29 posts tagged “trains”
When I get a chance I have been scanning my old negatives and slides. It is fun as I find things I have forgotten and often find photos that are better than they were printed. I found these a while ago and don't remember taking them but I do like them. Also I haven't posted any train photos for a while!
I know I haven't been around here recently. Actually it is quite a while. Things have been a bit busy. Nothing major just normal things piling up a bit which meant I didn't have much time for taking photographs or blogging. Once you get out of the habit it is not so easy to get going again.
I have visited from time to time just to see what is happening here so I haven't been a complete stranger.
Took this photo earlier in summer during a quick trip through the mountains west of Sydney.
Place names in Australia have a variety of origins but the two most common would be those of British origin and those derived from the names used by the first Australians. This has given us a wonderful mix of names many visitors find both familiar and foreign. It also has given us many names whose pronunciation is not obvious.
When I was young we had a relative who delighted in mis-pronouncing names to confuse and intrigue us kids. Some were easily decoded like Wagger Wagger but others not so simple. He often spoke of holidays in northern NSW near Warchoppy. Some names weren't so easy to disguise so he would totally change them. The following photo was taken at a place he always called Yow Yow.
OK so the photo name gave it away. The others are Wagga Wagga, (pron. wogger wogger) and Wauhope (pron. war-hope).
I'm not sure what most people would call it but I prefer to think of it as grabbing the opportunities that present themselves. Once again I set out to take some photos and the one I like the best is not the one I went looking for.
I knew a steam train was running today so that was my target. But while I was waiting for it I noticed a thistle growing by the track and the bees that were feasting on it. So I quickly grabbed some shots. Not as sharp as I would like as they were hand held and not with a macro lens either. Still here it is.
Oh and the train did arrive. The locos were moving to Valley Heights depot ready for the weekend's activities.
Note to those in the Sydney area. The Mt Victoria Train Festival is on this weekend with displays and events all over Mt Victoria. See here for details. Included in the events are steam trains rides from both Mt Victoria and Katoomba. Should be a fun weekend.
A scene below the blast furnaces of a steelworks. As one train of molten steel is moved away another is loaded.
That is molten steel that is flowing into that wagon. It will be taken to another building where it will be poured into moulds to create slabs that will later be rolled and pressed into steel products.
Earlier this month Orso posted an article on the colour of trains. This is a response showing the colour of NSW (Australia) diesel (and an electric for good measure) locomotives during the era of government ownership, ie. up to mid 1990's.
The first diesels in NSW wore a scheme that was basically the same as that used on some steam locomotives.
The next colour was introduced during the mid 50's and was known as Tuscan. It was still used into the 70's.
In an effort to modernise the image of the railways a new colour was introduced which was soon known as Candy.
This proved to be an expensive scheme to paint so a simplified version was adopted for older locomotives. It was known as Red Terror.
The 90's bought a new colour scheme that was to be the last before the system was privatised. It became known as FreightRail Blue. A version of this survives today as the corporate livery of Pacific National but with different shades and design.
Electric Locomotives
Originally electric locomotives had an unique Maroon colour but later they wore the same scheme as the diesels.
Bridges are popular locations for rail photographers. They add a bit of interest often defining the location. This one for instance is an old timber bridge so the location is probably a line with light traffic, definitely not a main line.
In 2000 to celebrate the end of one millennium and the start of another, the NSW Rail Transport Museum ran a extensive tour. Over a period of 8 days the tour visited 2 states and rode on trains of 3 gauges utilising steam and diesel traction as well as Melbourne trams. This is a scene from the Victorian leg.
The first light of the day as the sun rises over a steam locomotive in southern NSW.
The North West part of NSW often appears dry and inhospitable. It definitely is dry and hot during the summer months. However it supports a strong economy, even with the current drought, producing cotton, grain and coal. The railways were built into this area to link the grain producing regions with the ports.
My Groups
-
Aussies Updated: Yesterday
-
Love where you live Updated: Yesterday
-
United for Peace Updated: Yesterday
Neighborhood
Explore friends, family, friends & family, or entire neighborhood.
