Peter,
you got me ! I keep re-reading your post about those QR diesels. 645 is an EMD designation. I am curious about these engine's origin, manufacture, and so on. Were they home built with various off the shelf components ? If so, that is a fascinating story !
You mentioned in an earlier post working at the assembly plant for a time, and the name "English Electric" came up. Forgive me, but this is the very first time I have heard this name mentioned.
I am feeling there is a story to these engines, if you would like to share it, or anything else pertaining to their origin. This is all new to me !
Also, I am trying to picture in my mind a double track electrified railroad. Please tell me the cane fields are still there !
Paul
your knowledge and comments are much appreciated ! For me, it was a " grab shot", a train popped up and I shot it. Both pictures are of the same train. In those years, our focus was not on railfanning, but to getting to a camp site at Airlie Beach.
Postwar Paul
This looks like a northbound empty coal train between Gladstone and Rockhampton, somewhere around Marmor in the morning.
The locomotives are model GL22C, fitted with a 12-645E engine of 1500 HP. The main line from Rockhampton to Gladstone at this time was a "Class 1" line which could only take the heavier 16 cylinder locomotives with a reduced fuel load. The coal lines further North were "Class 1X" and the heavier locomotives could be used.
These 12 cylinder units fell into two groups, those numbered from 1550 which had older electrical equipment, and others numbered from 2400 which had "Dash 2" switchgear. Most of these were rebuilt with turbochargers and larger radiators giving 2250 HP and they were renumbered as 2300 series.
I photographed a container train with two 2300s in that area last year.
The old main line is now double track, electrified at 25kV with AC traction locomotives of 6000 HP each on coal trains. There was one replacement passenger train run with one of the old blower EMD locomotives which I saw last year just south of Gladstone. You could hear it coming well before it appeared.
The other photo of the Locotrol remotes in a loaded train seems to be in the same area.
Peter
I spent a fair amount of time in Sydney. When I first arrived in Australia in '80, I spent a week sightseeing, and to decompress from the long flight, and the time change. I left LAX January first 1980, and landed Sydney January 3rd, because of the time change, I lost a day. Did the usual things : Bondi beach, and Manly. Saw a presentation in the Opera House. But then I went back to Sydney a few times, and through Sydney and Central station. One time I took a train just over the Harbour Bridge and back, just to check it out. I don't recall when I took this picture, but it was most likely in July 1980, when I returned to Sydney for a few days before flying home. Sydney was my door to Australia in 1980, coming and going. And it was a fun place to explore !
I recall Central Station's clock tower, I have it in one of my pictures. It was great to see again in the NFSA videos. I passed through there several times.
I think I mentioned my budget traveling. My book was right on some of the places I stayed. There was a railway hotel in Perth that was economical, and my window overlooked the station. Perfect for me !
Postwar Paul Sydney.
Sydney.
I spent a lot of time in Australia, and was able to see a lot as well. On the 1980 trip, I had a 6 month visa, and stayed two days over because of my departing flight ( which was Pan Am). I had such a great time, I went back in '82. The Australian Consulate issued 2 three month visas for this trip, so I spent 3 weeks in New Zealand in between. I flew Qantas,with a " circle 8" fare that allowed me to make several stops. I was a budget traveler. I had a book that talked about cheap places to stay, and I remember that hotel in Sydney was $55 for a week- restroom down the hall. Never mind it was in King's Cross ! How would I know ? The place I stayed in Melbourne was a railway hotel, right across from Spencer Street Station. Again, weekly rate. I just stayed until I felt satisfied that I had seen everything. I was there a month, and rode those beautiful vintage trams everyday. I spent the most time in Brisbane, and Queensland, hanging out with my mate. Those beaches up the coast from Brisbane are great !
Thank you for info on the Sydney cars. A lot of interesting facts I did not know. Sometimes we don't know what we're looking at, and the significance it has. Like the coach driver that mentioned the " Pendennis Castle". I have since taken the time to educate myself, and to realize how truly special it was to have in Australia.
It is interesting to follow up on things now. My notes:
Puffing Billy. Still going strong. I think they have extended the line since I rode it.
Kingston Flyer. Out of service since 2012. When I saw it in '82, it was just returning to service. Ran for 30 years .
Kuranda train. Going strong.
Melbourne Trams, 1 in S.F., you mentioned a few running in Melbourne.
I am sure there will never again be a hotel for $55 a week !
I'm impressed by the range of your photographs, from Perth to Cairns.
I thought I'd comment on this one.
The train is departing platform 16 at Sydney Central and heading northbound through the city underground toward the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is most likely heading for Hornsby.
The leading power car is of the original design, dating to the mid 1920s.
The leading trailer car, partly in view is very interesting. It was built in the late 1950s as a power car fitted with power operated doors. Only forty cars of this type were built along with forty trailer cars in the late 1950s, but they had incompatible control equipment, using 120 volt control voltage rather than 32 volts in the older cars. By the 1970s spares were becoming difficult to obtain and some of these cars were stripped to provide spares gfor the remainder. They were converted to operate as trailer cars and the doors reverted to manual operation. I remember riding in one of these, but I never got a photo of one in service. You can just make out the blanked out side cab window near the front of the car, and the panel separating the two sliding passenger doors which was a feature of these cars.
I grew up near a station on that line, and rode those trains to high school and to university and later to work.
Sadly, the little garden has been fenced off as a security measure and is no longer looked after. The roadway just to the left of the photo was originally built for tramcars and it is again used for trams to Darling Harbour and Dulwich Hill.
Pictures from long ago, and far away. I'm sure it has changed.
Great times, very friendly and kind people that I met. A highlight in my life.
New Zealand K class 4-8-4.
I think this is the museum in Auckland. I also went to the Ferrymead museum in Christchurch.
Darwin.
Perth.
Fremantle.
Head in' up the coast.
The Queensland house.
Brisbane.
at least the way I remember...
Peter, this is Townsville ?
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