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25.01.2022 Inside the cover of Railway Digest, October 2020 Edition. Darkness Falls: Trains by Night Chris Walters believes that if you love photography and railways, that’s a marriage made in heaven, for trains make fascinating and even dramatic and evocative subjects. However, traditionally when the sun sinks below the horizon, many photographers pack away their gear. Chris has always felt that this was a bit of a shame, for the night time has the potential for some very interesting p...hotographic opportunities, as he discusses and demonstrates. A bridge too farThe story of the Avon River A major piece of engineering on the railway into Gippsland in eastern Victoria was the crossing of the Avon River, a short distance on the Up (west) side of Stratford, by a long bridge running roughly north/south with the southern approach being at the Up end. As David Campbell relates, ongoing problems with the bridge a result of spanning a river that has changed course over the years and is notorious for its ability to transition from a trickle to a flood in a matter of hours led to the decision to replace it with a new bridge on a more suitable alignment. Travels along the South West Main In July 2020, an opportunity arose for Phil Melling to revisit the south west of Western Australia. Trains run there seven days a week, so you would have to be unlucky not to see some rail action, and as Phil discovered, the locomotives in use are different north and south of Pinjarra. The Quintessential North Coast To Stephen Miller, the NSW North Coast line is one of the most picturesque in Australia. The tranquillity regularly draws him back, photographing trains amongst some of Australia’s most breath-taking scenery. The charming infrastructure includes wrought-iron truss bridges and A3-style platform buildings surrounded by rolling-green hills and rich eucalyptus forests that bring even the dullest locomotives to life.

22.01.2022 An update on the Rosie (5367) Restoration at Cowra. G'day Rosie followers! After two months of fortnightly weekend working bees on Rosie's restoration, I thoug...ht it might be time to give you a bit of an update on this project. In readiness for the boiler inspector, the boiler was washed out and the cladding removed from around the firebox. However, all work in the cab came to a screeching halt when we discovered there was about two square metres of asbestos insulation behind the backhead cladding still left behind from years ago. Fortunately, Central West Asbestos Removal were able to remove it all promptly, then clean and certify the area safe. Bernie, their asbestos hygienest, lives directly opposite the mainline and used to play in the roundhouse back in the 1960s when he was a kid and so he was more than happy to assist our cause. With the asbestos removed and the area certified safe, the rust on the firebox outer wrapper was wire brushed off and is now ready for high pressure water blasting, then painting with high temperature paint. Meanwhile, steel patches were welded over all the rust holes in the ashpan and new fire grates found to replace some that were burnt out. On the tender, the axle boxes and brasses were inspected, axle lubricators serviced, and axle boxes filled with new oil. The brake cylinder piston cups were found to be perished and perforated, so new piston cups have been sourced and ready for installing, post honing out the cylinders. Triple valves have been inspected, cleaned and greased. All the missing parts for the intermediate draw gear (between the engine and tender) have been found and installed, except for one drawbar. This weekend (10th & 11th Oct) will be the next fortnightly working bee weekend, when we hope to peel back the cladding and fibreglass lagging from the bottom of the boiler barrel, wire brush the bottom of the barrel and commence ultrasonic metal thickness measurements of the lower barrel on a 300mm grid pattern for the boiler inspector. Unfortunately, there is a main air reservoir directly below the boiler barrel which is in the way and removing it has proved to be most problematic. It won't fit between a frame stretcher and an axle so it appears the only way to remove the air reservoir is by jacking up the engine by two inches!! (unbelievable!) The jacks are ready to be positioned, so this will be our first job this Saturday. Whist the main reservoir is out, we will give it a pressure vessel inspection. If you're keen to lend a hand and/or learn about steam locomotive maintenance, please feel free to come and join our motivated team. I'll be leaving Lithgow at 0700 on Saturday, if anyone needs a lift from Lithgow Station, and returning Sunday afternoon. Hope to see you there! Cheers for now! Finally, please spare a thought for the society and remember we have not produced any consistent income in 2020 as a result of the bush fire crisis and now COVID-19. If you are capable of sparing a tax deductible donation (more than $2) the society will be thankful - and in return we can keep producing quality outcomes while preserving rail heritage. Remember our door is always open if you want to assist in any area of the LVR, we will be grateful to have you onboard. https://www.lvr.com.au/donate/ - for a donation. Link if you wish to join the LVR; https://www.lvr.com.au/join-lvr-2/

21.01.2022 4615 TO BE RETURNED TO OPERATION Today, it was announced that Sydney Electric Train Society had been successful with its application for a Transport Heritage Gr...ant to refit two original pantographs to locomotive 4615, which will bring it back to operational status. We would like to thank the NSW Government, Transport Heritage NSW, and Royal Australian Historical Society for providing the Society with the opportunity to proceed with this project, and hopefully bring our locomotive back to life to share with the people of NSW!

