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SRHC Violet Town and Benalla 8 Nov 2003
J515 leading T357 headed from Seymour to Violet Town for the market. Quite a number of passengers were on the train, all out enjoying the fantastic weather no doubt!
We drove down from Wodonga and waited on Mahers Rd near Riggs Ck Loop. J515 came roaring through at a good clip, then stopped at Riggs Ck for a few minutes which allowed us to beat it to Violet Town. The marching band led the way into town for the passengers, then a small number of passengers (including me and my kids) boarded the train for Benalla and back.
Again, J515 didn't mess around and sounded great accelerating out of the station. We enjoyed a lovely picnic in the park during the layover at Benalla. I then chased the train back to Violet Town whilst my wife rode the train back. After a nice smoky departure from Benalla, I just managed to make Baddaginnie for a shot, but couldn't catch it after that!
We waited for the Violet Town departure a while later, and in the meantime a few NR's on a goods came rocketing through at great speed. J515 departed on time for Seymour and once more sounded lovely getting up top speed.

12 files, last one added on Apr 22, 2007
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R761 and D3 639 Bendigo and Swan Hill 20 September 2003
A fine spring day and a pleasant drive from Wodonga put me into Bendigo just in time to see R761 arriving with the Steamrail train. Where was the headboard? N459 breezed through on the Up passenger, before shunting got underway to remove R761 and replace her with D3639. The D3 was looking great, not bad for a centenarian! She made a spirited departure and this set the scene for the rest of the trip - who needs Regional Fast Rail when the D3 can do it just as well?!
A number of cars were chasing, but the 'cade was okay except for a few points where latent wheelwatchers came out of the closet to perform their art, to the detriment of all following behind. I'd never overtaken as many as 23 cars before...
A few pics and video sequences along the way, whenever we could catch the old girl. At least a service stop in Kerang allowed us to get ahead. A pleasant layover in Swan Hill allowed time for a feed and to see the paddle steamers splashing upriver.
The sun was becoming nice by the time 639 departed Swan Hill, providing for some good sequences on the way south. I believe D3639 almost had a new buffer beam ornament near Lake Boga, of the Land Rover variety. Meanwhile, I waited south of Lake Boga at a dirt crossing, and as I could hear D3639 approaching, so too could I hear a very stressed car engine approaching. Moments before the D3 arrived, a Torana came to a mighty skidding stop and a bloke and about 16 kids piled out to wave at the train.
"Wow", said the bloke, "that's four crossings in a row we've beaten it to. Got up to 100 mile an hour on that bit!" I looked at the smoking Torana slewed across the road and hoped that this was the last crossing on his list.
Last shot was leaving Kerang, after which I didn't catch the train again before sunset. Good show, Steamrail.

19 files, last one added on Mar 02, 2007
Album viewed 103 times

Steamrail excursion to Wycheproof 17 May 2003
Steamrail, along with 707 Operations and West Coast Rail, ran a great tour to Wycheproof behind R761 and R707. A late departure and subsequent loss of path meant late running for the rest of the day, but the two Rs managed to make up some time, plus a cancelled photo stop and Maryborough stop made up some more.
The gunzels were certainly out in force, there was a huge motorcade winding along the dirt road from Dog Trap to Ballan. There were a dozen cars alone on the overbridge up the hill from the Armco bridge near Bacchus Marsh. Mine was one of them, but to hear those locomotives thundering up the hill was certainly worth it!
The grey cloud had settled in, and showed no sign of lifting by the time the train arrived at Ballarat to take water. The Ballarat departure was to a huge audience, then the gunzel traffic jam was mobilised once more for the chase further north. There was some very dubious driving taking place in the 'cade, helped not least be a certain white Toyota coupe holding things up all along the way...
By alternating spots with Steam Media camera crew Ashcat and Ashkitten, we were able to stay clear of most of this! A late arrival at Wycheproof gave time for a quick runpast up the street before a lengthy servicing session for both locomotives. By this time most passengers had retired to one of the local pubs.
After turning, the locos headed back down the street to collect the train, and looked great simmering in the median strip as the passengers were extracted from their various venues. We stayed to watch the train depart, then headed to Teddywaddy bank for a quick listening stop, before retiring to the East Charlton Hotel for a relaxing meal and a good chat. I would highly recommend this hotel to anybody passing through Charlton.

