Trains on the Main South and Canberra Line

[Sir Pompously]

While with a friend from Sydney, we decided to go Trainspotting on Tuesday to get some trains on the Main South. Unfortunently we only encountered one Grain Train operated by Pacific National, the Melbourne XPT and a few track machines. Chasing the Grain Train was easy, as it is mostly an up hill grade from Yass Junction, through Gunning and then into Cullerin. After taking a wrong turn at Gunning, we found ourselves following the line all the way through to the Hume Highway at Bredalbane, which had to be the best wrong turn anyone could have imagined.

Yass Junction


The Melbourne XPT Departs Yass Junction, this is a fully refurbished set

Gunning


ARTC TJO82 a Tamper Unit passes through Gunning


An ARTC Track Machine passes through Gunning


Pacific National 8107 and 8177 pass through Gunning

Between Fish River and Cullerin (Old Hume Highway)


Pacific National 8107 and 8177 are climbing the grade between Fish River and Cullerin


Pacific National 8107 and 8177 are climbing the grade between Fish River and Cullerin (Taken from an Overpass on the old Highway)


Pacific National 8107 and 8177 have just climbed the grade from Fish River and are about to pass under the Old Hume Highway


Pacific National 8107 and 8177 are climbing the grade between Fish River and Cullerin


Pacific National 8107 and 8177 pass under the Old Hume Higway inbetween Fish River and Cullerin

We then travelled back to Canberra after a stopover in Goulburn for lunch. We were trying to catch up with the Canberra Oil Train, however the train was not in the yard nor in the Fyshwick sidings so it must not have run due to Monday being a Public Holiday. We decided instead to follow the Xplorer up the Branch Line to Joppa Junction. After getting stuck in traffic on the Kings Highway due to roadworks, our first stop was the Molongolo River Bridge. I opted for a Black and White shot of it crossing the Bridge. We then moved along the highway only to find the train was beating us over the flat into Bungendore. So we skipped that and travelled towards Tarago only to beat it by about 3 or 4 minutes. At Tarago we continued along the road while the Staff Exchange was taking place. We travelled at Road Speed which is 100km/h, and arrived at Covan Creek Road level crossing and had just pulled up, grabbed the camera's when the train rolled through. All in all, it is impossible to chase that train past Lake Bathurst without breaking the law. It arrived to Joppa Junction long before we could and had left Goulburn as we had just passed the station. The Oil train or Garbage Train from Crisps Creek on the other hand would be easy as they are speed limited. 

Canberra Xplorer - Molongolo, Tarago and Lake Bathurst


A Sydney Bound Xplorer passes over the Molongolo River heading towards Bungendore


The Sydney Bound Canberra Xplorer rushes through Covan Creek Road corssing at Lake Bathurst


A Sydney Bound Canberra Xplorer arrives at Tarago. Note the centre EB Carriage is painted in the new livery

[Snorzac]

Every time I go past Canberra station the explorer with the middle refurbed is there, is it based in Canberra?

[Sir Pompously]

No, all are based at the Endeavour-Xplorer Service Centre in Sydney, and are cleaned at the XPT Service Centre in Meeks Road in Sydney. The reason you may keep seeing it is that there may be more than one set marshalled that way, or that set is on a Canberra rotation (As it is a 3 car set, and would only be used on the Canberra and Armidale Xplorer services).