CENTRAL KEMBLA - DENDROBIUM LINE - 4-1-2022

 

The Central Road level crossing is the sole at-grade crossing on the Dendrobium (formerly Kemira and Nebo) coal line which climbs up west from Unanderra.

The line, as in the days when owned and operated by the BHP steelworks, primarily exists to haul coal to the Bluescope steelworks at Port Kembla.

Article: Kemira Valley - BHP And Beyond. 

8202 has a rake of empty coal hoppers bound for the Dendrobium Mine and is seen passing where the eastern end points of the removed Central Kembla loop were located.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Central Road level crossing, looking east back towards the steelworks.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Central Road level crossing north-east side boom gate looking southwards.

Photo: Brad Peadon

8203 returning from the mine with a loaded coal train. It is seen passing the same location as 8202 above.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Central Road pedestrian part of the crossing.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Pedestrian crossing lights for humans who do not find the normal road vehicle warning lights enough of an indication of an approaching train.

Photo: Brad Peadon

The south-west side boom gate.

Photo: Brad Peadon

It has been quite some time since the last steam locomotive passed through this crossing.

Photo: Brad Peadon

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Thanks To:

Terence Cassidy

Further Information:

BHP Rail History SIG Forum

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This posting was first put together back in 2011.
Somehow it managed to go into the draft section, never to see light of day (well, light of computer screen).
There are a number of other posts that have suffered the similarly. All have since been brought forth and placed out there for viewing.
This one I decided to bring forward eight years for your belated enjoyment. 


The XPT

The XPT has been one of those trains that I have never purposely gone out of my way to get.

However, during ones career as a foamer these less than riveting examples of rollingstock do seem to pop up with endless regularity and, while not what I spent six hours driving to see, they do fill in the gaps between the real stuff.

Of course, as with anything, as time progresses these photos become more and more historically important.

So while I doubt you will be popping your suspenders with excitement, I hope you will enjoy these few examples of passing XPTs

Meeting at Wauchope.

XPT bursts out of the tunnel above Picton.


XPT literally screaming through Gerogery back when it stoped at Albury.

Wallendbean

Menangle Park station looking a little the worse for wear.

Fassifern

Cootamundra

Delec Wheel Lathe

Heading north out of Paterson.

And finally we have a southbound XPT negotiating the curves out of Stroud Road.

~~~ MENANGLE PICCIES ~~~

The result of a day around Menangle recently.