It was a day I had been eagerly awaiting for a number of weeks, the gathering of a few railfan mates in my former haunt of Wingello, for a day of railfanning and the usual chat that goes along with these events.
As the big date approached there was some apprehension about the weather forecast which slowly began to look worse and worse as the days drew closer.
My driving partner for the day, the world famous Colonel, was eager to go regardless of weather conditions and, while at first I was hesitant, some last minute disastrous news on the Wednesday helped me push through with a decision.

The disastrous news in question was the death of my very close friend Bill Sullivan, who I have known for nearly a decade and one who has been instrumental in my of the work I do with the 'Philippine Railway Historical Society'. He was only 61 and never showed any signs that this was going to happen.
So it was a choice of sitting home thinking about it, or going out and trying to enjoy myself with some other long-term friends. I, of course, decided on the later.

Departure from Sydney was around 4am, stopping at the 'Church Of Colonel, just after 5. The weather, while far from magnificent, was certainly quite acceptable. There was actually some quite large breaks.

Driving south there were ominous black clouds and lightening fast approaching, with some spitting already starting after Mittagong. Bundernoon was eventually reached in heavy rain, soon after Wingello, in rather cyclonic conditions.

Soon after the trains started rolling through.

NR57 NR68 - Dn conts - Picton and Bundanoon

8123 - Dn Garbage - Wingello - 07.10

After a brief respite from the conditions, we were again treated with an even heavier downpour as NR77 AN4 NR107 top the hill and roll down past the station (see above)

The steelie had not even past when over the carriage racket we could here 8136 8131 climbing the northbound grade with an up wheat, the headlight punching through the rain and fog.

Two small patches of blue sky were noted in another small break from the rain.

Bob turns up just in time to get 8106 8138 on another up wheatie.

Thanks to the wonders of the internet and all the dribbling it has promoted, we were previously advised that MB7 would have a particularly spectacular combination up front.

For once the rain stayed away as the familiar sound of a approaching train was heard. Headinmg to the level crossing in search of a spot, we were soon treated to the second best train of the day (although I am sure the EMD fans would not agree with the best one).

CLF04 6006 LDP005 - MB7 - Wingello - 09.55

Wingello Station

NR101 NR36 - containers - Wingello - 11.17

The weather appears to be getting better! :-)

With weather deteriorating and nothing on the cards - a decision to move to Moss Vale in search of the Cockypoo Run which was to have the recently restored 4464 up front.

Moss Vale station carpark flooded.

8143 X47 up garbage train arrives at Moss Vale - in the pouring rain again.

4464 4486 on the Cockypoo run. This was the trial run for 4464 after an extended period of restoration.

Oh dear, pipe damage following ARTC track work.

S317 FL220 shunts Braemar sidings.

Of course, like any great rail adventure, the weather picks up at the

end of the day.

~~ YE GRAND OL PICTON ADVENTURE ~~

* A Tale Of Two Colonels *

It is indeed funny how times change, how differing events in our lives and differing interests lead us down differing paths of gunzel interest.
The section of railway from Menangle to Bargo was once where I could almost be found weekly in search of ALCos and other older locomotives of lesser manufacture. Indeed Friday nights were usually spent with a group of friends hanging around Menangle station watching the 'passing parade' (a wanky term I know) of freights heading north and south. Sometimes we were even treated to a shunt of the long removed milk siding on the up side of the line.
As we continue our retro series of photos there will no doubt be more than one look at the area I once classed as my territory, but for now we look at my first return for a very long time.

2-10-2009

In more recent years my usual dribbly locations of choice have been alongside the Sydney goods lines, or, far more enjoyably, around the beautiful Hunter Valley.
Both give great opportunities from intense rail action, but both have pretty much become the greatest hack (another wanky railfan term) spots you could imagine. This can usually be gauged from the pantie bursting amounts of photos sent to the editors of the local railway magazines, all of whom could probably retire should they be offered $1 per shot recieved.

