Unanderra to Robertson Train Rear View with Commentary - East Coast Heritage Rail - Cockatoo Run
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- Опубликовано: 26 июл 2024
- In this video, you'll see the whole of this spectacular railway journey from Unanderra to Robertson from the back of the rear carriage of a heritage train.
It's filmed in 4K, so it's almost as good as being there! You'll also have my commentary to help you understand more about one of Australia's most scenic railway journeys.
The Illawarra Highland Line from Unanderra to Moss Vale is primarily used for freight. The only passenger services are those run by East Coast Heritage Rail (formally 3801 Limited). These run every couple of months and this journey was on Sunday 6th June 2021.
This line is affectionately known as the Cockatoo Run and I'll explain why in this video.
After leaving Unanderra and the Farnborough Heights residential areas, this train climbs part of the Illawarra Escarpment on a 1 in 30 gradient for 17 kilometres. When we reach Dombarton, I'll talk about the proposed Dombarton to Maldon freight line, which would have included the 4km Avon Tunnel, which would have been the longest tunnel in Australia.
Between Dombarton and Summit Tank, the train goes through two tunnels, under some snow sheds and across an impressive (and slightly scary viaduct!).
After Summit Tank it's downhill through more spectacular bushland to the old Mount Murray station. It's still visible, and you'll see this heritage listed station in this video.
It's then on to Robertson. The scenery changes here and the A48 Illawarra Highway comes into view as the train gets closer to Robertson. We pass through the tiny Ranelagh Station. Blink and you might miss it!
At Robertson Station (and also earlier at Summit tank), you'll see footage of the heritage train and Class 421 locomotive 42101 which was propelling the train forward!
East Coast Heritage Rail Website (for bookings, volunteering and other information)
eastcoastheritagerail.com.au/
Time stamps
00:00 Introduction and map of the route
00:38 Unanderra to Dombarton
15:50 Dombarton to Illawarra Tunnel 2
27:42 Illawarra Tunnel 2 to Summit Tank (includes viaduct)
42:03 Summit Tank to Mount Murray
59:55 Mount Murray to Robertson
1:16:53 Train departing Robertson Station
Links to websites used to create this video.
Wikipedia (these 2 pages and some of the links from them)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unander...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maldon_....
CPH Rail Motor Image (Creative Commons License) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CPH_rai...
East Coast Heritage Rail Lineside Notes
eastcoastheritagerail.com.au/...
For Tunnels and Intermediate Stations
nswrail.net/lines/show.php?na...
For Viaduct. www.flickr.com/photos/8379152...
Other websites
nswtrains.fandom.com/wiki/Una...
www.transport.nsw.gov.au/proj...
Maps created using Open Street Map and Affinity Designer
Open Street Map (open source map website)
www.openstreetmap.org/copyright
Recorded on an iPhone 11 and using the Rode Smartlav+ mic for iPhone. Edited using Final Cut Pro.
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Disclaimers.
COVID-19
Most of my videos are recorded several weeks before being edited and uploaded. I always follow the government COVID-19 advice and requirements that applied on the day of filming. This is why you sometimes see me wearing a mask and at other times you don't. If you're watching this video during a Sydney lockdown, then please note that it was filmed at a time prior to these restrictions coming into effect.
Accuracy
I do my best to make the commentary in these videos as accurate as possible by checking facts on the internet and other sources. However, sometimes the information isn't available, so I'll use my railway knowledge and insight to explain something to the best of my ability. If accuracy is important, do check the comments, as other viewers will often pick up on things I've missed or any mistakes made. Also note that for older videos, things may change over time, causing some of the information to become out of date.
Here is a list of corrections to this video. 2:32 Princes Highway (not Pacific Highway)
Just found your video, brought back many memories of the late '60s and early '70s.
Worked freight trains from Port Kembla North to Moss Vale, Medway Quarry and Goulburn as a guard. I remember doing safe working duties at Summit Tank signal box when the line was Electric staff, detaching and dispatching bank engines from both front (840 ton loads, train #s 821, 829 and 835 for Goulburn destination ) and rear (1200 ton loads of steel, #s 801,803 and 807) for Dynon destinations.
All long before the current platform, behind which many years ago was the turn table for the steam locos, mainly 50 class I believe.
I remember it could be a cold, damp and miserable place on a winter's foggy night.
Hi Terry, Glad this video bought back fond memories, and thanks for sharing these. Yes must have been pretty bleak in winter!
Interesting video. Thought you might like to know that the extra track formation at Dombarton was part of the Dombarton crossing (passing) facility. It was unique in NSW and featured three sections, its design enabled waiting trains to stand on level track instead of the 1 in 30 grade of the main through Dombarton.
BTW the 1 in 30 grade begins just after the junction at Unanderra. The grade eases in a few places, but it is 1 in 30, compensated for curves, most of the way to just before Summit Tank.
After Summit Tank the line does descend for a bit, but then climbs again at 1 in 60 compensated all the way to the summit of the line just past Ranelagh House, not far out of Roberson.
