Well its been a while, but i finally have something to blog about. 2 things in fact

Lets start with the first one, the Newcastle Flyer on the 10/9/11. Great day out chasing the train and i got some amazing photos and video. Decided to start my day at Woy Woy Railway Crossing as i planned to use the lights to determine when the train was coming. I always travel to my start location about an hour early to give me time to set up and just incase the train runs early. However it was absolutly FREEZING at the crossing. The wind chilled to the bone so i sat in the car for 45 minutes keeping warm. Eventually i ventured out and set up my video camera right next to the pedestrian crossing gates with my camera right next to it. After a few false alarms, the train came flying around the bend with 3526 leading 3265



3526 leading 3265 over the crossing at Woy Woy



                                          

Afterwards i took on the massive task of driving from Woy Woy to Ourimbah in around 25 minutes. Extremely stressful as i got caught behind many slow drivers and stopped at alot of the lights. I did make it in time and i set up with my Gunzel Partner Greg on the footbridge over the line outside Ourimbah. it wasnt long before the train came and i got some good shots as well as, what i regard, the best footage ive shot in my extremely young Gunzel life (i started in June this year on a Mountains trip) Afterwards it was off home to charge up my Cameras and prepare for the evening trip



3526 Blowing its whistle approaching Ourimbah



                                                                                              

   A closer view of 3526 leading 3265

In the Evening, i met up with Greg again at Lisarow Railway Station. Another friend of mine David also joined us, and we proceeded for a very long wait at the station. i had an idea of how to get around the stupidly high fences alongside the tracks. Yes i completly understand that they are built to keep people out, but there are annoying when filming. So what i did was put my car near the fence and place my video camera on top of it. This way, i could have my camera in the perfect spot looking down the tracks. The footage of this turned out great and im really pround of it. We almost missed the train as it rounded the bend silently as we were all talking and didnt notice it. After the train went through, we proceeded to drive to Koolewong Railway Station. We drove along the back roads and found some amazing places to film. Gotta keep them in mind. At the station we set up, and when reading the timetable we thought that the train would be held at Gosford for the regular services. However this was not to be and the train procceded to provide some great footage and some not so great photos due to the camera moving. After this, we procceded to get some dinner and talk about our day, as it drew to a close



3526 silently approaching us at Lisarow Station



A closer up view of 3526

                                           

The weird lights show this was a bad shot, but i like it for the lights. Give it a weird look

I did partake in abit of photography on 3 occasions over the last few months. the first came from the need to kill some time waiting around for some music stuff so i sat at Woy Woy Railway Crossing and Koolewong to get some photos of V sets. I was under the impression there would besome freights, but i missed them so V sets it was. 

The 2nd occasion was taking photos of some trains while waiting for the Newcastle Flyer. involves mainly freight trains, including a company i have never heard of- QUBE.



the 3rd and final occasion happened on the return from a HSC study day in Sydney. I took my camera down just in case we had some time on the return journey for some photos. My girlfriend suggested we head to Hornsby so she could get something to eat at the store and to wait for our train, and i could get some photos of train movements around the yards. Got some rather good shots

Well i think thats all for now. Next blog update will be in November talking about my trip to Thilmere. It will involve both the Thilmere Flyer, a recount of my day, and my personal opinion on all the work thats been done down there.

Untill next time, thanks for reading

Benjamin Murch(BM3801)

LVR Newcastle transfer/ Gosford Flyers- 22,30,31 July 2011

ive decided to do my first real blog update, yes i know my event im blogging about happened a little while ago, but i want to at least get something on this blog to read. as the title suggests, im talking about my day and weekend chasing the LVR trains hauled by 3237 on the transfer from Lithgow to Broadmedow, then the Gosford Flyers between Gosford and Broadmedow. Quite a hectic few days out, but i did enjoy chasing the train as it made a good break from my studying