20.01.2022 We are proud to be building 18 more VLocity trains at our Australian HQ in Dandenong. The order for these award winning trains is thanks to our customers in th...e Department of Transport, Victoria and Transport Minister Ben Carroll. We use a diverse local supply chain and have approximately 500 people employed at this site. In building these trains from the ground up, we use 69 per cent local content and are the only end-to-end train manufacturer in #Australia. Get the full story here: https://bit.ly/2Fmg3Hl #TogetherWeMove #rail #railways #train #publictransport #urbanmobility #pressrelease

19.01.2022 The first #XTrapolis train hit the #Melbourne rail network in 2002! Nearly two decades on, we now have more than 200 of these trains operating to keep you mov...ing safely and reliably. Do you know which train the X’Trapolis replaced? #HowItStarted #HowItsGoing #publictransport #metrotrains (: Weston Langford)

18.01.2022 LOCOMOTIVE 3801 UPDATE Following a successful first day of crew training and testing, locomotive 3801 will operate a second trip from Picton to Goulburn and re...turn tomorrow. WEDNESDAY 23 SEPTEMBER TIMETABLE: The below times are indicative only and subject to change without notice: Thirlmere 0540 Picton 0605-0620 Moss Vale 0728-0806 Goulburn 0915-1215 Moss Vale 1323-1345 Picton 1438-1449 Thirlmere 1513 SAFETY FIRST: If you intend on catching a glimpse of 3801, please remember to maintain social distancing, stand behind the yellow line at stations and remain only in publicly accessible areas, clear of the rail corridor. Sam Roach

17.01.2022 We are proud to be building 18 more VLocity trains at our Australian HQ in Dandenong. The order for these award winning trains is thanks to our customers in th...e Department of Transport, Victoria and Transport Minister Ben Carroll. We use a diverse local supply chain and have approximately 500 people employed at this site. In building these trains from the ground up, we use 69 per cent local content and are the only end-to-end train manufacturer in #Australia. Get the full story here: https://bit.ly/2Fmg3Hl #TogetherWeMove #rail #railways #train #publictransport #urbanmobility #pressrelease

17.01.2022 LOCOMOTIVE 3801 UPDATE Following a successful first day of crew training and testing, locomotive 3801 will operate a second trip from Picton to Goulburn and re...turn tomorrow. WEDNESDAY 23 SEPTEMBER TIMETABLE: The below times are indicative only and subject to change without notice: Thirlmere 0540 Picton 0605-0620 Moss Vale 0728-0806 Goulburn 0915-1215 Moss Vale 1323-1345 Picton 1438-1449 Thirlmere 1513 SAFETY FIRST: If you intend on catching a glimpse of 3801, please remember to maintain social distancing, stand behind the yellow line at stations and remain only in publicly accessible areas, clear of the rail corridor. Sam Roach

15.01.2022 Come and visit the new ARHS Bookshop. Address - 5 Henderson Rd, Alexandria NSW, 2015.

15.01.2022 Today marks 20 years since the start of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Lets take a step back in time and look at how Sydney's rail network, together with buses, ferries and taxis underpinned 'the best games ever'! #MySydney2000

13.01.2022 This month inside the August 2020 Edition of Railway Digest ... Brisbane’s Cross River Rail Link moving forward Overseen by the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority, the multi-billion-dollar Cross River Rail project, linking Dutton Park to Roma Street station via an underground route through Brisbane’s CBD, is now starting to take shape, with the most visible activity taking place at Roma Street station. Estimated to cost $5.4 billion, Cross River Rail will comprise a 10.2 ki...lometre rail link from Dutton Park via Woolloongabba and the CBD to Bowen Hills that will include 5.9 kilometres of twin tunnels from Dutton Park, under the Brisbane River and the CBD and emerging to join the Exhibition Loop at Normanby. John Hoyle reports. What do you get when you cross a train with a tram? Melbourne’s tram network is reputedly the largest by distance in the world with approximately 250 route kilometres. At one time there were 14 train-tram flat crossings but all except three have now been replaced with bridges, mostly tram over train, or the railway has been closed. Malcolm Simister takes a look at the three that remain (so far) and at their particular eccentricities. In search of the Piping Shrike The diesel locomotive fleet of the former South Australian Railways is an interesting one to consider for a number of reasons. Like the Tasmanian Government Railways and the Commonwealth Railways, it could be argued that its story was truncated by the 1975 nationalisation that saw the three rolled up into what would eventually become Australian National. Chris Walters explains how the diesel era on the SAR was characterised by a few things that set it apart from the other states, and provides an update on the current whereabouts of that era’s survivors.