P.S. Thanks to the lady with the blue vest for your kindness - I got a lovely video of the back of your head at the Avoca River in Charlton when you came and stood in front of my camera whilst the train was passing. When you hear the phrase "Excuse Me!", it generally means that you are in someone's way...

These pics were taken with a Canon EOS-5 on Kodak Gold 200 film, and scanned on a Nikon LS-40. Audio recorded with a Sennheiser MKE300 microphone.

15 files, last one added on Oct 31, 2006
Album viewed 105 times

Puffing Billy 23 April 2003
We took a trip to Melbourne for the school holidays, and what trip to Melbourne is complete without a ride on Puffing Billy? We had hot-rod 6A and 7A up to lakeside, then 7A solo up to Gembrook. A fine and cool day, just perfect for sitting in the park at Gembrook and munching on tasty pies and vanilla slices from the local bakery...

4 files, last one added on Oct 31, 2006
Album viewed 63 times

Kinder Train 28 Nov 2003
A grey, cloudy Melbourne morning greeted R711 and S313 with the Kinder Train as it departed Melbourne. A fine performance by R711 put the train into Bacchus Marsh on time. The kids went off for a picnic as R711 was turned and made ready for the journey back.
The Bacchus Marsh departure was quite stirring, as R711 was doing a cold start, and S313 was not used to assist until well up the bank. The sound of R711 hauling S313 and the train was quite amazing!

8 files, last one added on Oct 31, 2006
Album viewed 98 times

R711 Spencer Street & Geelong - 23 September 2000
Headed into town one Saturday morning to see R711 departing. Photographed whatever other trains were in the area as well. After departure, we drove to Geelong to wait for the train outside Geelong Tunnel - what a sight!!! Didn't chase any further as we are limited to 100km/h on the roads.

10 files, last one added on Oct 31, 2006
Album viewed 79 times

43 files, last one added on Aug 05, 2010
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A visit to South Gippsland Railway in January 1997. K190 was running trains from Nyora to Leongatha and return.

16 files, last one added on Dec 09, 2009
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3 files, last one added on May 30, 2007
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A visit to South Gippsland Railway in Jan 1996. K190 was running trains between Korumburra and Leongatha, not sure why the Nyora leg wasn't included this time.

15 files, last one added on Dec 09, 2009
Album viewed 1021 times

Steamrail to Ballarat May 1986
When I was at High School in the 80's, every cent I had spare (after buying stuff for my my model railway layout that is...) was saved for tickets on Steamrail excursions. I didn't really care where they went, as long as it was steam.
In this case it was Ballarat via North Geelong. The side trip for passengers was to Lal Lal Falls, but none of that tourist stuff for me. I stayed on the train to Ballarat, and walked to Ballarat East for a look. Y112 was a recent move there I think, and I remember being very impressed by the new G class, resplendent in the V/Line orange livery. Now I wish I had been less impressed with that and had taken more pics of the stuff still in VR livery!
I didn't note down the loco numbers, but G512 and B82 are obvious, and a Y was in the shed.
If anyone has the exact date of this trip I would appreciate it.

11 files, last one added on Oct 27, 2006
Album viewed 78 times

A Steamrail excursion in the 80's some time to Nyora/Korumburra including a visit to Coal Creek. K190 took the train to Nyora, delayed for some time due to a suburban derailment at Westall, where the passengers detrained and went on to Korumburra by bus. The train then continued empty to Korumburra, then returned empty to Nyora, K190 tender-first. Not sure why the loco was not turned at Korumburra. It was turned on the Nyora turntable on its return from Korumburra.

2 files, last one added on Dec 17, 2009
Album viewed 148 times