I ran over the line as a freight guard in the 1970s and rode the rail motor a few times. The only open public station at the time was Robertson. Mt Murray was already closed.
Hope this is of interest. 🙂
Yes, this is wonderful additional information, so thanks for that! It's an amazing line. Hopefully I can film the section from Robertson to Moss Vale soon.
I worked as Safeworking Station Assistant General Relief HS Unanderra in the 80's. I shunted the limestone trains coming off the mountain into the steelworks yard, one of the 4 times I count that the railways nearly killed me was there when I caught the wrong steps on a loco and climbed up onto the snub nose bonnet to avoid a very close signal at the station, did station duties and polished the signal levers. As a part of my roster I worked Dombarton for a few years, and briefly at Summit Tank. Dombarton was interesting as it had 3 roads on the level where trains could be stabled for passing, they had to pass under the main line via a transit road and there were procedures for the passing and the order that movements were made.
One day during a shutdown on the main Illawarra line I had a 4 way movement of trains which somehow ended in a derailment when the impatient driver backed out of no 2 siding against the signals derailing at the catch points. The guard jumped out of his brakevan and ran up the cutting cliff. There was hell to pay for myself, the guard, the driver and the fireman, investigations and hearings etc. Brakevans were removed not long afterwards and replaced with the BOG or Battery Operated Guard. My brother , working on the electrification was paused and watched the emergency train with the crane go past , he remarked to his workmates "What the F has my brother done now".
Thanks, Paul. Great video. My memory of Ocean View station is that it would be adjacent to the opening off the highway at the end of the Armco railing that can be seen after the drop down off the overbridge. The station was very close to the road, and slightly above it. There appears to be no signs of it now. When I was teaching in Bowral in the 1960s, a friend of mine who taught at a small school near Robertson, had arranged for us to ride in the cab of a freight train down to Unanderra. I missed the train at Robertson because of the trip out from Bowral, but my friend went anyhow. I scurried out to Ocean View, parked the car in the paspalum at the side of the road near the station, just in time to find the train coming around the bend under the overbridge. I climbed up into the cab of the diesel through the front door. The crew were kind enough to pull the train up for me. To keep the story short - we rode in the cab of one 44 class diesel to Summit Tank, changed to another 44 that was attached to the front of the train, having just come up as a helper from Unanderra on another train, swapped over at Unanderra into another 44 helping at the front of a freight train going back up the hill. We changed to the second 44 at Summit Tank and the helper diesel detached to help another train down to Unanderra. So we rode in four different locos, and met four sets of crew, who were all friendly and helpful with information.
Hi David, glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing your memories of the old Ocean View station and of cab rides in class 44 diesels! What a fun day you had back then!
We did this trip last month. What a great day out, starting at Central.
We went on to Moss Vale for lunch, and collected the Robertson travellers afterwards.
Nice one Geoff! It's a fantastic day out. I have done this trip again since and have it all on film now. It was a cloudy day, so no real issues with the sun. It will be a while before I'm able to narrate and upload it, but it will come out at some point! Both Robertson and Moss Vale are great places for lunch!
Hi everyone, if you're struggling with the lockdown, then this video is for you! Almost 80 minutes of realtime footage of a heritage train journey from Unanderra to Robertson. Grab a cuppa or a cold beer, relax and enjoy the ride! I've included timestamps in case you want to watch it in sections. Enjoy and stay safe!
hi paul hope you are having a good lockdown
Hi Paul,very much this video and commentary,it was great Lockdown relief for me.
Thank you, fellow train-lover.
You're very welcome Leven.
The quality is excellent and watching it again in HD on my nephews huge TV is a bonus. Very educational and informative. You are now officially as good as a SBS presentation 👏 Thanks Paul for sharing this with us.
Thanks John! - Glad you enjoyed the HD version. I should watch it on the big TV myself! Wonderful that you think it's as good as an SBS presentation! That's lovely to hear!
Travelled on the rail motor once in the early 70's on this route, approached the driver to chat at the terminus saw he was kneeling in prayer waited to talk on the station seating, he came over to me, explained he always thanked god for preserving his life on what he considered a very dangerous stretch of track. The track looks first class now.
Hi Kevin, thanks for sharing this story about the driver back in the early 70s. Seems like the line has improved a lot since then, although the viaduct still seems a little scary!
This trip brings back memories. My late husband used to work on the heritage train from Thirlmere and we went on this trip a few times. The scenery is outstanding. Thank you for your great commentary. Pam Mckinnon
You're very welcome Pam. Glad you enjoyed the video and the commentary too. I have recently filmed the whole trip from Moss Vale to Wollongong, and it was on a cloudy day, so less issues with the sun! Hope to publish this later in the year,
This could possibly be the only train line I have not traveled on in nsw. You have inspired me to book a ticket for a Sunday journey.
