Australian photos: Power in the land down under!

[ASR_Q301]

Gentlemen, as you are well aware, I like to keep you all updated on happenings around where I live. Today, I did a fair bit of driving around to have a look at out new high speed rail line being built. (55miles long/73kilometers) from Perth (where I live) to Mandurah, directly south of Perth.

sorry about the poor quality, I had to reduce from RAW to fit them into the threshold in photobucket.. Gotta love 6mb photos at 8 megapixel each!

First shots of the day...

Murchdoch station looking north towards Perth City. Newly laid track done about 2 weeks ago.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/MForster/SouthStreet-lookingfromMurdochStati.jpg

Looking towards Bullcreek station, the next station north of Murdoch.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/MForster/newlylaidtrack.jpg

Looking North from Bullcreek station. The Mt Henry Bridge. Goes over a nice big river called the "Canning River".
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/MForster/MtHenryBridge.jpg

Bullcreek station is well under construction.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/MForster/Bullcreek.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/MForster/Bullcreekstation.jpg

The next station south from Murdoch station is Cockburn Central station, 25kilometers from Perth.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/MForster/CockburnCentralStation.jpg

The plan here is to have a siding/3rd track to allow some trains to terminate here and turn around back to Perth instead of doing the extra 35miles/50km to Mandurah. This will provide a much higher frequency service to the more densley populated inner-suburbs. The turnouts here have "Swing nose frogs" which mean there is no gap in the rails when the moints move. No "Clickity-clack" when trains roll over them. :(
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/MForster/CockburnCentral.jpg

A work train approaching Stake Hill station, the next station south after Cockburn Central. The ballast train is heading up to Bullcreek station (photos above) to ballast the track. 2 "ZB Class" English Electric diesels work the train and sound great.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/MForster/ZBsareRowleyRd2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/MForster/ZBsareRowleyRd.jpg

The terminus at Mandurah, some 73.6km from Perth. All stations on this line have train/bus connections.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/MForster/MandurahStation.jpg

Random shot I got in Mandurah! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/MForster/birds.jpg

After having lunch in Mandurah, I headed over to see some freight action on the mainline through Pinjarra, about 20km/15miles east of Mandurah.

Hotham Valley tourist railway are based out of Pinjarra. They only run on the weekends and public holidays though. Fortunatly, they run a lot of steam!

C1701 awaits its Friday night dinner train assignment. (no editing with this, straight off the Canon 350D)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/MForster/C1701.jpg

3 "W Class" steam locos are at the shed which will work Saturday afternoon shuttles. These are 4-8-0 type locomotives.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/MForster/WsatPinjarra-BW.jpg

W903 at Pinjarra.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/MForster/903atPinjarra.jpg

DB1581 leads a caustic soda train through Pinjarra, past the steam depot. The locomotive is based on an EMD SD38-2 loco.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/MForster/DB1581-Pinjarra.jpg

Passing the steam!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/MForster/DBandWClass.jpg

Santa Fe searchlight signals!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/MForster/Passingthesearchlights.jpg

Then, a RARE/nice catch. D2302 (common) leads D1562 (VERY uncommon to see on mainline as its usually busy with switching duties) on an empty coal at Pinjarra. Both units are unturbo 645 powered EMD's.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/MForster/2302and1562.jpg

My first photo of a D Class, ever. I went home happy after this one! The noise was fantastic!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/MForster/D1562.jpg

The place from where I was taking photos from.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/MForster/Pinjarra.jpg

Then, just when I thought I couldnt get any more luck, I got this! S2109 leads an empty bauxite train through Baldivis. Its the ONLY locomotive to have ever, or will be painted in the Gennesee & Wyoming scheme as G&W no longer own this company. Extremely rare to see this unit up around my way as its usually based 400miles away.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/MForster/S2109-Baldivis.jpg

Thats really it for the day as I had some non-railfanning things to do that day as well! ;) Hope you all enjoy the photos! More comming in a few weeks!

>Mike Forster<
Perth, Western Australia

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v111/mforster2/Clipboard01.jpg

[PORU333]

Nice shots, the first few would be a cool looking route to run for MSTS.

btw, how come the GWI no longer owns the A&P?

[Macster]

Hey Mike! Awesome shots bro, interesting station design... they remind me greatly of our American light-rail stations.. mainly Portland MAX stations. Heck in fact looking at that and the Portland MAX I-205 looks strangely simular...

Anywho, look forward to seeing more pics of that line!

[ASR_Q301]

Thanks guys! :7

Shawn, the Australian Railroad Group (ARG for short) was 50% owned by G&W and 50% owned by an Australian company who I work for.

On Valentines Day 2006, the Australian company decided they wanted out of the rail business as it was loosing money. There are 2 divisions of ARG, "Western" and "Southern". These photos were taken on "Western" division. The "Western Division" was sold to Queensland Rail(:D) and the Southern Division was completly taken over by G&W. G&W only run in South Australia now, not over here in Western Australia as we are run by Queensland Rail.

>Mike Forster<
Perth, Western Australia

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v111/mforster2/Clipboard01.jpg

[PORU333]

hhmm Very interesting. Anyways Mike, nice shots and cannot wait to see more, you have a splendid camera indeed!

[smp11512]

Mike, Fantastic shots as always, I love taking a glance into your railfanning area !




Shane
http://shanestrains.socalrails.com
"Some Call it Innovation, we call it KAAAAHHNNN!"

[jay611]

Nice shots Mike! Aussie railroads are about the only non-US rail I actually enjoy looking at photos of. Keep it up Mike!

Any Idea as to if the steamers run? If so do you plan on getting any shots of them in action? I'd love to see some. They look like pretty neat engines to see out on the mainline! :)

Cheers,

Jason Underwood
Newport News, Virginia
CSX Peninsula Sub MP.16
WMRY303@hotmail.com
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y220/jay611/WM_SD35_7435_L.gif

[ASR_Q301]

Thanks Shane and Jason! :)

The steamers run double headed on Sunday at 1230 for a 20mile run up the valley. Unfortunatly, due to sporting commitments, I am unable to get to this part of the world and photograph much on the weekends as its a good 90 minute drive each way from where I live. :(

There is a tourist railway about 5 hours drive away where our family goes for holidays. They have one of the same 4-8-0 steam engines there running daily through the rainforrest. Ive been busting my gut to get down there and get shots with the new Canon! So scenic! ... And I get to hand fire it when Im down there. ;)

>Mike Forster<
Perth, Western Australia

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v111/mforster2/Clipboard01.jpg