11.01.2022 Fleet Maintenance? More like sweet maintenance!.. right? From minor inspectons to major overhauls involving 9-tonne bogie sets (fancy term for wheels), every day is different for those who make sure our trains are safe, reliable and comfortable.

11.01.2022 Thanks to Jim for sharing a photo with us. A new DGWY Grain Wagon on Watco Grain Train 6H38 at Thallon, QLD on October 19, 2020.

10.01.2022 Inside the cover of the September 2020 Edition of Railway Digest ... Isis mill’s new railway taking shape The Isis Central Sugar Mill, located near Childers, 50 kilometres south west of Bundaberg, has been looking at ways to reduce the cost of hauling cane from the Wallaville area, the mill’s second largest area of cane supply but currently served only by road transport. In 2018 the mill’s Board voted to proceed with the construction of a $17 million, 39 kilometre long railwa...y to serve the area, expected to provide cost savings of $1.5 million per annum and help secure additional sugar cane volumes from the region. John Hoyle reports. In search of the Piping Shrike Part 2 As discussed in Part 1, in the August RD, the former South Australian Railways (SAR) diesel locomotive fleet is now in its commercial service twilight. In Part 2, Chris Walters puts the spotlight on the last remnants of the Goodwin/ALCo 830 Class, including those modified to become the ‘new’ 900 class, as they continue to represent the SAR well into the 21st century. The current disposition of the 830 Class, and the entirety of the former SAR diesel fleet, is also listed in an accompanying status table. A nostalgic journey from Parkes to Menindee Back in the 1970s and 80s, Mark Zanker was a frequent traveller on the legendary Silver City Comet, the ground-breaking diesel train that provided an air-conditioned passenger service between Parkes and Broken Hill for 52 years. In 2019, the 30th anniversary of the Comet’s retirement, Mark decided to take a nostalgic journey on its present-day replacement, the Outback Xplorer. However, as he now mainly relies on a small electric scooter to move around, this was not as easy as it sounds.

09.01.2022 What is rail heritage without some 47 action under a clear blue sky? Work has been undertaken at Eveleigh today remarshalling our iron horses in preparation for the next round of AK car hire. AK-47, get it?

07.01.2022 Today marks 20 years since the start of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Lets take a step back in time and look at how Sydney's rail network, together with buses, ferries and taxis underpinned 'the best games ever'! #MySydney2000

06.01.2022 Thanks to Jim for sharing a photo with us. A new DGWY Grain Wagon on Watco Grain Train 6H38 at Thallon, QLD on October 19, 2020.

05.01.2022 CLF1 fresh out of the SRHC paint shop looking sharp in its new SSR livery. Great work guys! Photo by Brandon Parsons

05.01.2022 Fleet Maintenance? More like sweet maintenance!.. right? From minor inspectons to major overhauls involving 9-tonne bogie sets (fancy term for wheels), every day is different for those who make sure our trains are safe, reliable and comfortable.