Hi Rich, Glad I inspired to go for a ride on it! - I hope to do it again soon to film Robertson to Moss Vale and perhaps Waterfall to Wollongong as well.
Great video Paul, probably the best I have seen of that line ! The 4wd on the track was an ARTC track patrol vehicle. Also from around the 8:00 to 9:30 minute mark you will notice the cleared worksite areas, this was the site of the December 2020 Farmborough Heights derailment of a grain train that saw 39 wagons leave the track.
Thanks! - Wow! - I wasn't aware of that derailment. Thanks for clarifying the purpose of the 4wd vehicle on the track was too.
Did this run as a child in the mid 70s and was one of the most memorable train journeys of my childhood.
Hi Mark, that's lovely to hear! - Hope this video bought back those childhood memories!
That was most enjoyable, excellent commentary. Thanks and best wishes.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
I went on an XPT once from Sydney to Cootamundra and due to trackwork or something it was diverted from the usual route to going via Woolongong and then up through Robertson to Moss Vale. It was a brilliant experience! Obviously it took (a lot) longer but I didn't care one bit.
That would have been fun! - I'll keep an eye on the trackwork, as I'd quite like to do that myself!
Thanks for sharing this video Paul, I live in Robertson and volunteer work at the station, I had a feeling I saw you get off the train on this day, I hope you enjoyed the trip, and the station! When I had the privilege of being invited on this trip for free as a volunteer, I loved the rear view you’re able to get from the back of the train, I especially loved in on the trip back down as it was sunset at the time
You're very welcome! Yes you probably did see me! I was on the station for 15 minutes or so before heading to the Robertson Hotel for lunch. Lovely to hear that you do voluntary work at the station. I didn't realise you could look out of the back, so my eyes lit up when I realised. I do plan to do the Cockatoo Run again and film some other sections.
@@TransportVlog I hope to see you again some time then, I do recommend the section between Robertson and Moss Vale, nice and quick but the scenery is very different to that of this video
@@callum_bracht I have done Robertson to Moss Vale in the past, but I am keen to do it again and film it! - I'll stick my head out of the back window at Robertson when I do!
@@TransportVlog okay haha! I’ll look out for you
I went on this line in the early 70s from Moss Vale to Wollongong, day trip return in the Rail Motor.
We lived in Moss Vale when I was much younger, and a friend and I decided it would be a fun trip.
It was.
Wow! - it must have been quite different then. Were some of the intermediate stations open then?
@@TransportVlog As I remember there were a few passengers on the train counting us and in those days it wasn't a busy service.
I think Robertson was the only station open back then. Memory is a bit fuzzy on details, only went on it once.
Glad you enjoyed going to Robertson, hope they can upgrade our southern highlands line as it’s a hour or more wait for the country trains
Yes it would be good to see more trains on the Southern Highlands line. I'm hoping that when the CAF Civity trains come into service, that they will run direct to Central (as they will be diesel and electric). I think they're still a couple of years away.
i recently ha to get from Wollongong to Moss Vale and it's a bus trip! I would like this train ride alot more.
Yes the train is much more fun, although the road is pretty scenic too, and doesn't have any dodgy looking viaducts!
Thanks for posting. Thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Ate supper while viewing - like on a dinner train ! Beautiful scenery. Good commentary.
You're very welcome John, Glad you enjoyed this virtual train trip and supper with a view!
I live in bowral and had no idea such a line existed, wow
So now you know! I guess it gets overlooked being predominately freight only.
This is one of the most amazing and relaxing things I have seen in a long time. Thank you, this makes me want to book a ticket 🎟!
Yes, it is very relaxing! - Just like being on a train! Definitely worth doing the trip for real, and they are always looking for volunteers to help out. I have done the trip more recently and filmed the Moss Vale section, so I'll turn that into a video later this year.
This a great video. I remember travelling that route to Moss Vale at some time in the late 1980s when there was still a timetabled service on weekends. We stopped at Summit Tank and all walked out to the lookout over the coast.
Hi Robert, Thanks! It's cool that the weekend service also stopped at Summit Tank and allowed you to get off and go to the lookout.
This is a great video and really informative. Thanks for sharing and all the interesting info.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Well done Paul. A very well researched and informative ride. Thanks - I learned quite a lot.
Thanks Robert. Glad you enjoyed it
How did I miss this one? Enjoyed it thoroughly Paul, and the snippets of info along the way. It really is a picturesque bit of railway.
It’s a shame a spare Endeavour set isn’t used over the weekend to maybe provide a Moss Vale-Wollongong return service connecting at either end with a Sydney bound service so you could do a full circular trip with lunch at either Moss Vale or the ‘Gong, or even Robertson.
Hi Andrew, this video has been a bit of a slow burner, and has only become more popular recently! Yes it is a shame that there is no longer a regular weekend service, although East Coast Heritage Rail run their train over this line once a month now. In the past, their train used to return from Moss Vale via the Southern Highlands line, which made an interesting circuit! - I did it once when East Coast Heritage Rail used steam trains, I had my head out of the window for most of it!
