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Railway Digest September Blurb

Chasing Trains on a (motor) bike
Rail (and motorbike) enthusiasts, Peter Reading and Mick James had been planning a railfanning trip out on the western line from Brisbane for some time, and with Mick’s acquisition of a new bike, the choice of transport mode became obvious!

Making mainline derailments history on the ARTC network
The frequency of derailments on Australian rail networks is declining but the larger size of today’s trains means that when derailments do occur the consequences are often more severe in terms of rolling stock and track damage and can result in lines being closed for lengthy periods. Phillip Campbell describes the steps that ARTC is taking to ‘make mainline derailments history’.

The Australasian Rail Industry Awards Gala Dinner
Individuals and organisations from the Australasian rail industry were recognised for their outstanding achievements and innovations at this year’s Australasian Rail Industry Awards event, held in the Grand Ballroom of The Sydney Hilton Hotel.

Some assembly required: SSR locomotive transfers
In mid-June, Southern Shorthaul Railroad undertook some remarkable light engine transfers between Parkes, Cootamundra and Junee, involving some eclectic ‘lash-ups’ of up to 12 veteran locomotives. Ewan McLean was there to capture the action.

Ghosts of the Great Northern
Until the North Coast Line was completed to the east in 1932, the Great Northern Railway – that met the Queensland Railways’ narrow-gauge line at Wallangarra – was the primary route between Sydney and Brisbane. The long-closed section north of Armidale still has many items of interest, as Chris Walters discovered during a recent visit.