Those who were lucky enough to be railfanning in the early 90s would be well aware of ET Tours, the rail tour operation run by the legendary, and sadly late, Bruce Cook.
There is little argument that these were by far the most interesting tours of the time, indeed we will never again see tours with this sort of access for photos ever again.
It was a time when fans were not quite so obsessed with reporting each other and causing issues. Friendships existed alongside the line, and not on the interwebs.
The tour to Charbon was initially advertised as having motive power from New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.
While this would have been impressive, it was not to be, and so it was that 4907 and 4905 hauled in a set of formerly self-propelled Tulloch railcars into Sydney Terminal.
The climb up the Blue Mountains was incredibly slow, with us slowing down regular services and another heritage special hauled by 3-8-0-1.
4905 4907 a little north of Wallerawang.
Photo: Brad Peadon
4905 4907 during a brief stop at Ben Bullen.
Sadly, this would be the last time I would see well-known Cootamundra signalman Gerry Galvin.
4905 4907 lunch partaken in at Clandulla.
Photo: Brad Peadon
4905 4907 photo stop at Charbon Colliery.
Photo: Brad Peadon
4905 4907 near Excelsior.
Photo: Brad Peadon
4905 4907 near Carlos Gap.
Photo: Brad Peadon
4905 4907 somewhere on the Mudgee line.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Charbon Tour Video - Part 1
Charbon Tour Video - Part 2
Charbon Tour Video - Part 3
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Today
4905: Listed on Wikipedia as owned by Traction Engineering and located at Werris Creek.
4907: Owned by Manildra Group, rebuilt with a lower nose, and renumbered MM01.
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Thanks
Michael Grantham, David Henderson and
Kevin 'K-Med' Medley.
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