Yes, I did enjoy it, and I gave it a like. I did the trip from Central to Moss Vale with 3801 many years ago, and still have fond memories o
f it. I had forgotten some of the details, which your clip brought back to me. Thanks
Hi Mark, Good to hear that this video bought back memories. When the lockdown is over, I hope to do another trip and film Robertson to Moss Vale.
Excellent work, Paul
Thanks!
When the main southern line (sydney to Goulburn/Canberra/Melbourne) was closed due to the Menangle bridge shutdown, the wife and I caught an overnighter (XPT) to Melbourne that went this way (the XPT is a diesel, and doesn't require an electrified line, after all.
Nice! - They don't seem to use this line so much for diversions these days. I guess much of it being single track makes it tricky!
Thanks for the trip. I used to catch the Cockatoo Run from Sydney Terminal (Central) to Unanderra at 9:06 (I think) am on a Saturday. I never went beyond that stop.
I's a shame the state Gov does not care for those that live south of Campbelltown to get to the 'Gong. (And vice versa) It was a great rail line, especially seeing as they are talking about opening up the Picton loop line again for steam train rides - but not as far as Mittagong -where the line ends.
Hi Peter, glad you enjoyed it! Yes it is a shame that there are no longer regular passenger services on this line. I hope the Picton loop lines does open again. That would be fun to do, especially on a steam train!
I did the Cockatoo run in the 80’s and although the train was bound for Moss Valle, like you, I alighted at Robertson.
Yes, there's lots to do in Robertson and you don't get long enough for a proper lunch in Moss Vale. I guess it was a little different in the 80s!
Use to live in Robertson (from 1987-2012). Now living in Moss Vale :)
Nice! - Hope this video bought back some happy memories. I do plan to do the Robertson to Moss Vale section another time!
I've always wanted to do this train route. I know it will never be built (in my lifetime at least) but I'd love to see a trainline from Nowra to Canberra, and the Canberra to Cooma to Bombala line reopened, and connected to a reopened line at Orbost, VIC for an alternative Sydney to Melbourne route via Nowra, Canberra and the Snowy Mountains.
Interesting ideas. If a new line is built to Canberra it will be a high speed line that can complete with air travel.
My Great Grandfather was a part of the survey team that did the survey of the Nowra to Orbost line in the 1880's as a young man. It never went near Canberra as that wasn't even a dream at the time. It was decided to halt the line at Bomaderry because building a bridge over the Shoalhaven River there was way too expensive then as it would be now.
A really good look at one of my favourite lines in NSW, thanks!
2 very minor problems, the line crosses the Prince's Highway just south of Unanderra, not the Pacific Highway; and the 4WD is an important rail track inspection vehicle fitted with 2 axles of rail wheels as well as the normal rubber tyres.
Thanks. - glad you enjoyed it. Yes, a couple of other people pointed out that it's Princes Highway. Good to know that the 4WD is a track inspection vehicle. I may redo this video at some point, with a different camera or on a day when the sun is much higher, so if I do, I'll incorporate these points as well. Thanks for your input.
It's been upgraded a lot since 1985 in the last video I saw of Tressteleg1 in a CPH rail motor just before passenger service ceased. It was a rickety mine cart track then.
Hi James, it's quite smooth now. All continuously welded rail, which it might not have been in the 80s.
@@TransportVlog good to see it has been maintained to an acceptable standard. I assumed it was all but abandoned without considering it could still be used as an important link used for goods traffic. It is.
Have you done a feature on the cancelled link to Maldon and all the work that went to waste?
@@jamesfrench7299 Not as yet, but it could be one for the future!
Bagpipe playing Dvorak's ... New World Symphony
Yes that's right!
Really interesting video, good to see what's changed. My uncle lived beside the line at Farmborough heights in the 1960s and the ascending trains were noisy! The views were much better then, and the line was easy to see from the Princes Highway around Kembla Grange. Since then there has been a lot of timber regrowth.
My last trip, and only downhill one, was on the South Mail when it was diverted at Moss Vale to avoid a derailment further north. Did the descent at daybreak.
Couldn't see any vestiges of the old Dombarton siding, which diverged to the left as you headed uphill, crossed the main line, and rejoined from the right. I could never figure out how it worked, but it gets a mention in the Wikipedia entry on 'passing loop'. Apparently it involved some sort of zig-zag affair.
Glad you enjoyed it. Yes trains have got quieter since then! I wasn't aware of the old Dombarton siding, so thanks for mentioning that. If I find out anymore, I'll let you know.
@@TransportVlog RUclips found me this video of the trip in the 1980s, which passes Dombarton signal box at 2.23, and you can see the lower part of the zigzig siding immediately after. The reference to “Refuge loop” rings a bell, the way it was configured meant it couldn’t have been a passing loop.
ruclips.net/video/pskTsLBmvco/видео.html
@@PineappleSkip Thanks for sharing this video. It looks really interesting!