03.01.2022 What inside the cover of Railway Digest, November 2020 Edition? To Goulburn and back during Covid Neville Pollard had a choice to make; stay at home and protect his septuagenarian frame from Covid-19, or visit family at Goulburn, not seen for many weeks! He chose the latter, and had an interesting journey on the Canberra Xplorer as a result. ... The 2020 Australasian Rail Industry Awards The outstanding achievements of the rail industry were celebrated at the Australasian Rail Industry Awards in a virtual ceremony live-streamed across the country on Thursday 16 October. As long-time media partner in the yearly event, Railway Digest was ‘there’! NSW D Sets poised for commissioning Covered previously in Railway Digest has been the arrival and pre-commissioning testing of the first examples of NSW Trainlink’s D Sets. Following almost a year of testing, the trains are poised to enter service before the end of this year. For those coming to the story late, Chris Walters provides a brief recap. Watco launches its cattle train services On Wednesday, 16 September 2020 a new era in Queensland rail freight commenced when Watco Australia operated its first cattle train from the western Queensland town of Morven to Oakey Beef Exports meat works. John Hoyle reports. The Vlocity Mark 4 The Bombardier Vlocity railcars, now with close to 250 cars in service have become the backbone of V/Line’s regional passenger train fleet. Tim Sutherland takes a look at the latest members of the Vlocity family; the VL2018 sets, aka the Vlocity Mark 4. Kalgoorlie-Esperance Rail Operations 2020 In July this year, Phil Melling spent 10 days covering rail operations around Kalgoorlie and south along the line to Esperance, and has provided this snapshot of the varied activities in the area, along with some of the other (non-rail) attractions that make a visit there worthwhile.

02.01.2022 8649 is now settling in at Enfield whilst awaiting the fitting of a pantograph so that final testing can be undertaken. The two cabs have come up very well inde...ed! Don't forget, if you would like to help to get 8649 painted into Candy livery, please make your donations to our fundraiser using the link below! https://gf.me/u/ym6qd3

01.01.2022 An update on the Rosie (5367) Restoration at Cowra. G'day Rosie followers! After two months of fortnightly weekend working bees on Rosie's restoration, I thoug...ht it might be time to give you a bit of an update on this project. In readiness for the boiler inspector, the boiler was washed out and the cladding removed from around the firebox. However, all work in the cab came to a screeching halt when we discovered there was about two square metres of asbestos insulation behind the backhead cladding still left behind from years ago. Fortunately, Central West Asbestos Removal were able to remove it all promptly, then clean and certify the area safe. Bernie, their asbestos hygienest, lives directly opposite the mainline and used to play in the roundhouse back in the 1960s when he was a kid and so he was more than happy to assist our cause. With the asbestos removed and the area certified safe, the rust on the firebox outer wrapper was wire brushed off and is now ready for high pressure water blasting, then painting with high temperature paint. Meanwhile, steel patches were welded over all the rust holes in the ashpan and new fire grates found to replace some that were burnt out. On the tender, the axle boxes and brasses were inspected, axle lubricators serviced, and axle boxes filled with new oil. The brake cylinder piston cups were found to be perished and perforated, so new piston cups have been sourced and ready for installing, post honing out the cylinders. Triple valves have been inspected, cleaned and greased. All the missing parts for the intermediate draw gear (between the engine and tender) have been found and installed, except for one drawbar. This weekend (10th & 11th Oct) will be the next fortnightly working bee weekend, when we hope to peel back the cladding and fibreglass lagging from the bottom of the boiler barrel, wire brush the bottom of the barrel and commence ultrasonic metal thickness measurements of the lower barrel on a 300mm grid pattern for the boiler inspector. Unfortunately, there is a main air reservoir directly below the boiler barrel which is in the way and removing it has proved to be most problematic. It won't fit between a frame stretcher and an axle so it appears the only way to remove the air reservoir is by jacking up the engine by two inches!! (unbelievable!) The jacks are ready to be positioned, so this will be our first job this Saturday. Whist the main reservoir is out, we will give it a pressure vessel inspection. If you're keen to lend a hand and/or learn about steam locomotive maintenance, please feel free to come and join our motivated team. I'll be leaving Lithgow at 0700 on Saturday, if anyone needs a lift from Lithgow Station, and returning Sunday afternoon. Hope to see you there! Cheers for now! Finally, please spare a thought for the society and remember we have not produced any consistent income in 2020 as a result of the bush fire crisis and now COVID-19. If you are capable of sparing a tax deductible donation (more than $2) the society will be thankful - and in return we can keep producing quality outcomes while preserving rail heritage. Remember our door is always open if you want to assist in any area of the LVR, we will be grateful to have you onboard. https://www.lvr.com.au/donate/ - for a donation. Link if you wish to join the LVR; https://www.lvr.com.au/join-lvr-2/

01.01.2022 The first #XTrapolis train hit the #Melbourne rail network in 2002! Nearly two decades on, we now have more than 200 of these trains operating to keep you mov...ing safely and reliably. Do you know which train the X’Trapolis replaced? #HowItStarted #HowItsGoing #publictransport #metrotrains (: Weston Langford)