The Picnic Train heads down the Main South part II

Friday  - Cootamundra Shuttles

Friday was a bit of a slow start, with a few of us booked on the first trip of the day, Junee to Cootamundra and return, leaving at 12:25.

Brunch in the railway refreshment rooms was popular and busy, but well worth it, and, as an added bonus, passing freights could be seen just out the door!

The Wollongong to Melbourne steel train rolls into Junee for a crew change.

Most of the group were heading back to Sydney and Melbourne on the daytime XPTs, which both pass through Junee at 1:24 and 1:51 respectively.

With the steely out of the way, the Picnic Train is next to depart.

While the entire section from Junee to Cootamundra is scenic farming country, the Bethungra Spiral is the highlight of the trip.

Trains heading north climb and loop around a mountain to gain altitude on a steady gradient, far easier than the original single line which descends down a steeper gradient for southbound trains.

Once around the spiral, the up and down lines parallel again for a couple of km, until just near Frampton the up line swings away in search of an easier gradient.

Our trip went smoothly, with the 59 performing well on the run north.

Cootamundra is a major railway junction, with the railway through Cootamundra West leading to Stockinbingal, Parkes and Broken Hill.

This line gives an easier alternative to the Main West line that crosses the Blue Mountains, so sees a lot of traffic, a map of this part of the network can be found here.

Cootamundra West Junction allows for trains coming from Stockinbingal to either turn north toward Sydney, or south into Cootamundra, this triangle junction is also an easy way of turning the entire train for the return trip to Junee - essentially a three point turn.

After having traversed the triangle, the train pulls into Cootamundra platform.

The trip back was also good, with the long climb out of Cootamundra had the loco working hard, it sounded great with the windows wide open to get a bit of air.

It was starting to get fairly hot, so there was thoughts of a swim at the motel before the second train departed, but the idea of a visit to the roundhouse won out in the end.

Our train had arrived back more or less on time at 3:10, with the second, and last trip out at 4:30, so there wasn't a lot of time to do a lot more than have a quick break, rehydrate, and head to the depot for a look before the train departed.

The roundhouse is a magnificent railway structure, with a turntable capable of handling the largest NSWGR locomotives. It’s surrounded by a building covering all but two of the tracks radiating off the turntable, and is currently used as part museum, part restoration centre, and is well worth a visit.

A section of the massive Junee roundhouse as the crew prepares 5917 for its second trip to Cootamundra.

As departure time drew closer, we headed out of town to find a spot, and had left it a bit late, as all the good locations were taken.

We finally settled at a reasonable place as the train was fast approaching, but I'm not going to share the mediocre results!

Bethungra Spiral was the next spot, after some parallel listening to the train galloping along.

The train was certainly making good time, so we didn't muck around too much, and headed to a spot about halfway around the curve where the train would be working hard, just past the two tunnels.

Roaring out of the big cutting on the Bethungra Spiral.

Once it roared past us, we were back in the Land Cruiser, and hoping to get to the level crossing before the train.

Back on the main road however, it was apparent from the smoke rising from the paddock, the train had started a couple of fires.

Further around the spiral, there was more fires taking hold in the scrub between the railway and the road.

There were a few cars stopped, and as we had little water or anything else to offer to put the fire out, as well as only wearing shorts and sandals kept going to get out of the way.

It beat us to the level crossing, so we continued to the main road underpass at Cootamundry Creek, not far out of Cootamundra.

I made my way up the side of the road cutting for a bit of a different angle, and waited, and waited, while there was some discussion about the train being stopped so as to not start more fires.

That certainly made sense to the Victorians on hand, where the slightest issue sees trains stopped until everything is deemed safe for the continuation of the journey.

Seeing as there was nothing happening, I left my vantage point, and headed back to the car for something to drink - which of course was the cue for the train to appear.

We headed into town, watched it turn at Coota West, and seemingly prepare to depart, at which point we headed back out to the Cootamundry Creek for another try.

Heading back into Cootamundra, past the junction to Cootamundra West. A short time earlier, the train gone funnel first off to the left, pushed back past the silver shed, then rejoined the main line, a classic three point turn.

Departure time came and went, and we eventually received word it was going to be a late departure, potentially without the steam loco, so with the sun getting low, we headed back to Junee for dinner.

The road was partially closed in one section, with fire trucks on the railway line wetting down smouldering shrubbery, so we were doubtful if the train would even return that night.

Second night in a row, we went to the Ex Services Memorial Club, nice food, open that bit later which suited our seemingly nocturnal activities, and good company, as the other Victorian enthusiasts also joined us for dinner.

There's a great level of camaraderie within the railfan community, you seem to migrate towards people with similar interests within the broader cohort - even if it's only every 12 - 18 months or more that you bump into each other.

Tonight was one of those nights, and the conversation, and company was certainly enjoyable.