At around the 1:02:00- 1:03:00 mark, there appears to be a raised and short platform on the right side of the railway (although it is only raised a little bit). This would most likely be remnants of a former railway station.
Yes quite possibly! Well spotted!
Thanks, Paul, for a most enjoyable trip. Not sure your doing but I also appreciate the subtitles, being a deafie. Would love to hear some of the sounds you speak of. Alas, not possible. Great work, thanks.
Hi Geoffrey, glad you enjoyed this virtual scenic trip! The subtitles are done automatically by RUclips. Hopefully they are fairly accurate!
I’m totally conflicted about the sunny weather! It looks so great but I’m also getting a nervous reaction from all the flickering sunlight between the leaves 😂
Yes, the low sun made things difficult. I could have edited those bits out, but I was keen to capture the whole journey on camera.
@@TransportVlog Oh I’m glad you kept it! I’m just wondering if I should wish for clouds when I film this.
@@TransportVlog By the way how did you go with attaching to the rear window? Or did you use a tripod? Did you have to fight for space?
@@TransportVlog PS I knew you were using an iPhone - all your previous vlogs had that particular look & feel to it! I hope you get an iPhone 12 one day and then you can enjoy the amazing difference Dolby Vision makes. As amazing as I found the videos on iPhone 11 - looked really good on every device - the new HDR modes really pop out on certain screens, such as the phone’s own display.
@@TransportVlog Really the only way to stop the glare is with some variation on a toilet roll tube :-)
Thank you Paul for the Video.
Just a minor correction if I may.
The Train left Unanderra Platform 1 and the Platform on the right is Platform 2.
Services towards Kiama usually depart Platform 1 and Services towards Wollongong usually depart Platform 2.
This train definitely left from Platform 2 and the platform to the right is Platform 1. It can look a little strange going backwards, but I thought I got that bit right?
Generally, Platforms are numbered from Left to Right, when facing towards Sydney.
Unanderra Platform 1 is on the Western side and Platform 2 is on the Eastern side.
Due to the layout at Unanderra, usually Down Services depart Platform 1, Up Services depart Platform 2.
Hey, always wanted to take a trip on this line. Thanks for the video! :) For your info, there was a concept called the South West Illawarra Rail Line (SWIRL) that proposed to resurrect the Maldon-Dombarton line as a combined passenger/freight line. My colleagues and I were promoting a high speed rail concept (from Newcastle to Canberra) that would have involved a fast (200 km/hr) branch from Wilton to Wollongong via Unanderra and would have re-used most of the Maldon-Dombarton corridor (yes we are familiar with and have had conversations with the SWIRL promoters). This would see a 25 minute trip from Wollongong to Campbelltown and 45 minutes from Wollongong to both Parramatta and the Sydney CBD. If anyone is interested in the detail, just ask.
Hi Saumya, Glad you liked this video! I wasn't aware of the South West Illawarra Rail Line concept. It actually makes far more sense to use the Maldon-Dombarton alignment for a high speed rail line. This could then free up paths for freight on the existing lines. Do you know what the status of this project at the moment? - Feel free to share more or post some links in the comments. Thanks Paul
@@TransportVlog The report is here: www.nswbusinesschamber.com.au/NSWBC/media/Illawarra/SWIRL-Report-November-2020.pdf Got some press and you can easily Google it. Its not supported by TfNSW though, so its effectively in hibernation.
Quite independently of this, there was a consortium known as Sydney FastRail that bid on the 2017 Federal Government Faster Rail Prospectus. (I was involved in this). This was money intended to be spent on developing three business cases for faster or high speed rail. We bid on a (primarily) high speed rail network from Newcastle to Canberra. That proposal featured direct access to Newcastle, Gosford and Wollongong, unlike the 2013 Phase 2 HSR Study which proposed parkway stations for Newcastle and the Central Coast and no station at all for Wollongong.
Access to Newcastle was via the existing rail corridor from Cockle Creek into Newcastle (freight was moved onto its own bypass). Access to Gosford (and Woy Woy) was via a dedicated branch. Access to Wollongong was via a branch that departed the HSR main line at Wilton and used most of the existing Maldon-Dombarton corridor (typically 200 km/hr). However it departed from the older M-D route before the formerly proposed Avon tunnel and used its own tunnel and dedicated track, joining the existing rail line at Unanderra. Thus avoiding the highly curved section from Dombarton to Unanderra. Freight would use a separate track. High speed trains would then be able to depart from North Wollongong station, stop at Wollongong, Wilton and then Campbelltown. As I said, this would have meant a 25 minute trip from Wollongong to Campbelltown - creating a new economic corridor. Also 45 minutes from Wollongong to Parramatta or the Sydney CBD.
@@saumyacow4435 Thanks very much for this. It's a shame that it's in hibernation. However, I believe it will only be a matter of time before Newcastle and Wollongong get high speed rail links. Although I love the scenery of the current lines, they are embarrassingly slow by European standards!