On the 22nd of July, the train was run from Lithgow to Broadmedow. i didnt have any school that day but due to musical commitments, i believed i was going to miss the train which i would have been annoyed about. however, i finished in time and headed down to Tascott Railway Station just south of Gosford for my first shots. although the train ran quite late, i didnt mind waiting at all. i was annoyed, however, by the rain. every time i moved my camera under the footbrige, the rain would change direction and hit me again. this photo can give you an idea of the rain i was experiencing as i waited at Tascott

however, the rain managed to go away as i heard 3237 coming. it was quite a relief as i was thinking about packing up and going to Gosford to ask if the train had gone through already. as the train came around the corner at tascott managed to get 2 good photos and some filming. the crew decided it would be funny to blow the whistle right next to me (which i though was pretty funny too actually). after the train headed through, i packed up and started to think about my next spot. i stopped multiple times at different spots, but i finally decided on a hill past Lisarow Station near the Road overbrigde. the rain came pounding down and affected my shot, but i still managed to get a few photos and a good video. Quite a good day if i should say so myself



however it was the 30th and the 31st of july that i was most looking forward to. i decided to concentrate my efforts around the Gosford area again as it would be the easiest thing to do. on the 30th, my first  location was near the narara firestation. i managed to get my video camera to sit in a spot in the gates where it could film the train easy, however i moved the gates by accident and it spoilt the shot. i decided to move up to the road bridge. a camera angle gone wrong completly ruined my video shot, but i managed to get a good photo that i am proud of. unfortunatly i then had to head up to Wyong to get my brother from soccer. i brought my gear just in case i got a chance to see the locomotive, and i managed to get to the station in time to see it pass through. i got both video and photos, but i will note the engine was so quiet coming into Gosford and through Wyong i almost missed it both times. luckly i didnt as my brother was on hand as lookout to make sure i didnt miss it. it was great also getting a wave from the crew as they passed through Wyong

the 31st of July gave me the opportunity to stay with the 32 all day. i got a tracking video and photos around Paddy Clifton Oval at Narara where 3237 decided to almost blow its whistle off with the amount of whistling it was doing. i wasnt complaining though as it made for great video, but the photos didnt turn out too well because its hard to film perfectly and photograph at the same time. i then headed down to Gosford to watch the train turn and service on the turntable, when i got an idea to stand on the footbridge and get 3237 moving in the yards when it was almost time to return. i managed to get some great photos and video which i am quite proud of. However, it was the departure i am most proud of. I decided to head down Showground Rd abit to get the train passing under Gosford Road bridge and head down towards Narara, but right next to Gosford High School, there was a access road to the railway line that, placing the camera on a small hill, allowed me to look straight over the fence with no assitance required. this lead to spectacular video and photos of the train departing Gosford, truly the best shots of the weekend for me

Finally, id like to thank LVR for running these shuttles this weekend. its not often we get steam action on the Central Coast so a big thankyou to all that were involved with the shuttles. it was an absolutly fantastic weekend for me personally and i enjoyed every minute of it.

Untill next time, thanks for reading

Benjamin Murch (BM3801)

soooo....a blog huh?

well this is me going into the unknown here. never had a blog before, so we will see how this goes huh?

a bit about me first
My name is Benjamin Murch. my interest in trains began due to my grandfather. he was involved with creating the first Double Deck electric trains in the Sydney Suburban area. He had alot of train videos that used to keep me interested, and he makes absolutly amazing wooden models of trains (he made a 3801 model that he said i could have). i grew up loving trains, especially 3801, which i loved to go on any trip she was hauling (my first trip was at 2 years old) and i always enjoyed seeing steam locomotives. As the years have gone on, ive been to the Puffing Billy Railway, the Pichi Richi Railway, Don River Railway, and a few Japanese steam trains when i visited Japan in 2006 and 2010. Ive been on Japanese Bullet Trains, and many trains from America, Singapore and New Zealand. For me, Trains have always been a major part of my life and it dosnt matter if its Steam or Diesel or Electric.

the purpose of this blog is to update my happenings on the railways, wherever i am. i live in Gosford, but i do travel to other places, even states and countrys, where i can get a look at the railways. Unfortunaly, the HSC is coming up soon so my updating of this blog may be limited until it is all over (thank god when it is)

All trains are good to me, but i typically follow Steam trips, mainly on the north and western lines. i havnt ventured south yet but i plan to eventually. there are 3 more steam trips i plan to see this year. The Newcastle Flyer is coming through on Sepember the 10th, an LVR train is traveling through heading north in the next school holiday, and im heading down to Thilmere on the Flyer after the HSC is done to FINALLY have a look around and gather an opinion of the new upgrade myself. Ill be posting photos off all trips, because im just that nice :)  however, dont just think this blog is only on Steam trips. ill be taking photos of Freight movements and electric trains as well

just remember, send me a message if you have a question. ill be happy to answer it :)

a few photos that ive taken, just to start things rolling . hope you enjoy