Alan Williams was one of this group, His YouTube channel Round the world in a steamy haze is well worth a look. I’d followed Alan to a few locations the day before, and we’d had a chance to catch up trackside for a chat while waiting for trains, always good company!

Eventually after dinner we received an update the train was on its way, so a couple of us wandered back up to the station - I had time to pick up my tripod to get some longer exposure shots. The train arrived with an unexpected addition on the front, diesel 42103 'Chumster' had been roped in to pilot the train back, assumedly to minimise any risk of starting fires.

A late arrival into Junee under the moonlight with 42103 leading the way.

We took a few photos and chatted to other enthusiasts as the train was remarshalled in between the various freights that were passing through and changing crews.

Another long day for the crew, and they had an early start Saturday morning to run shuttles out of Wagga Wagga.

With the clock showing 20 past 10, the last of the passengers leave the train.

Given the circumstances, we weren't actually sure if it would still be steam hauled, but set alarms accordingly to chase the train from Junee to Wagga, a distance of around 33km.

The plan was chase the transfer trip, head out to Kapooka to the top of a steep climb and photograph the first shuttle on its way to Uranquinty,  ride the second, photograph the third, then head home to Melbourne.

Saturday - Uranquinty here we come

Happily, I awoke to the sounds of the steam loco shuffling around the yard, so a quick shower, pack the car, and we were ready to go.

Joining me for the day was another good friend who had arrived on the XPT Friday afternoon, who was going to be travelling on another vintage train in a few days time, the Southern Explorer. You can check out Jules's videos here.

A bit of a tailgate conference about possible photo locations with our dinner companions the night before, and off we went (after quickly checking out).

I was set on getting a photo from the same location as the cover photo from the website, the curve just over the top of the sharp climb out of Junee.

From there, a shot of the massive Murrumbidgee flood plain bridge was on the list, but in-between, if anything could be taken, it was fair game!

Things went smoothly, with the first location in the bag, it was back off to catch the train.

On the single track now, the train swings past the distant signal for trains approaching Junee from the south.

We caught it again before Harefield, and were able to get some more parallel running footage, before getting in front to take another shot, just south of Shepherds with the silos in the background.

Twisting through the curves south of Shepherds.

It's not that far into the built up area of Bomen and North Wagga, so we cut straight to the flood plain bridge, and as there was quite an assembled crowd, elected to get a side on shot, rather than anything 3/4.

The 3000m long Murrumbidgee river bridge stretches out across the wide floodplain on the north side of the river, it’s almost incomprehensible that the water can spread out so far, and so deep!

Another quick discussion with Alan, and we set out for Kapooka, south of Wagga where the line climbs almost all the way from Wagga station, and flattens out slightly, but is still a considerable haul.

Last time I was here for 3801, we set up for breakfast, cooking bacon and eggs with the sound of machine gun fire from the nearby army base providing an interesting backdrop!

No time, or supplies for such luxuries this time however, as we had a train to catch.

Eventually the 59 could be working hard up the grade with a nice steady beat, which grew louder as it swung into view under the overpass.

5917 is working hard on the climb through Kapooka, with the first Wagga - Uranquinty passenger shuttle for the day

Once it had passed, we relocated a short distance back towards the road bridge, as there was an empty grain train due heading north.

Operated by Southern Shorthaul Railroad, the train had been operating for months from a variety of southern NSW locations, down to Appleton Dock in Melbourne for export.

The locos in regular use on it were a collection of SSR's, and privately owned depending on what was available at the time, but always interesting!

CLF 1, 4904, CLP 12 and CLF 4 drop through Kapooka with train No. 7MC5.

It didn't disappoint this time, with three CL's and a 49 class providing the horsepower. The CLs were the last of this classic General Motors EMD shape produced in the world, being constructed between 1970 and 1972.

Little did we know at the time, but this train, with a slightly different consist of locomotives would hit a truck full of ballast at a level crossing a few days later after the truck driver failed to stop, resulting in the crew being taken to hospital, and all locos  ending up on their sides in the dirt.

Back into Wagga, we secured a park not far from the station, and joined the crowd on the platform waiting for the train to arrive, which it did soon after.

We were booked in car seven of the eight car train, which was set up with a servery at one end, and armchairs and couches through the open saloon.

Onboard, it was fairly obvious there were some power issues, as there was no lighting or aircon, with the volunteer crews working frantically to run temporary power to portable air-conditioning units.

When it was fired up, the moving air certainly made things pleasant enough, but it might have been a bit warmer in the afternoon.

We had a good run up to Kapooka and on to Uranquinty, with the 59 in charge, while the two diesels did the work on the return leg, a nice way to spend an hour on a Saturday morning.

