3237 School Holiday Steam trips to Gosford
Part 1 – Saturday 10 April 2010
(assisted by 4701)
Part 2 – Sunday 11 April 2010
Trip Report
Day Train to Gosford
The cancellation of the Lachlan Valley Railways trains to Gosford and Valley Heights over Easter thankfully didn't have a knock on effect to the weekend of the 10th and 11th of April.
After recent successful steam and light engine trials 3237 was ready for the Easter running the forced cancellation of the services was disappointing however this was not the case the following weekend.
3237 simmers quietly in the confines of the Large Erecting Shop at Eveleigh on Friday night 9 April.
Preparing to depart Sydney Terminal on Saturday10 April 2010.
All photos R Lougher
On Saturday the 10th of April with a train made up of a Water Gin, 4 cars, Guards Van and a 47 class attached to assist as required the train departed Eveleigh early for Sydney Terminal for our 9:35 am departure.
In the finest traditions of departures from Sydney Terminal at 0935 the road cleared and our train departed for Gosford. Our passage out of Sydney Yard was to a few whistles from Suburban and Intercity trains and some pacing to Redfern by a Suburban train.
At Strathfield it was quite amazing to see all the Mobile Phones being used to take photos (The wonders of modern technology) from Platform 3, which was packed with people travelling to the Royal Easter Show.
Our run out of Sydney was non-stop to Epping where we were to have a CityRail Service run through us and as you would expect we were checked by signals from just outside Epping up to the Platform.
Whilst on the Platform at Epping the fitting staff took the chance to check around the engine.
After the passing of CityRail's service a hasty departure from Epping soon saw us heading up the hill to Hornsby with the “P Class” working fairly hard and running like a Swiss Watch with Cheltenham being the photographers location of choice.
Onward to an early arrival at Hornsby for another cross this time with CountryLink's North West Explorer whilst at Hornsby we once again found ourselves receiving the attention of the travellers to the Royal Easter Show. The loco proving its good steaming capabilities with the safeties lifting constantly despite the best intentions of the crew to keep her quiet.
Our departure from Hornsby was right behind the Explorer next stop Berowra for another cross with a CityRail Service.
Onward to Gosford where our faithful loco was turned and watered in what remains of old loco and our band of Travelling Fitters serviced the loco.
It would be timely to pay tribute to and thank the Travelling Fitters and the work they do and in particular to the way that the loco is prepared prior to each trip and also for the maintenance that is carried out between trips.
At Gosford the opportunity was taken by the Crew and passengers to partake in some lunch prior to the return trip to Sydney.
After coupling the Loco back on to the train our on time departure again saw us following Cityrail Service that checked our progress across to Woy Woy and again at Hawkesbury River.
Our assault on Cowan Bank was about to start and with the needle hovering around the red line on the steam gauge, a good fire and plenty of water we went up the bank in 18 minutes which was better than the 22 minutes given in the timetable.
A clear run to Hornsby for our next stop saw us running early and running ahead of our scheduled cross at Thornleigh where we ran through the loop instead of waiting for the cross only to be pulled up at the bottom of Epping due to the wrong signal indications (don't think steam is allowed down the Epping -Chatswood line).
From Epping we again had a non-stop run to Sydney Terminal where the “P Class” standing at the buffer stops on Number 1 Platform proved to be a show stopper in the sense that it was drawing a lot of attention from the Easter Show crowds that were around Sydney Terminal.
Thus ended another good and successful tour by the Lachlan Valley Railway.