With the 'World Famous Colonel' moving his fluffy caboose from Sydney to the more fresh and enjoyable Picton, I again find myself with reason to return to my former haunts on a regular basis.
There is certainly a lot less trains to be had, while even the hornbag photography is very thin on the ground, but the chance to regularly remove myself from humanity and again enjoy the countryside is just to much to resist.
With Colonel still needing to transfer a vast amount of his succulents to his new residence, I offered use of my body to help him take a car full down in return for a day full of gunzel activity, well the type that does not involve fluffy rodents or toilet cubicles anyway.

So beware southern locals - your peace and quiet will soon be no more, while your liquor stocks will be greatly depleted!

------------

Some things never change in Picton. In time honoured tradition our arrival was met with the end of a train screaming through the raped remains of Picton yard, wasting little time with its journey north.

Colonel reverses course and gives chase to NR39 NR29 NR4, not catching the rear of it at Maldon Curve, we had already given up any idea of

beating it to the road bridge.

"Take the Menangle Road Colonel"!

The overcast morning light was crappy at best and we settled on a cross field shot of it not far beyond the turnoff, the short road distance

giving us a small time advantage.

Colonel susses out a photo location!

In need of a breakfast feed, the Colonel suggests a greasy shop in Thirlmere that makes things as delightfully unhealthy as the good ol days.

A brief look at the Thirlmere railway museum revealed a

sight that upset the Colonel so!

"Look its that flamin Thomas The Wank Engine all over that poor engine"!!!!

After some time trying to calm Colonel down, we took a look at

the station buildings and surrounds.

Soon we were off to a location above Picton for what was to be a quiet

chat while awaiting anything that came along.

The excitment mounted with every passing moment, the rail traffic so intense you would have needed to be there to believe it could be true.

Even on the up the trains never stopped screaming through, making it

incredibly hard to choose which way to face.

BUT THEN IT HAPPENED

THE SILENCE IS VIOLENTLY SHATTERED!

We are approach by Colonel Harland Sanders, famously known for his eleven secret herbs and spices, but today full of endless stories of railway adventure.

Who should he pick to squeeze 10 hours of conversation into one? Who other than our grateful Colonel Chunder, who was already nursing a migrane.

"Quick, lets get out of here and go down to Picton Colonel"!

Colonel Sanders had not finished and even leaned inside the Colonel-Mobile as we started the car and started edging forward,,,,,,

AGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

8152 on an up cement bound for Maldon!

Sadly the lack of trains had made us lazy. We were checking the laptop for information on the RTM when this monumental lashup caught us by surprise.

NR49 NR108 NR30 NR101 on an up container train, 30 being the last of two originally painted in Aboriginal art.

Better luck with NR85 and 45 headed in the other direction under a

heavy shower of foamy excitment!

Then yet another flamin railcar!

Just in case once wasn't enough!

Despite another railcar being due, we decided to go grab a bite and then head on down to Picton station to see if the staff would share some train running knowledge with us.

Sadly the woman in charge was less helpful than her male counterparts and we had to resume playing the time old waiting game.

"GOOD GOD COLONEL, LOOK WHO IS HERE NOW"!!!

A fast exit, by walking around the whole block, saw us

safely in the car and headed back to Thirlmere via another road,

a brief amount of time spent checking the spot out.

8143, sporting the efforts of some human vermin, passes on a down wheat.

RAIL TRANSPORT MUSEUM - THIRLMERE

Having consulted the laptop we discovered there was to be a 5pm departure of an empty set bound for Sydney Terminal and a long weekend rail cruise.

Guessing they would probably be preparing for the run, our last call of duty for the day was to head back to the museum and obtain whatever snaps were possible between the ever increasing rain showers.

D1 was found shunting, while 44211 4916 4803 and 4306 were sitting at the station awaiting departure time. Many shots were taken as so many memories of earlier gunzel times came flooding back in a tsunami type wave.

What started out as a rather depressing day soon turned into somewhat of a boost to my ever growing return of railway interest.

Could the 'Semi-Retired Foamer' be coming out of semi-retirment?

As darkness, and the threat of trouble from the wife, drew closer we sadly bid farewell to Thrillmere and headed back to the freeway via Picton.

AS we really had a good 20 minutes before we had to leave, it was decided to try our luck on the road bridge near Maldon, just in case something good came along!

CRAP!

Anyway we will be spending a lot more time around Picton and the Southern Highlands in coming months, perhaps even on some sunny days.

Tally Pip

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