@@TransportVlog I've spent years promoting high speed rail and we have some serious obstacles to overcome if its to become reality. Let me share a couple of insights. Firstly, we're not going to get anywhere until we get over the idea that high speed rail is about competing with intercapital air travel. No other country has ever set out to build a high speed rail network with the primary focus being replacement of air travel, but here in Australia, the obsession with air travel has killed high speed rail. What high speed rail is actually very good at is competing with car travel over relatively short distances and in corridors where, if we don't build high speed rail, we'll end up spending similar sums of money on augmented motorways.
Secondly, what we are lacking is an understanding of the breadth and scale of social and economic benefits that would come from high speed rail in high volume corridors such as Newcastle to Sydney. We just haven't done the work. The whole point of the Sydney FastRail consortium that I worked with was to have the resources necessary to do this basic research. To create the data and the narrative that politicians need. High speed rail is truly "the highway of the future" but so far its failing to gain traction because its been touted as a more convenient way to fly. What it should be is the top tier in a high performance mass transit system.
There's a real danger that the next change of government will see a return to the 2013 Phase 2 HSR Study, with all its failures - including not actually directly connecting Newcastle or the Central Coast and providing absolutely no service to Wollongong. Frankly, it needs to be scrapped and we need to give more careful thought to what we're actually building high speed rail for. Hint: Its got everything to do with maximising social and economic return on investment and that means volume. Ordinary people doing ordinary, everyday things.
As for scenery, well I'm looking forward to that high speed trip across the Hawkesbury and various sections that will be on viaduct. Plus we're now at the point where we can dispense with the overhead wiring, which means an uninterrupted view - none of those wiring stanchions. Btw, there's an industry joke that goes "what would remain if you dropped a 10 Megaton nuke on Sydney? Answer: cockroaches and those rail wiring stanchions!
While I'm here. I should point out that as part of this work, we advocated a Scarborough to Waterfall bypass for regular trains. Not part of the high speed rail network but important in terms of improving the connection between Wollongong and Sutherland (25 minutes reduction). Thus making the train trip competitive with driving. As it stands, everyone simply drives to Sutherland and attempts to park there, before taking a train further north. Notionally that would leave the section between Scarborough and Helensburgh with a twice-hourly all stations service. But frankly I can easily see this section of track becoming a future "scenic railway".
@@TransportVlog The demand already exists in the Newcastle to Wollongong corridor. The problem is that we have a lot of senior people in TfNSW clinging to the notion that you can make affordable, incremental improvements to the inter-city train lines. Back in late 2018, the NSW government hired Professor Andrew McNaughton (of HS2 fame) to consult on this issue. Its now 2021 and we've not seen a word of his report - the short version is his report got shelved because it was seen as too ambitious by the very same people in TfNSW (and NSW Treasury). The only way to make a breakthrough on this is to put in front of politicians two simple things. One is the cost of not building HSR - tens of billions spent on future augmentation of motorways. The other is an analysis of the scale of social and economic benefit.
I think that rail advocates (and public transport advocates in general) need to get behind high speed rail. Unfortunately some see HSR as a threat. Presumably in the belief that there is a single bucket of money and not realising that HSR will primarily be funded out of money that would have otherwise gone into road pavement. What a lot of public transport advocates don't get is that HSR and regular public transport are synergistic. HSR won't work without being integrated with first class public transport and on the flip side, public transport will get a boost out of having a high speed backbone.
You can tell I've been at this for years :)
The space beside the railway from Farmborough Heights to Dombarton is actually a railway access road to work on the railway and access the tunnel. Still used occasionally for work but more often by bushwalkers and cyclists.
Thanks Gary, I might see if I can walk that sometime.
Nicely done Paul. If you continue to use your phone over a SLR, then I suggest when shooting towards or into sunlight to shield the lens from sunlight 'flare' using whatever remaining hand you have, out in front of the lens. This can be done relatively easily once practiced. At first you may find you get your hand in the shot, but with time and effort this can be mitigated whilst enabling you to reduce sunlight entering the lens - cause of the 'flare' you are experiencing here. Alternatively, you could look at making a rudimentary attachment of cardboard with some sticky tape to attach it when necessary. You will have to trial and error the length of the cardboard. Same goes for a SLR lens, however most good quality SLR lens come with a lens hood for such occasions.
I enjoyed the trip.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for the tips too. I have noticed this issue with sunlight at other times too, so I'll give your suggestions a go. I do have other camera's, but the iPhone is the only one that does 4K video.
@@TransportVlog 👍
Automatic trip gear is a little piece of metal on the front axle left hand side of the train direction of travel. What it does is if it goes past a signal at stop and is equipped with a train stop (Sydney trains network only) it applies the emergency brakes to prevent a collision
Awesome, thanks for explaining that Nathan. Good to hear that this safety measure is in place. I can think of at least one rail crash in the UK that would have been avoided with automatic trip gear on their trains.
