A nice gentle wind down to return all of us to reality. Hopefully, viewers who haven't gone for themselves have been encouraged. Particularly if coming from overseas, do add the two classics (Savannahlander and Gulflander), which Floyd has had to leave for a future adventure.Railway managers hated creating neat connections, but there were three good ones in time. Intercapital Daylight and Overland were retimed to connect at a purpose-built platform at Sunshine (suburban Melbourne). Northbound there was no neat connection Melbourne to Brisbane, but southbound Brisbane Express was timed to connect with Intercapital Daylight at Strathfield. When BExp was replaced with Gold Coast Motorail Express, Brisbane Limited Express was retimed to maintain the connection. When out of money at the end of a great Queensland adventure, it was always good to be whisked home fast. The 'ratholes' tunnels were a ~1910 deviation from the original 1860s Lithgow zigzag, an amazing piece of colonial engineering to tap the western wool trade for Sydney and not by paddlesteamer to Adelaide or Melbourne. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithgow_Zig_Zag Likewise, the south line had many deviations to ease grades for steam locos, at the expense of curves. Today, the curves are the limiting factor; reverting to the original alignments would be faster. It was always a grind on IcD spending all day at 80 km/h. Finally, after Wagga Wagga, the train came alive. That is the same with XPT: 160 km/h briefly near Breadalbane, then not until after Wagga Wagga. In the 1940s, double track was extended from Cootamundra to Junee. The northbound track ascended a 'spiral' (helix). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethungra_SpiralJunee was half way to Melbourne, but the southern half was faster than the northern. All regular train pairs were timed to cross north of Junee (just a couple of Easter trains crossed on the single line). Floyd captured a rare move, caused by late running. [It may be common since ARTC botched the track upgrades].
Thanks mate, keep an eye out for the next part where I go over how I planned and budgeted the whole thing. I’m sure Les will make plenty of future appearances.
And yes, this was a thoroughly enjoyable series and it would be great to actually take some of these journeys myself one day. Thanks for your hard work in compiling these videos. We really do appreciate it!
I have followed your videos from No 1. I have to say I have enjoyed your videos. At some stage I wish to make my own journeys on these trains and thank you so much for taking us with you. Take care. :)
I stayed in bayswater for a week,saw a mate in Berwick, so that's the most south I've been when I caught the train back to southern for my bus to Tullamarine. Also stayed in Noble Park and Truganina. Love Melbs, love sth Melbs dimsims, love asking for potato scallops with my sunnies on my head as proud Queenslanders should. Especially at pubs,bar staff usually deny the existence of XXXX before you say hi. It's the sunnies being a Qld thing.
It’s a website called trainfinder. Used to track any trains with an ICE radio I think but only works for Queensland and some of NSW now. You have to be given access basically.
Another great video!.Thanks for the upload Floyd!.
Cheers mate!
Excellent work Floyd excellent work good video lots of history there
Thanks mate
A nice gentle wind down to return all of us to reality.
Hopefully, viewers who haven't gone for themselves have been encouraged. Particularly if coming from overseas, do add the two classics (Savannahlander and Gulflander), which Floyd has had to leave for a future adventure.Railway managers hated creating neat connections, but there were three good ones in time. Intercapital Daylight and Overland were retimed to connect at a purpose-built platform at Sunshine (suburban Melbourne). Northbound there was no neat connection Melbourne to Brisbane, but southbound Brisbane Express was timed to connect with Intercapital Daylight at Strathfield. When BExp was replaced with Gold Coast Motorail Express, Brisbane Limited Express was retimed to maintain the connection. When out of money at the end of a great Queensland adventure, it was always good to be whisked home fast.
The 'ratholes' tunnels were a ~1910 deviation from the original 1860s Lithgow zigzag, an amazing piece of colonial engineering to tap the western wool trade for Sydney and not by paddlesteamer to Adelaide or Melbourne.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithgow_Zig_Zag
Likewise, the south line had many deviations to ease grades for steam locos, at the expense of curves. Today, the curves are the limiting factor; reverting to the original alignments would be faster. It was always a grind on IcD spending all day at 80 km/h. Finally, after Wagga Wagga, the train came alive. That is the same with XPT: 160 km/h briefly near Breadalbane, then not until after Wagga Wagga. In the 1940s, double track was extended from Cootamundra to Junee. The northbound track ascended a 'spiral' (helix).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethungra_SpiralJunee was half way to Melbourne, but the southern half was faster than the northern. All regular train pairs were timed to cross north of Junee (just a couple of Easter trains crossed on the single line). Floyd captured a rare move, caused by late running. [It may be common since ARTC botched the track upgrades].
Hi, I started watching your videos and they are great, especially the Queensland Outback trains I really enjoy them...keep up the great work.....
Cheers!
A great series mate you did a great job also great to see some old faces in the last few
Hope to see a lot more
Thanks mate, keep an eye out for the next part where I go over how I planned and budgeted the whole thing.
I’m sure Les will make plenty of future appearances.
That reverse move at Wagga is a first, imagine you were asleep and woke to discover you were heading back towards Sydney, albeit briefly.
Haha you might get a bit confused for a second
And yes, this was a thoroughly enjoyable series and it would be great to actually take some of these journeys myself one day. Thanks for your hard work in compiling these videos. We really do appreciate it!
Cheers! Yes the Westlander and Inlander are on borrowed time, so I suggest you get to them before they disappear!
I have followed your videos from No 1. I have to say I have enjoyed your videos. At some stage I wish to make my own journeys on these trains and thank you so much for taking us with you. Take care. :)
Thanks mate! Best of luck making it happen!
Loved the whole series Floyd!
Glad you enjoyed! There will be one last part where I go over how I planned the whole thing and how I budgeted as well.
A very nice last part, loved the series, and coming home is nice as well you drop your bags and run for the fridge too get a nice beer hehe.
I don’t personally drink alcohol but a nice glass of cold water will do me well.
I stayed in bayswater for a week,saw a mate in Berwick, so that's the most south I've been when I caught the train back to southern for my bus to Tullamarine. Also stayed in Noble Park and Truganina. Love Melbs, love sth Melbs dimsims, love asking for potato scallops with my sunnies on my head as proud Queenslanders should. Especially at pubs,bar staff usually deny the existence of XXXX before you say hi. It's the sunnies being a Qld thing.
19:00 Waves from Wang!
You forgot to mention that the crew changes at Albury
We didn’t get to get off at Albury so that’s why I didn’t mention jt
Cool what app were you using to track the XPT? What’s it called and what trains does it track
It’s a website called trainfinder. Used to track any trains with an ICE radio I think but only works for Queensland and some of NSW now. You have to be given access basically.