I wasn't aware of any closure. I was lead to believe the service was suspended initially. Now the new owner is using it for wagon storage, with talk of other possible activity.
Great vid mate. My father was a fettler on that line for 35yrs when SMR. I would love to travel on that line one day just to follow in his tracks. I also remember it was two lines back then and the Neath signal box was their break room.
They should rebuild the line and create a new Cessnock station. (Cessnock East?) It would negate the need for 30 plus carbon-spewing bus services per day . Maybe run 4 or 5 services per day between Maitland and Cessnock East and you would not have to run buses. Everyone would be happy.
South Cessnock would be better, use the existing coal line. And you’d only be replacing like for like, all the trains would need to be diesel since there is no electric lines here.
Great video. I remember travelling from Maitland to Abermain in the early 60s. I believe it would be a big step forward. As for a station at cessnock, one could be built near the sports ground near the level crossing. Imagine weekend trips from different parts of nsw and local tour operators picking up people for vineyard tours and people coming to the football.
Oh did you? Sounds interesting to me of bygone era of the Hunter Valley Railway such as in Cessnock. I found that one fascinating of the South Maitland Railway railcar used to be in passenger service like Red Rattlers in Sydney.
@@neilforbes416 Thanks for the detail which I'd not thought of. As an aside, when I was abut 5 years old, my father took me for a short holiday with one of his aunts and her husband. We'd caught the train so my mother could have the car - very few 2 car families 70 years ago. The property we stayed on was just on the outskirts of Rylstone, and the property adjoined the line. I used run to the fence to watch trains go by. The train we'd caught from Wallerawang to Lithgow was steam-hauled dog box carriages and I really wanted to catch one of the then new diesel railcars back. Fortunately my wishes came to reality and we had one of the 600/700 sets back. The great thing about it was that we were able to sit at the very front, opposite the driver, and I had a magnificent view of the line ahead. The property is still there, and looked much the same when we drove to Mudgee a few years ago.
I have a video of the ride I took with the CPH "Tin Hare" rail motors on this line a year or two earlier. I'll provide a link for it an a moment. I remember as we came back toward Maitland, just before passing under the Pitnacree Bridge, of to our left in the paddock were some lamas. One was dressed in yellow and red robes so I guess he was the leader....... wait for it........ *the Dalai Lama!* LOL🤣
I wasn't aware of any closure.
I was lead to believe the service was suspended initially.
Now the new owner is using it for wagon storage, with talk of other possible activity.
Great vid mate. My father was a fettler on that line for 35yrs when SMR. I would love to travel on that line one day just to follow in his tracks. I also remember it was two lines back then and the Neath signal box was their break room.
They should rebuild the line and create a new Cessnock station. (Cessnock East?)
It would negate the need for 30 plus carbon-spewing bus services per day . Maybe run 4 or 5 services per day between Maitland and Cessnock East and you would not have to run buses. Everyone would be happy.
South Cessnock would be better, use the existing coal line. And you’d only be replacing like for like, all the trains would need to be diesel since there is no electric lines here.
Great footage!
Neath station is that all? Did they went all the way towards the end of the line to bellbird
Why not keep it as a vintage working railway
Great idea!
Awesome content.
Great video. I remember travelling from Maitland to Abermain in the early 60s. I believe it would be a big step forward. As for a station at cessnock, one could be built near the sports ground near the level crossing. Imagine weekend trips from different parts of nsw and local tour operators picking up people for vineyard tours and people coming to the football.
Oh did you? Sounds interesting to me of bygone era of the Hunter Valley Railway such as in Cessnock. I found that one fascinating of the South Maitland Railway railcar used to be in passenger service like Red Rattlers in Sydney.
The 600/700 class gave great service. It's probably heresy to say it, but they were much more comfortable than their predecessors.
That's not a 600/700, it's a later class, a 620/720-class. The 600/700 dates back to the 1940s while the 620/720 class dates to the early 1960s.
@@neilforbes416 Thanks for the detail which I'd not thought of. As an aside, when I was abut 5 years old, my father took me for a short holiday with one of his aunts and her husband. We'd caught the train so my mother could have the car - very few 2 car families 70 years ago. The property we stayed on was just on the outskirts of Rylstone, and the property adjoined the line. I used run to the fence to watch trains go by. The train we'd caught from Wallerawang to Lithgow was steam-hauled dog box carriages and I really wanted to catch one of the then new diesel railcars back. Fortunately my wishes came to reality and we had one of the 600/700 sets back. The great thing about it was that we were able to sit at the very front, opposite the driver, and I had a magnificent view of the line ahead. The property is still there, and looked much the same when we drove to Mudgee a few years ago.
It should re open
I have a video of the ride I took with the CPH "Tin Hare" rail motors on this line a year or two earlier. I'll provide a link for it an a moment. I remember as we came back toward Maitland, just before passing under the Pitnacree Bridge, of to our left in the paddock were some lamas. One was dressed in yellow and red robes so I guess he was the leader....... wait for it........ *the Dalai Lama!* LOL🤣
Here is that link I promised. Hope you enjoy.
ruclips.net/video/IIcOCHCvoEo/видео.html