Bellbird, Bundy and Bollocks! Another SMR Adventure. Finale

While wishing to chase the train back, we didn't really hope for much.
The weather was turning nasty again over Maitland, the clouds were getting thick and you could just feel that they wish to let loose a torrent of fluid that would blitz anything the Colonel had to offer in that department.

It is sort of customary to photograph the handing over of the staff. I mean heck, how many opportunities like that do you get.
It was rather dark by now, but still within camera tolerances, if not those of the developing place I go to. Useless mongrels.



Staff handed over, thick plumes of beautiful ALCo smoke spew forth on their ozone destroying path and the train heads up towards Mt Dee, while we head forthwith, ultimately to Neath.
The express trip to Neath put us well in front of the train and we had a good half hour to wait. However the massive expanse of blue sky here made the wait worth it.

Neath station looking from the south!

Colonel uttered something about toilets and headed off to the Neath Hotel, while I joined Tezza in a search for relics and signs of the proposed new crossing loop in this location. We also took advantage of the recently clearing to inspect for remains of the long since removed goods siding.
We were surprised to find an arrow indicating the likely location of the northern turnout, as well as other notes regarding work needed should the new loop go ahead. Presumably a second arrow likely exists some distance past the Neath Hotel.

Is this the location of the new point?

Much is left to see if your willing to have a good look. The goods siding is certainly visible now, as is the old abutments over a creek to the south of the Kearsley Road crossing.
While checking out sleepers remaining from the old crossover to the Abermain coliery lines I heard the sound of ALCos in the distance and turned to find PL5 48143 48129 PL3 trundling down the grade from Abermain.


A quick dash to the last patch of sunlight for the last shot of the day, nearly made more exciting by a Toyota Coaster that hit the brakes hard at the last moment.

All to soon the final empty wagon sways its way past and the train disappears off into the distance, leaving us to wonder where the good Colonel has got to.

Oh no, he has been at the Neath Hotel for half an hour. This indeed can not be good.

On arrival at the hotel we find an extremely happy Colonel not realising the train even went through and busy sipping on another schooner.
Another 30 minutes is spent convincing him we can't stay overnight, we can't leave in an hour, we must get going home before being in trouble and that doing certain things to the hotels dog with frozen vegetables could get him in trouble with the RSPCA!

It was to be a long drive home with rest stops needed at regular intervals, an extended one on the moonlite banks of the lovely Hawksbury River.

Ultimately it was another successful (and not just a little entertaining) day on the SMR. Numerous shots in the bag and quite some success with the train we had originally set out to get.

Thanks be to Terry and The Colonel for the company, Peter Cousins for persevering with us (great to meet you) and Bob Emson for not calling the police.

Colonel becomes a bit emotional after missing the last train!