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August in Sydney
is traditionally the windy month, and Saturday 18th was certainly
no exception with cold South Westerlys blowing across the
platform at Strathfield Platform 2 as Set W3 tore into sight.
Fortunately however the sun was also beating down, so conditions
inside the train were very comfortable as long as too many
windows were not opened!
Before long we were tearing up the Main Line to Sydney at
breakneck speed, a tradition that was to be repeated throughout
the day by our illustrious drivers. Whilst Geoff Moss
had no difficulty enjoying the scream of AEI149's under 3702,
poor pld Norm Thomas sat there just wishing that those "damn
old drivers" would just ease off a bit on the old girl..
"Fat chance of that!" yelled a well known correspondent..
these beasts are built for SPEED! And speed it did!
After a 10 minute stop on Platform 1 at Central, we again
sped off to return to Strathfield to pick up some extra late
passengers before heading North past a freight train at
North Strathfield sitting on the goods loop as we charged
on over the Parramatta river and on to Epping to arrive 4
minutes early, a time keeping trend that was to continue throughout
the day. After a fairly subdued photostop it was decided to
jump back on board in an attempt to get ahead of the freight
train and ensure our on time arrival at Blacktown. On the
way back down we met the inevitable "K" set in parallel running
and (as usual) it was subsequently left in the dust only for
us to pull up at West Ryde nearly 10 minutes early but (unfortunately)
still just too late to be routed in front of the freight.
A slow roll then ensued back to Strathfield station as we
could not go through the loop which was still occupied by
the freight.
With the 10 minutes now lost to a 3 minute late start, we
again charged off west from Platform 1 and slowed briefly
at Homebush before getting back into the spirit of things
past Flemo and again leaving the timetable in the soup by
the time we passed Parramatta.
The reason for the early running was primarily due to the
need to allow time to slow to 20kPh at platform faces where
required - a procedure that was repeated at many stations
particularly those with curves or those which had not been
tested recently with the W set for width. The W set ate the
grades and hills for breakfast, cruising up them as if they
did not exist. - motors in weak field most of the way and
screaming away nicely to the delight of traction fans aboard!
Above : No K set is gonna beat US!
Below : Driver Mark "Ding" Wolff at the controls of Classic
Electric Traction.
Fortunately we arrived at Blacktown well within time - the
consequences of being late having possibly placed the entire
journey into jeopardy if the local service got in our way
at Quakers Hill - which fortunately it didn't.
The work being undertaken for the duplication of the Richmond
Line was well evident, with work almost complete in places
and ready for track. Virtually all of the old wooden poles
have been replaced by steel staunchions ready for the extra
contact wire. The amount of local
development near the line past Marayong and Quakers Hill
was also very notable - entire suburbs having been established
since the last time the line saw a Red Rattler - with quite
a few heads being turned at the site of this amazingly fast
bullet hurtling past their homes.
Above : This shot just ouside Quakers Hill station clearly
shows the works under progress for duplication of the Richmond
Line. Below : The Fox sums up the mood of travelling passengers
on board.
Picking up real speed, the W set displaced leaves, branches
and trees at Mulgrave leaving a wake of natural debris as
it tore through the platform which probably hasn't seen a
through train the likes of a 110kPh "W" Set for many years!
The train the stopped at Clarendon to cross the local service
and give passengers an excellent photo opportunity with the
sun placed perfectly before charging off again on the last
leg to Richmond, the run being interrupted only by a slow
down for a depression in the track near the viaduct which
could readily be felt as a very pronounced drop in the track
by all aboard. The C130H Aircraft at Richmond Airbase presented
an interesting backdrop as the train eventually pulled into
Richmond's back platform to be greeted by the locals.
And what a greeting! The Tourist Railway Association Kurrajong
(TRAK) had arranged an enormous welcome with a very impressive
display of photos and information about their project. Every
traveller was handed a "Freight rail" plastic bag containing
information on TRAK and tourist brochures about the Hawksbury
district, aswell as a special certificate of commemoration
for being there at the "10th Anniversary of Electrification
and the 75th Anniversary of "Pansy" (Pansy being the name
given to the steam loco which used to ply the Kurrajong line).
A very interesting and extensive display was also presented
by the Transport Signal and Communications Museum and consisted
of an entire station masters' desk, a table of vintage telephones
and signalling equipment and various electric staff instruments
and even a fettlers' trike.
Of course no community event such as this can be allowed to
proceed without scoring at least some political brownie points,
and so official duties of the day were handled by Parliamentary
Secretary Kevin Moss who presented a brief speech to all there
present, some of which were far more interested in following
their noses to the scrumptious on platform BBQ being presented
by TRAK than waiting for parliamentary permission to do so!
With an hour to spend, many passengers wandered over the road
to the park where the Richmond Markets provided a real country
atmosphere, whilst some also plied the main street of Richmond,
a few ending up in the local fish and chip shop. Of course
all were catered for, and the local watering hole was also
put to use by passengers who might not have otherwise had
the opportunity to quench their thirst given State Rail's
"No Alcohol" policy.
Meanwhile locals attending the event also took the opportunity
to inspect the "W" set whilst it stood at the platform, with
many positive comments about the restoration work done. All
too soon it was time to board once again and stoke up the
pantographs for a roaring trip back up the line and home again
under the watchful eye of our gung ho crew... as if it mattered...
after all the control was just constantly in top notch anyway...
Early running all the way back to town was the order of the
day before again pulling into Central Platform 1 to complete
an excellent, relaxing and wonderful experience - the Richmond
Rambler. Who came up with that stupid name anyway? It should
have been called the Richmond Rocket!!
Special thanks must go to Driver Mark "Ding" Wolff, Guard
Joe Mazzocco and inspector Peter Woods, all of which contributed
to making the day a truly memorable experience for all, and
in the tradition of the "happy free and easy" tours of decades
ago coupled with the safety, efficiency and reliability of
modern rail operations. Thanks must also go to Michael Logue
at SRA Special Events who repeatedly goes beyond the call
of duty to make tours like this a possibility in a corporate
environment where they are seen as a liability and not an
asset. Flemington Maintenance Centre must also receive thanks
especially since they are now stuck with the W set until November.
Thanks guys, we love you all!
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