G'day Tony and BW,
I have been out there into the gloom yet again, yesterday.
Armed with the JHR CTN for an Hystericals big circle tour, similar to what I shot at last november.
As many would know, I DETEST EMD earache machines, and would not hoof six feet to take pot shots at one.
Especially 81 class shoeboxes and 82 class dogbones, that I spent most of my final NSW footplate time on.
But, I hafta confess that I will contemplate EMD nose jobs.
YES, still earache machines in the cab, but at least with a modicum of style.
Plus, being vintage, I only spent footplate time on them when rostered for an hysterical tour.
I crawled out of the cot at 0615 to hurl open the door and espy a predawn misery.
The solid grey gloom loitering after the big thunder boomer which raged through around midnight.
Offering NIL NADA ZIP chance of any sunshine for them hystericals.
Ah what the heck, I decided to still trudge up the hill to Raglan even if only for the audio.
With a stupid cycle race infesting town, many of the roads were closed to traffic.
Mine wasn't, which meant that I was copping all the redirected traffic fostering very fitful sleep.
I hurled the gear into the car and departed at 0715 allowing ample time should there be any road delays.
The nose jobs, 4204 A16C built 1956 and 42103 AJi6C built 1966 due to waddle through Raglan at 0807.
Hefting a whopping train comprising 15 silver cars grossing 907 tonne (so said the CTN).
Them nosers would sound pretty good battling up the 1 in 50 to Raglan, at least from outside the loco cab.
Each only granted a max trailing tonnage of 768 tonne for that climb.
Arriving at Raglan, I firstly took a gander at the curve at the top of the hill.
But elected to move down the hill a tad on the straight where more of the train would be visible.
The stinking JHR works compound adjacent the old station being razor wired and locked.
That was the vantage spot prior to privatization.
I hoofed across the private crossing down the hill from the station to check the view.
IF any sunshine erupted forth (HA) it would be on the opposite side of the line.
NUP, I would need to either loiter on the edge of the crossing OR trespass to get the entire train.
Be my luck that the property owner would want to drive across to go to town.
So, I chose a spot on the Raglan town side of the line up against the boundary fence.
Somebody had snipped the two top wires of the fence to create a bit of a gap.
And, I was able to plonk one tripod leg inside the rail corridor straddling the remaining fence strands.
Suddenly I espied a headlight approaching, but almost nil noise.
AH, the Bullet WN14 was rattling up the hill heading to smog hollow.
A hasty tripod levelling, I only just hit the camera trigger as the Bullet was almost upon me.
Anyhoo, I was not there for the stupid two car DMU Endeavour set.
I then relevelled the tripod correctly and set up the small tripod for me audio recorder.
The grey was getting worse as the mist was turning into fog.
I stood there waiting and waiting and waiting.
HMMMM.
I could espy the Raglan UP Starter if I moved out a couple of paces.
It still glowed RED as me watch minute hand swept past 0800.
HMMMM.
YEP, yet another pathetic privatized railway episode was occurring.
The mist developed into light drizzle, so I had to sprint to the car to grab me spray jacket to hurl over the camera.
At 0820, I heard a distant noise, and checking the Starter, it flashed to Green.
BUT, that noise was NOT the type of noise that I was expecting.
And, when a headlight hove around the bend 5 minutes later, NOT the anticipated headlight.
HMMMMM.
A pair of PN 81 class JT26C-2ss mongrel shoeboxes that I would not hoof six feet for slogged up the hill.
A wheatie heading east, the hoppers covered in graffiti.
E GADs, had I been duped ?
Where the heck were them hystericals ?
What to do, stay put in the misty drizzle, or GIVE UP ?
I went and fetched the car up to where I was set up and angled so that I could squiz the UP Starter from inside.
Being an Oh what a feeling 4x4, I would not have any problem retreating from the muddy grass later.
I wiped over the camera etc and hurled it into the car and just sat there watching the UP Starter.
I also had the window open a crack so that I could hear anything, just incase.
Finally at 0840, I heard them anticipated hooters.
A blast for Lloyds Road level crossing some 8 kms away as the crow flies, and the UP Starter went green.
I jumped out and set up the gear again, covering the video camera with the jacket.
A second hooter blast echoed up to me as the train was approaching Bathurst station.
Then as them nose jobs crossed the river and through Kelso, I heard them throttle up.
A few minutes later, that anticipated headlight came around the bend.
Running 50 LATE to table, they stomped past me, the hogger giving me a salutation on them hooters.
https://www.railwayforum.net/gallery...march_2021.jpg
Just how many plague distanced patrons were inside them silver cars, WHO knows.
I didn't espy many heads at the windows.
Yes, I gotta confess, it was worth the effort even if just for that audio.
I packed up and drove home.
Some might say that I am an idiot for being out in such conditions just for a stupid train.
But, what else am I gunna do with me spare time.
Steve.
PS, BW, the newbie dingus is a Philips DVT 2805 / 4110, that cost me $189.oo.
I was considering a Tascam unit, but had to order that and it cost $222.oo.
The Philips is identical to the Tascam, three inbuilt but poking out mikes.
8Gb internal with Micro SD card slot for additional storage.
Three versions of PCM WAV, including the normal 44.1 Khz 16 bit, which I am using.
YES far less elaborate than me good ole Sony Minidisc.
But, ya can't get the blank discs no more here.
I am happy with the Philips for the occasional poking at a train, but more likely for feathered friends chirping while camping.