Back at Wagga, we headed out of town a little to a new housing development on the side of a hill overlooking the railway we'd seen from the train. It took a little while to get to where we wanted, which meant we didn't wait long for the train.

Last shot for the trip,

Unfortunately, the sun was a bit further over than I anticipated, so it wasn't as good as expected, but still nice to see the train one last time before heading back south.

I dropped Jules back at Wagga station so he could catch the northbound XPT, then settled in for the drive back to Melbourne.

A big shout out to the Picnic Train volunteers and crews who had a fairly difficult time of it, but kept fronting up with smiles on their faces, and made a lot of people happy over the trip.

Thanks again for following on A Railway Life.

The Great Southern, part 2

Day three, state three.

Albury railway station clock tower from the corridor window of the Great Southern outside our compartment. The NSWGR built some beautiful stations, many of which are still standing.

  After a bumpy night, the border town of Albury was reached by 6:30am, The train sat for a while, before crossing the Murray River into Victoria. Once over the border we both made use of the shower in our compartment, before heading down to breakfast as we continued south through Wangaratta and Glenrowan. It was a pleasant morning watching the world pass by the window, and the occasional train heading in the opposite direction including a late running Sydney bound XPT. Our first set down stop of the day was at Broadmeadows on Melbourne’s northern outskirts. From here passengers disembarked for several Melbourne sightseeing options, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a walk around the CBD laneways, and the Eureka tower, with others, us included, choosing to remain on to Inverleigh, west of Geelong.

In contrast to the Northeast, the scenery from Broadmeadows to Werribee through Sunshine and Brooklyn is certainly not what anyone would describe as pretty, and many of our travelling companions certainly didn't!

With its fair share of dumped and burnt out cars, and all other manner of rubbish scattered amongst the thistles, it's not a visual highlight, or something to entice visitors to Melbourne. To be fair, we did traverse some of the more industrial parts of the west, and it’s rare for a railway to travel through a leafy green corridor into any city.

Once out of the wastelands, the scenery gave way to the plains between Werribee and Geelong, with the You Yangs dominating the view to the north. Swinging through North Geelong, the train climbed up through Lovelybanks, crossed the 1862 built Moorabool river viaduct, before leaving the Geelong - Ballarat railway at Geringhap, to head west to Inverleigh.

The Great Southern locked away at Inverleigh as we depart on a coach to Clyde Park winery. The remains of the station platform, and station, a standard Victorian Railways portable building on the right.

The Inverleigh siding is primarily used as a works siding, with a considerable pile of ballast, and not much else. The trains are well set up for low level platforms (or in this case nothing at all), with additional steps provided by the crew.

Clyde Park Winery, on the edge of the Moorabool valley.

Tasting some Clyde Park wine amongst the vines with owner Terry explaining the different wines and grape varieties they grow.

From here, coaches transferred us to Clyde Park winery at Bannockburn, which is perched on the edge of the spectacular Moorabool river valley. A wine tasting, including a visit to the vineyard before lunch was a nice way to relax before rejoining the train with the Melbourne day trippers, and heading off towards Ararat, and South Australia. We liked the winery and lunch so much we’ve been back twice since!

Sunset out near Maroona was stunning, with old and new wind power out the window from the train.

Our last dinner on board was lit up by a stunning sunset followed by some live music and a couple of drinks before heading off to bed for an even bumpier night's sleep - Janelle even woke up laughing at one stage as we were treated to a jumping castle ride on the rough track to the SA border where things improved.

Back across the Murray River, and into Adelaide.

I woke up early with the sun just before the crossing of the Murray River at Murray Bridge, which had burst levee banks as the October floodwaters headed to the ocean. No time for a photo unfortunately, but I made up for that later, which I’ll share in another post.

Dozing for a bit, we headed down for breakfast as we travelled through the eastern side of the Adelaide hills, before descending the winding track down into the suburbs and Adelaide Parklands Terminal, formerly known as Keswick for an 08:45 arrival.

Adelaide Parklands terminal, the end of our rail journey.

Platinum passengers had transfers to their accommodation as part of the package, so it wasn't too long until we had ourselves checked in for a few days stay in Adelaide.

Some of our other travelling companions had booked add on tours with Journey Beyond to the Barossa wine region and other destinations, but we had decided to do our own thing until we caught The Overland back to Melbourne the following Sunday morning.

Would we do it again?

The food was great, level of accommodation really good, and the off train experiences super enjoyable.

There were quite a few people we had spoken to who had 'done' other Journey Beyond trains, and others who have travelled on long distance trains overseas.

This was our first trip on a travel experience train. Other long distance overnight trips we have been on are, or were at the time, genuine passenger services, transporting people between destinations.

We had a great time, but aren't sure we're ready for the cruise lifestyle just yet.

This isn't a criticism of the whole experience, just where we're at currently.

However, the Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide looks like a good trip…