemed to be deserted, with nobody around..We noticed that one of the carriages was being used as accommodation so we called out and a man came out to meet us.We let him know that we had permission to look around and he said go for it!!  I was kind of expecting a guided tour but we had free reign of the place and that was great. There is plenty to look at and well worth the look if you can get in. The only reason I say "if you can get in" is because of the negative comments I have read on the Internet but I can't say anything bad about the place (besides the flies), or the people who run it, I mean we were encouraged to climb inside the Blue Zephyr and walk the length of it and to go in the shed/workshop and look at the SMR 10s and the VR R-class. One thing that did surprise me was how many locomotives there were on site 4204/4472/4703/4903/X215/4627/7350/The R class and a few SMR 10s.

SMR 31 and R766 look odd sitting together 

FHH 2218 in faded candy scheme 

4627 in Freight Rail colours

RDH 2239 with Austrac signage 

Sleeping car DAM 2338

From tuscan to candy to this private operator scheme 

SMR 20 sitting in the shed

As I was wandering around I noticed a roof section of an 80cl
I didn't see the rest of it anywhere, maybe cut up?

BHZ2224 in a faded rusty candy scheme

These are just some of the many pics I took on the day. More to come in my next blog..

Till next time
 Mathew Hughes

R766 The standard gauge R class

Recently I was lucky enough to have a self tour at the Hunter Valley Railway Museum in Rothbury, where I saw many historic locomotives and rollingstock. I made the most of my opportunity, taking as many photos as I could. Seeing the R766 sitting in the workshop was quite a thrill. It has had a few owners/care takers over the years -VR/Australian Vintage Travel, 766 Syndicate/West Coast railways and now Hunter Valley Railway Trust, where it is now slowly being converted to standard gauge from broad gauge. It was also odd to see it sitting next to a SMR 10 class. I hope its not too long before its running again.

More photos from Rothbury to come
Till next time
 Mathew Hughes

Rotting Row (behind Trainworks Thirlmere)

  Recently we went for a trip to Trainworks Thirlmere and outside their compound, down the track a little, lays what I like to call Rotting Row.The railway vehicles look like they are literally rusted to the rails (I have always wanted to use that line in a blog entry). It is a real shame to see some rare stuff like the Baldwin tender and J.A.Brown's No5  in that condition but I do understand that the rail museums cant afford to save and preserve everything.

Two BBW wagons loaded with ballast. 

RVX-2 track recording car.

         Special service van no2 L1064 (formally SHO 636) has definitely seen better days.

A CV and a HG brake van with a modified roof for the electrification project. 

                     
                           J.A.Brown's No5 (The Major) built in 1885 in England by Beyer
                             Peacock and withdrawn from service in 1942.

A Baldwin tender last used on  loco 1957. The letters OTHR

I think stands for Oberon Tarana Heritage Railway.

Two S-trucks with LCL containers

A bit further down towards Couridjah there is a tender from loco 1709. 

 We managed to snap these shots while riding past on the 2705. Unless you're actually looking for it from the road, it is pretty hard to spot, as it is sitting alone beside the track.

Till next time
 Mathew Hughes