@@TransportVlog glenbrook would of too
@@nathanmaynard8428 as I understand it, not quite. the train in rear at glenbrook had the necessary authority to pass the signal, so would not have been stopped by the trip equipment. it then proceeded at too high a speed to stop before the train that was still waiting at the signal ahead.
It's the Princess Hwy down south, Not pacific
Thanks Matt! - I'll remember that for next time.
very nice. 4k60fps
Ah, this was on my personal to-do list, and in 4K60 too. (I’ve got my GoPro Black 9 now). Maybe I can contribute to this channel in Patreon etc. The only thing I’d do differently is maximise the wide-angle.
Yes it's a wonderful trip to do! Glad you like the 4K 60 footage. This was my first attempt, so I'll try a wider angle next time. I'm thinking of getting a GoPro at some point! I haven't set up Patreon as yet, so feel free to support this channel by watching other videos, liking and commenting.
Thanks!
Paul I never seen this line before but I see it when you made a video mate 😏 and I think I seen that when I was on the south coast line when where was the hill or part hill Up ⬆️ so I forgot does the line connect to the Southern Highlands Line But I will see you later Paul if you make new videos I will comment ok 😎 So See Ya Paul!
Hi Oscar, yes from Robertson, it continues to Moss Vale and then joins the Southern Highland Line. Glad you enjoyed this video.
Ok
For any XPT service that had been diverted to using this line or even any special passenger services that use this line on occasion, it must have been a scary experience for the passengers to travel over the viaduct being so close to the edge (with no railing). It would freak me out!
Yes it is pretty scary, especially if you look down! I'd be keen to do it next time there is a diversion!
Been up and down the pass alot when I was young as my Dad operated the Countrylink coach service from Moss Vale to Wollongong. Very interesting to see if from the rail point of view! Do you know if they will ever complete the link to Maldon? We used to live in Picton and the tunnel networks they proposed would have been really interesting
Hopefully the Maldon line will happen at some point, as the existing Wollongong line will need more capacity for passenger trains in the future.
I think the tune is from the New World Symphony by Dvorak. But I don't know which movement.
Yes it is! The second movement.
Hi Paul, interesting video. I have never been on this line. Also, is there any connection by rail between Robertson and Richmond? I recall that there was a branch line running from Richmond, but I have never travelled on it. Incidentally, guard rails, especially on train bridges seem to be quite a rare sight on New Zealand railways. All the very best. Robert.
Hi Robert, No there isn't a branch line from Robertson to Richmond. It can be done via existing lines taking the curve to the north of Moss Vale, and then via Campbelltown, Fairfield, Parramatta and Blacktown. Interesting about the lack of guard rails on NZ railways! Glad you enjoyed this video.
You have been on the Cockatoo run I never been on that train
Definitely worth doing, once the lockdown is over! I was sitting with a couple that had come all the way down from Port Macquarie to do this run!
looks like a fairly steep grade as well
Hi Blake, Yes it's a 1 in 30 gradient from Unanderra to Dombarton.
The tune is the slow movement from Dvorak's ninth symphony. Someone also put some words to it starting with ;Going Home'. Sorry if someone has already told you that, but my eyesight could not tolerate all that reading.
Hi Mark, you're the first person that has guessed the correct movement! Well done on watching the whole video! Hope you enjoyed it.
1000th view ;)
Thanks!
East coast heritage rail now have x 54
Aaah yes - I think I might have seen that at Central.
Avon Tunnel - 19:04
Yes that's right.
I think you mean The Princess Hwy.
Yes that's right :-)
Went pass today
Westmead - Canopy been put up
Childrens Hospital - Canopy supports put up
You'd think for a bit of authenticity a station location sign would be available at Summit Tank on the platform.... but alas , no. And as for the abandoned Mt Murray station - it's a shame the people running the line don't at least keep it neat and tidy. And from a rail enthusiast point of view I think its pretty poor that the heritage service doesn't stop there so fans can take a picture or too there - Given the very expensive fare they charge to ride that heritage railway you'd think a quick stop at Mt Murray wouldn't be unreasonable. You didn't show any vision of Robertson station building or platform - do you have any vision to share - would be nice to see it. What did you do in Robertson and go did you get home from there ..... I suppose there was a bus to .... Moss Vale ??
Hi Stephen, Good points and when I'm next talking to East Coast Heritage Rail (or on one of their trains), I'll mention it to them. Sorry I didn't include any footage of the station. I had lunch in Robertson and then got the return heritage service back to Sydney. Next time I'll take it to Moss Vale and film that section. I do have a little footage of the train and possibly Robertson station, so I may include this in a future video.
The South Coast Line is not a branch line!
@32:59 rock fall on the left hand side
Yes well spotted!
Lens Hood sometimes shields the glare or even a filter, not too sure on iPhone 11. but if filming up against glass there maybe little you can do. A good Camera Store could help.
