Not quite there

My last couple of posts may have hinted at a degree of excitement in being scheduled to ride 6029 into Eumungerie last Saturday.  I think I may have even highlighted that only ill health or mechanical misadventure could stop me.  I forgot to add safeworking gremlins.

We did get to ride the Garratt and we did get to travel along the Coonamble branch line.  But only as far as Mogriguy due to a loss of time as a result of needing to shunt through Dubbo yard.  And yes there was rain and personal hardships (like poor coffee) but we had a great time.  Here's a few snaps of the day.

Here is 6029 at rest at Dubbo just before the shuttle up the branch line.

HL203 leads the train around the triangle and out onto the branch - well, nearly, this is still technically the (cross country) main line though it wasn't once considered such.

The latest iteration of Troy Junction signal box has a rather utilitarian aspect to it.
 

Rolling towards the Talbragar silos at Brocklehurst.

Out on the branch line proper. Wide open spaces and great light.
 

 The clouds returned for our return to Dubbo - coming around the triangle.

After our branch line foray, we chased the next shuttle to Guerie.  Here it is headed back to the big smoke.
 

Great work by the ACT Division of the ARHS to get the Garratt out to one of its old stomping grounds.  And many thanks to the tens of volunteers who made it all happen.  

I recommend definitely getting along to the Bathurst or Orange shuttles if you can over the next fortnight.

Off to work!

Don