A Steam Train Ride

Just over a week ago Mick read a small news item in our local newspaper which advised that the Beyer-Garratt steam train would be in town and running shuttle rides from Bathurst to Tarana and return.

Never to miss an opportunity to go for a steam train ride we booked tickets.  

Firstly, here a few photos of our historic railway station, which was opened in 1876 when the rail reached the city.

The Beyer-Garratt 6029 is the largest running steam train in the southern hemisphere and was initially mainly used for pulling freight.  We got chatting to an old bloke who used to drive one of these out of Bathurst and apparently it used twelve ton of coal between Bathurst and Lithgow.  It didn't need to be shovelled by hand.  That would have been impossible.

When we arrived at the station we hoped to have a good look at the engine, but due to the number of carriages the engine was passed the platform, so we didn't get to have a look, which was a little disappointing.  When we were to get to Tarana, they were just to stop and change direction, before returning to Bathurst, so no opportunity to have a look there either.  

Not to worry, we were still going to have a lovely, relaxing ride through the countryside.

At the other end of the train there was a diesel engine which was used as the train travelled east, with the steam engine pulling the train west.

The carriages were also old, but in beautiful condition.  I remember travelling in this style of carriage to Sydney as a teenager.

We stuck our head in the window of one carriage, which ended up being the one we travelled in.

As we were boarding I noticed the photos in one carriage featured Bathurst.

The Courthouse precinct looks very similar today , except the deodar trees are now huge.  The Post Office wing to the left of the photo is now our Museum and the  Telegraph Office on the right is now the Conservatorium of Music.  Machattie Park in the background is still a beautiful park.

The scene along the Vale Road is a little different now, with the saleyards gone, a better road and a few houses on the hills in the background, but is still definitely recognisable.  Those elm trees are now very large.

Here is another view of the carriage.  The seats were in great condition, but weren't as wide as you would expect these days.

When Mick was an apprentice machinist he made heaps of components for railway carriages, including replacement window catches for this style of window.

Let's go for our ride.

As we went along we noticed some friends of ours on the side of the track taking photos and gave them a big wave.

Next thing we knew we received a photo of what the train looked like going past.

The weather was gorgeous, without a cloud in the sky.  Everything looked so green, but it belies the fact that there is no length to the grass, known as a "green drought".  Spring fed dams were full, but many were still empty.

Back in Bathurst, it was time to see the train depart for its return trip to Lithgow and then back on to Thirlmere the following day.  This was our one chance to have a quick look at the engine as it went past.  We were lucky to have the opportunity to see and ride on this lovely old train.

On the way back to the car, I also had a very quick look at our own local steam train.  It was lost to the city for quite a few years, as it was going being restored with the hope of returning it to the rails.  Eventually, after much controversy, it was returned as a static display.  The significance of this engine is that it was driven by former Prime Minister Ben Chifley, Bathurst's local son.

It was a nice way to spend an afternoon on the long weekend.