Thanks Steve, yes I've been looking at some options from camera shops. I'm also looking at Go Pro type active camera's for these kinds of videos, so hopefully I'll find a solution soon.
I attempted this trip on the regular service to Moss Vale around 1983, the train was a pair of CPHs, unfortunately one of the CPHs overheated and water can be seen coming from the radiator. We were going up this huge hill. The rail motors set back to Unanderra and I got off. The train that I took back to Wollongong was some local train consisting of 4 CPHs.
Years later I made it to Moss Vale on the Cockatoo Run. Enough time for a counter lunch.
Thanks for sharing this Daryl, It's quite a hill and it goes on for ages! Yes you don't get much time for lunch if you go all the way to Moss Vale!
At 2:40 its the Princes Highway, not the Pacific Highway.
Thanks Malcolm, I've just added this as a pinned comment, as a few people have corrected me on this! I have re-filmed this in the opposite direction (from Moss Vale to Wollongong), so when I do the voiceovers, I'll make sure I say Princes Highway!
The highway you cross just as you’ve left Unanderra over the bridge is the ‘Princes Highway’ not Pacific Highway.
Yes that's right Clem! A few people have pointed that out!
The Maldon to Dombarton project is now known as the South West Illawarra Rail Link since 2017 and here is a link to investigations done in 2020: www.nswports.com.au/sites/default/files/Summary%20-%20South%20West%20Illawarra%20Rail%20Link.pdf
The new proposal includes electrification and duplication of the line for freight and passenger services with an eventual extension to Western Sydney Airport and the Western line at St Marys alongside the future Sydney Metro Greater West line. It is expected that the full 43 km expansion of the heavy rail network will cost roughly $3 billion.
1:14:30 Don't go cutting the Cheese!
id sell my kneecaps to catch this trip omfg
It is running again on Sunday 5 December - details here - www.123tix.com.au/events/19194/the-cockatoo-run-sunday-5th-december-2021
If the proposed line was to be freight only, what electric locos would have been used?
86 classes probably, it was proposed a while ago
Yes possibly, although the plan was to electricity at 25KV AC, so that would have required new locos.
@@TransportVlog thank you. That would explain why the overhead posts are spaced out so far
Do you have a time table of this line please? I am buying a property in Farmbourough Heights next to it. I am trying to find out whether I can undertake its sound. Thanks.
I don't have access to a timetable for this line unfortunately. With the exception of the East Coast Heritage rail train, its all goods trains, and these don't tend to run to an exact timetable. At a guess, I would say that there are between 10 and 20 trains per day, and these could run at anytime, including during the night. Maybe worth asking any neighbours or Farmborough Heights locals about this.
Thanks so much for the information.@@TransportVlog
how did you get on it?
Hi Fan, there are no trips scheduled at the moment, but if you sign up to their email list, then you'll be notified when future trips are scheduled. Here is the link - eastcoastheritagerail.com.au/contact-us/#subscribe
Great video. But nice to see the typical ‘let’s not look after expensive infrastructure’ attitude in Australia by not cutting back or spraying the encroaching bushes and weeds onto the track coming up the ridge and starting to cover those signs. Once established those roots will destroy retaining walls etc.
Yes very true! Glad you enjoyed this video.
Princess highway not pacific paul
Thanks for pointing this out!
Why are there pantograph poles??
I explain why at 3:48
did endeavours use this line, because if they did then I the line should be re opened with new and refurbished stations.
Yes I believe Endeavours did run on this line for a while, back in the 1990s.
@@TransportVlog when did they stop running on the line and why.
@@lucasmcgowan6306 I believe weekday services finished in 1985, but weekend services continued to 1994, and then 3801 (now East Coast Heritage Rail took over). The reason would be lack of patronage, as the intermediate stops are in very rural areas.
@@TransportVlog I meen thats understandable but if it reopens then they could just have Robertson, burrawang, and a Farmborough heights station on the line, these places that can have new or refurbished stations won't be too rural, and it doesn't matter about the distance between unanderra and Robertson, I meen look at the distance between singlton and muswellbrook.
@@lucasmcgowan6306 I don't think the distance between stations is the issue here, it's more the likely passenger use at each station. I think Singleton and Muswellbrook are larger towns than Robertson or Farnborough Heights.
Bring on the electrified line and make it carry passengers as well as freight! And get those @#$%ing trucks off the roads!!!!
Shame i cant watch this in reverse.
I might be able to do something about that. It is possible to reverse clips in Final Cut Pro!
Princes Hwy ... just South of Unanderra .................. RURAL Fire Service ....... not Royal ........ U".....nanderra , from a local Aboriginal dialect ............. AND YEP , from a LONG TIME NSW Railway local .................Summit Tank once had three signalmen houses along with Dombarton .
Thanks for that, I will be doing an updated version of this video next year (with footage from a cloudy day that I got a few weeks ago), so I'll remember your points for that video. It will be in the other direction and all the way from Moss Vale this time.