Dreary me, back to work!

[Orkney 90]

I return to work tomorrow after annual leave since 6th December last year. And what is it that I do for a living, I hear you ask?

I drive trains. Intercity passenger trains to be exact. So looking forward to tomorrow. Yeah me. NOT... I have been moping around all day hoping that today would never end. Driving my dear wife nuts... But here I am preparing myself for the big return tomorrow.

Just thought I should share...

I need a holiday...

[Ausfree]

I guess you could retire!!!!

[Orkney 90]

I wish.... but I drive a Defender, so funds are forever required.

On the bright side, I survived my first day back. I remember this exact feeling when I was a child and it was the first day back to school after the holidays. And just like back then, I am so looking forward to my next holidays!

[Scouse]

I drive trains. Intercity passenger trains to be exact.

I hope you're one of the friendly drivers who gives my sons a wave when we watch the trains go by on the Douglas Park platforms .

[Orkney 90]

Hi Scouse, you probably wouldn't think so from my original post but yes I always wave to the kids. Sometimes a short toot of the horn. (Except for the ones spitting or throwing objects at me from overhead bridges!) However, I don't go down your way as I only drive the electric V Sets and Oscars, so bounded by Lithgow, Port Kembla and Kiama, and Newcastle...now Hamilton.

[p38arover]

Curses! Why didn't I know this when I was a signaller at Springwood and Katoomba. I'd have loved to have blocked you all the way!

Me on the levers a few years back (very rare pic of me in long pants):

[Orkney 90]

Hi Ron. Don't worry, your spirit lives on within the Railway. I was blocked all the way down the hill running empty cars Mt Vic to Flemo by three (yes, three!) goods trains. I ended up 35 minutes late into Flemo. And who did the wonderful signallers blame? Train Control, naturally. And just to think I could have run around all three of them, one at Katoomba, one at Lawson and the last at Valley Heights. But did I? Lousy signallers. And train control. Kidding. Not about train control...

[Tombie]

I must be sick... I actually look forward to going back to my job after a break.

[p38arover]

Hi Ron. Don't worry, your spirit lives on within the Railway. I was blocked all the way down the hill running empty cars Mt Vic to Flemo by three (yes, three!) goods trains. I ended up 35 minutes late into Flemo. And who did the wonderful signallers blame? Train Control, naturally. And just to think I could have run around all three of them, one at Katoomba, one at Lawson and the last at Valley Heights. But did I? Lousy signallers. And train control. Kidding. Not about train control...

A sign at Katoomba reads "Signallers tell drivers where to go".

My last 4 years were at Springwood. That turnback at Lawson is still not in service and it's been there about 4 years now.

I often had "discussions" with TC about running trains. I liked to give freight drivers as much info as possible about possible delays so they could adjust running speeds to avoid having to stop. Not all drivers took any notice.

[Scouse]

.......I always wave to the kids. ......Except for the ones spitting or throwing objects at me from overhead bridges!

We did some trainspotting on the pedestrian overpass at Ingleburn station over the holidays & I was surprised to see one suburban driver give us a wave. I didn't think he'd notice us up there but I guess he was on the lookout for 'not so nice' people on the bridge.