Railroad Australia


Haven't seen you on in a while Rod, whachabindoin'? My son and his wife have just moved down your way, but further south, down near the Huon River. They figure that "Farm livin', is the life for me. Land spreadin' out so far and wide"...............................
 
G'day Toot ,Been around but not a lot on the forum...Not deliberate , just how it happens sometimes.. What an amazingly beautiful spot is the Huon Valley and the Huon River is stunning in a state full of amazing rivers..They've made a wise choice..Your line sounds a bit like Green Acres...kinda like that and not too far away is our version of Petticoat Junction when the Derwent Valley Railway ran a steamer or two. It's been struggling of late but the future looks bright and there's a great chance of it getting fully operational again Imagine old H2 running again like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJpbpBe_N7c . and this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvoElqT4hBE&t=58s That'd be incredible .Did you watch Railroad Australia.? Pretty good show I think..Tassie's Abt Wilderness Railway features on a couple of the episodes..Good to hear from you...Cheers Rod..
 
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That was the 2nd and 3rd lines from Green Acres, fit's well. I don't have Foxtel, but that was a good video sample. That's a steep climb H2 was pulling those coaches up. Came across some news about another of NZed's Ka class 4-8-4's that's going to be rebuilt and a y/tube vid about a South African Garratt that a restorer in NZ has bought to rebuild as well just north of Wellington and on the east coast of the north island. It's quite strange, the workshop where they're doing it is in between 2 tunnels. Neither is big enough to allow it to pass through. It came in by ship, I guess it'll have to go back out by ship.

We have a similar "Petticoat Junction" train to the north of me here http://www.sunshinecoast-australia.com/sunshine-coast-valley-rattler-steam-train.html and also another that does Sunday trips around Brisbane http://www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov....am+Train+Sunday+6+September+2015#.WGJAHeTat3g and on special runs up the main north line to markets at Eumundi and Yandina.
 
That was the 2nd and 3rd lines from Green Acres, fit's well. I don't have Foxtel, but that was a good video sample. That's a steep climb H2 was pulling those coaches up. Came across some news about another of NZed's Ka class 4-8-4's that's going to be rebuilt and a y/tube vid about a South African Garratt that a restorer in NZ has bought to rebuild as well just north of Wellington and on the east coast of the north island. It's quite strange, the workshop where they're doing it is in between 2 tunnels. Neither is big enough to allow it to pass through. It came in by ship, I guess it'll have to go back out by ship.

We have a similar "Petticoat Junction" train to the north of me here http://www.sunshinecoast-australia.com/sunshine-coast-valley-rattler-steam-train.html and also another that does Sunday trips around Brisbane http://www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov....am+Train+Sunday+6+September+2015#.WGJAHeTat3g and on special runs up the main north line to markets at Eumundi and Yandina.
G'day Toot...That looks incredible love the raised crossing in the main photo.. The West Coast (Tasmania) Abt Wilderness Railway between Strahan and Queenstown is like yours ..Try this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYEfzopALrw ..On Railroad Australia TV show one other unique Queensland run is the Savannah Lander...Pretty long trip too..Ever seen or been on it ?.
Aussie iconic trips though is INDIAN-PACIFIC and the mighty GHAN...Going to do both one day....Cheers Rod..
 
That's a real treat, especially the rack on the steep parts. Have never been on the Savannah Lander, closest I got was on the Cairns to Kuranda scenic rail that climbs the side of the Barron Gorge. There was only a trickle going over the falls that day.
 
Series 1, Episode 1 has the Savannah Lander. I would love to ride that. (I hope the little bat didn't cark it.)
 
G'day Montanan /Jazz Dad and all , Glad you are interested .. I'm a MASSIVE fan of U.S. Rail and why I'm trying to model it with BNSF but Australian Rail is awesome too..There's a kindred spirit in so many ways between Australia and the USA , not least in rail ops.. I love seeing the BHP Billiton Rio Tinto , Hammersley Iron and Pilbara Rail trains running GE 6000's , EMD SD70 ACe's and even our own Tasrail (my home State) now use EMD's built to order for us..There's a Videographer here (Rod Williams) who drives road trains (massive road trucks) but shoots amazing train footage ..Here's one of my favourites..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0h3wIAV8vc In this vid you'll see very familiar U.S. locos working down under and even some interim SD40-2's and our Dash 8 versions..Enjoy.. His channel is amazing ... Louis , it shows here on Foxtel but I think it's a Discovery program..I hope it gets shown in America eventually...Cheers Rod..
 
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G'day all...Just thought I'd add this..Other than the West Coast Tasmania Wilderness Scenic Railway my little state doesn't feature on Railroad Australia.. Here's a snippet of our daily stuff on this short video.. To the US guys , the locos that are TR numbered are the brand new U.S built PL22's from EMD The EMD sound is obvious...They cost around four million dollars each and Tasrail bought 17 of them to replace the old ones..Some of the old DQ's , Z Class etc are still being used and the QR class are in storage on call these days..The TR's are around 3000 hp , detuned to run better on our 3'6" gauge .. The rest of Australia is 4'8.5" Standard gauge..but as we are an island State our original trackage , although upgraded remains the same..Hope you enjoy .. This one features a notch 8 pull up the notorious Don Hill near Devonport on the north west coast of Tasmania..It's real hard work as you'll see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8EwtD0YF1I .. Cheers Rod..
 
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LOVE that "Thunda from daon unda"! Most excellent, Australia is so cool they don't need rails for trains, those "road trains" are both brilliant and fascinating! I believe y'all have run the longest trains just about ever in the history of history at that mining operation, I'm sorry I don't recall the name of it. Great stuff, thanks, or as you so very coolly say, "cheers"!
 
G'day New Guy , Thanks for the comments .. The road trains are ESSENTIAL...Australia is almost the same size as the USA but with vast tracts of land with only small population and not enough to justify railway construction so , our answer is stuff like this ..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WberW2Nlpdk&t=101s . You'll also notice on this video that Canada and the USA are beginning to go this way too .Road Trains are now not just an Australian phenomenon but size restrictions due to more busy highways in North America don't permit the same lengths as mostly Australian ones on this video.. There's hundreds of cool videos like this about the road trains that are the literal lifeblood to the less populated areas..Rod Williams films Aussie trains and road trains also some Japanese transport stuff too.. He's been a loco and truck driver so he knows his stuff....Check out his You Tube channel..It's amazing... Cheers Rod..
 
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G'day all..Here's a link to some fantastic videos shot by Rod Williams on You Tube..a great variety of train action and road train action..https://www.youtube.com/user/Rocketboy1950....Some of the video he's captured is incredible . Best thing is there are literally massive trains that US rail fans can relate to but he also films unique rail action and fun stuff within hundreds of videos..Really professionally shot and are a joy and addictive to watch..I love is work and how he encapsulates it all...I hope a few forum memberss take a look at his channel..It's worth it.. He'd be enamored with North American action I reckon if he gets a chance at some stage...I know I would be...Cheers Rod..
 
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We will have to wait on the road Trains until we can bring ourselves to make a decent road. The Romans did it by hand and they last two thousand years, we use "Dr Seus" machines and it can't last one season!
 
There is a rule in the outback when you see one of those roadtrains approaching. Get off to the side, they're coming down the middle and that's where they stay.
 
G'day Toot..Not really any road trains in Tassie , but the longer B Doubles on our local narrow-ish Tasman Highway is enough..They do a good job though ..Cheers Rod..
 
Not to mention (although I just have), a trip on the Ghan should be on every railfan's bucket list.
 



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