Thread: Visiting Lithgow area!

Let's see......

You come from QLD.

You own a Land Rover.

You are a train spotter.

AND YOU RECKON YOU ARE NORMAL !!

Little fact you may not know, NSW State Rail loco 8137 was the first of the 81's to be fitted with Australian made motors, the large casting for the stator came from the U.S. I believe. But the rest was made in Bathurst. I wound the armatures for it.

The 81 class was the first to have doppler radar fitted to sense speed, on uphill gradients it will drive the wheels 15% faster than the ground speed, apparently that is the most efficient way to climb grades.

Steve

Hi Steve,
Yeah,I really didn't proof read that too well,I didn't know that fact about the 81's,they still use them to push trains up the Liverpool Range to Ardglen,thats good to see!.I didn't realise they used Dopler radar for wheel slip control,apparently overdriving the wheels a tad gives the best possible tractive effort,and prolongs wheel and rail life.You can hear the wheels "singing" (especially on the 92s')as they come up to Ardglen,pretty cool technology!
Anyway,I think there's a Whisky at the bar with my name on it
Cheers Gregg

Hey Gregg,

They also have a train museum at Goulburn which is just over a hour from Picton.

Don't know how good it is mind you.

cheers,
Terry

Thanks Terry,
Will check it out!,going to Thirlmere tomorrow,then up the mountain to Rydal on fri.I must say I enjoyed the drive in from Maitland on the freeway through the rock cuttings,the road was silky smooth for most of it!,some big hills though,would be slow going with a van!.Staying at the old oyal George in Picton tonight and tomorrow.
Cheeers for now,
Gregg

If your interested in doing a trip this weekend let me know.

Hey Gregg,

if your coming down this way(Goulburn) give me a call and depending on when your here I might be able to head into town for a catch up.

cheers,
Terry
0419448452

G'day all,
Thanks Terry,and Keith,but I'm running out of time ,need to be at Rydal tomorrow arvo!,spent all day at Thirlmere Rail museum,big flash place now,lots of rolling stock but I would of liked a bit more hands on stuff,great for kids and the not so train tragic like me.don't worry though,I'll be back, as the lure of standard gauge and non-electrified areas is too great,plus lots of rail history down here.
I rang the lady who runs the station today,and snow has fallen again in Rydal,so it's looking good to see snow for the first time,anyway,time for another port!
Cheers for now ,Gregg

Would have come up sock's'n all but the missus broke her leg on the weekend so I'm on care duty (but what's new anyway).