Springtime on the Sandstone & Termite

[gregh]

It?s spring here in Sydney, and all five of our local GR group got together to celebrate.

Geof provided an excursion passenger train (at station) and a small Dunkirk to do some logging, while I had the express passenger (on the bridge above). The wisteria is in full bloom.

Geof?s loco brings the excursion to Ti-tree.

The express at Lilyvale

Keith provided the local all-stations passenger service with his tramway cars and centre-cab diesel.
Here it is passing the wheat silos at Ti-tree

Bryan had his Shay out to service the SLOW goods (what else for a Shay?). On the viaduct at Lilyvale.

Mark was testing his newly built NSW 48 class diesel. It had some clearance problems so ran slowly and got in everyone?s way!

I also ran a coal train of 4-wheel hoppers.
Here ?Ernie? the shunter loads the coal while the train engine waits.

Put away in the siding at Ti-tree to allow passenger trains to pass

Locos waiting at Sandstone.

 

[trammayo]

Ah, Spring - you lucky people! Nice pics Greg.

Mick

 

[Richie]

Lovely photo's and a cracking looking line just along cold winter for us to look forward to

 

[gregh]

It's spring again here, so here's a few pics of locations not often seen.
An overall panorama of the big rock ledge on the SaTR. The lower level is Sandstone station, while the blue Garratt is about a metre above as it climbs the grade to Termite.

For an aerial view of this section of the line see this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ksJ3DC_5V0



Maple Jn station is in an awkward spot so doesn?t get photographed very often. It?s under the girder bridge and partly behind Melaleuca baseboard as shown here.

Number 5 is an 0-6-0 on a Bachmann chassis. This sequence shows it running through the natural cave formed by a big overhanging sandstone slab. This cave is behind the Garratt in the first pic.

Inside the cave. The styrene retaining wall is showing its age. I used styrene because the rock is always moving and anything rigid would crack. This has lasted 15 years out of the weather.

On Mint Gully bridge - a natural watercourse in the rock.

And here at the water tower at Melaleuca.

Now the Garratt passes through the cave in the opposite direction.

The brand new diesel #19 on the mainline, passes old #5 at Melaleuca loco service area.

 

[robsmorgan]

Great stuff Greg
Thanks for posting
Rob

 

[trammayo]

Great line and wonderful setting - always a joy to behold

 

[Don Gilham]

Very nice Greg !

Would you like to swap your spring for our autumn please ?

 

[garrymartin]

I do like that railcar at Maple Junction, you really have an interesting selection of things to run on your railway, thanks for letting us have a nosey.

 

[Gizzy]

Great pix Greg....

 

[ge_rik]

Great pictures, Greg. Looks like you're gearing-up for a summer season of running sessions whereas we're beginning to batten down the hatches against the autumnal gales!

Rik

Rik

 

[gregh]

Great pictures, Greg. Looks like you're gearing-up for a summer season of running sessions whereas we're beginning to batten down the hatches against the autumnal gales!

Thanks for the comments everyone.
Actually I'm just about to batten down too - these pics were the last running day for a couple of months.
We're taking Amtrak from San Francisco to Boston over 2 weeks, with stopovers, to see......
1) Grandkids,
2) autumn leaves in New England.
3) Maybe see some GR too.

 

[ge_rik]

We're taking Amtrak from San Francisco to Boston over 2 weeks, with stopovers,

Sounds like the trip of a lifetime - enjoy!

Rik

Of course, I'm not at all envious ..................