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)