LSMR's 661/726 to Rylstone

G'day all,

I have yet to post here for good reason!. As Gary and one or two other members are aware, I am involved in the Lithgow State Mine Railway, based in the wonderful town of Lithgow, NSW (The Birmingham of Australia). Well, on Saturday (27/2) we finally did our big trip after a few months of planning...and hard work! Railcar set 661/726 was our chariots of choice

We had run two trips to Tarana prior to this, but the trip to Rylstone was 'the big one'. It all went successfully, and we hope it might be possible to do again. For those that are unaware, the section between Kandos and Rylstone (and beyond) has not seen a train since at least 2005. Some video of the trip has been posted by Tickhole Productions, and I shall upload some photos from the day shortly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rGbgpoDCWM

 

Morning all! Sorry for the silence, but the computer went south on me not long after posting, and is still in the shop. So that one's on me.

Luckily the photos are not stored on there, and are on the hard drive. So, without further ado, have a couple of 'After' photos

This first one should hopefully attach, and is of the railcar set at Kandos, with the banner just fitted and awaiting to depart for Rylstone. The track is still in fairly decent condition, and John Holland even use it for training track gangs

 

(Apologies for the multiple posts...something wishes to go haywire on this end for some reason)

Edit: Also thank you all for your kind words. They are much appreciated. I'll try and keep everyone up to speed by making an LSMR thread soon, to keep abrest of everything from the railcars to our carriages coming shortly for restoration to our beautiful Dubs and Co. Saddle Tank. Just a *tad* larger than the usual Dubs STs

 

Chris, thank you kindly for assisting there. Probably not going to be able to solve the issue until this afternoon, so photo/s on hold for now sadly. Though that will mean more photos to be included.

2605 is very, very close now, and should see service hopefully in the next three months. We only have 1 or 2 stays to fix, boiler to hydro and then steam test, then reassembly of all the other bits and bobs before we get the old girl going for the first time since 1997. The 26 was badly burnt in the 2001 fire, but it's now almost beyond belief she was in a fire

Matt, thanks for removing the posts. I cannot seem to solve the issue, but it was a long shot posting off a mobile.

 

There is ALWAYS hope for an old Landie Paul!

I *think* I have this sorted now to post the photos, so let's give it a whirl

726 just after the turn-off for the crossing at State Mine Gully Rd to the museum, with a few of the locals looking on very impressed by what they saw.

726 leading 661 past Lake Pillans station. The station is actually something that has been added in the history of the group, and did not actually exist when the line was in service. Not that you'd know that though, as they have done a bang-up job on creating it. Further work is to come.

661 as seen from the cab of Possum, a 1912 built Manning Wardle 0-4-0ST (http://australiansteam.com/Possum.htm) that saw service over in the UK before purchace by G&C Hoskins of Lithgow in 1919 for their steelworks, which was the forerunner for the massive AIS/BHP/Bluescope Steel works at Port Kembla. The photo was taken to try and link Lithgow's former rail history with its heritage rail future.

726 leading 661 out of Kandos on the second of the three shuttles from Rylstone to Kandos and return. The banner that was attached prior to travelling to Rylstone for the first time can be seen here, and features the logos of Lithgow State Mine Railway, Kandos Museum (our partners for the trip, and a wonderful group of people) and the 'Rylstone Rambler' logo in the center.

And last for this photo set, 726 and 661 passing the Rylstone goods shed just out of the station proper, with the second of the three shuttle trips. Seeing the train physically at Rylstone was a wonderful moment, and this is actually the first time I had seen it from the outside as I'd worked it in on the first trip and first shuttle!