Sunday, September 18, 2016

Victoria - November 2015

Flinders Street Station. 21/11/2016.

After arriving at Southern Cross railway station I had two days to explore Melbourne. I had a few things on my list, visit the Melbourne Cricket Ground, spend some dollars at Train World and get to Stony Point.

First up was a trip to Stony Point, an outer south east suburb of Melbourne. I've been wanting to get there ever since I started searching Victorian Railways on the net. 
As I waited for an electric multiple unit to Frankston I managed to grab a shot of P14. P14 is one of 13 locomotives rebuilt from Victoria Railways first series of T class locomotives. P14 was originally T330 and re-entered service with Vlinein August 1985. While looking work weary it is still soldiering on on suburban passenger trains.

VLine P Class diesel locomotive P14 at Southern Cross Railway Station.

Shortly after I was on an EMU and making my way to Frankston. Arriving at Frankston I had to change over from the EMU onto a Sprinter diesel multiple unit to complete my trip to Stony Point. It wasn't long before the Sprinter arrived at the south end of Frankston and once cleared by the home signal approached the station

Sprinters 7008 and 7012 enter Frankston Station from the South.

With rain now falling we made our way through to Stony Point. The Sprinters were great. A little rougher riding and definitely noisier than Melbourne's EMU's but what a great passenger train. It wasn't long before our train arrived at Stony Point where I managed to grab a quick shot of the train.

Sprinter's 7012 and 7008 rest at Stony Point before starting its return trip to Frankston.

After about five minutes, we started the return journey back to Frankston. A change back onto an EMU and I was quickly making my way back to downtown Melbourne. 

Getting off at Richmond I was able to visit the Melbourne Cricket Ground and have a tour of this famous sports ground. The tour was fantastic and I was able to tick off another thing on my bucket list.

As I made my way back to Richmond station I heard some diesels coming from Flinders Street. I missed getting a head on shot of the leading T class diesels working a Metro works train but did manage to grab a going away shot and one of B76 following up on the rear of the train.

T Class diesels approach Richmond with a works train.

B76 trails the works train into Richmond.

What a great way to end my first day in Melbourne.

I was out early on my second day in Melbourne to try and get as much as I could done. First up was a short trip through to Flinders Station, possibly the most famous and definitely the most photographed railway station in Australia. Here I was able to grab a few shots of this fantastic building.

Flinders Street station board.

I also managed to grab a shot of VLocity DMU as it came into Flinders Street. These things look awesome. 

VLocity DMU slows to a stop at Flinders Street railway station.

From Flinders Street I headed north to Kensington. I've been interested in Kensington ever since I saw a photo of a train unloading grain at the flour mill there. Unfortunately there was no grain trains when I visited but I did get some shots of an EMU, the flour mill and Kensington railway station.

Comeng EMU heads towards through Kensington towards Melbourne.

Boarding another EMU I headed to North Brighton to visit Train World. Billed as the Australia's premier train shop I was stoked to actually get to this store and I was not disappointed. What an awesome store. This is the best model railway store I have ever visited. I spent a few hours looking around and even bought a few things. Hopefully I'll be in Melbourne early in 2017 and I'll definitely be paying Train World another visit. 

If you can't get to Melbourne you can check out Train Worlds website at www.trainworld.com.au 

After finishing up at Train World I wandered back to the North Brighton railway station where I managed to grab a shot of another EMU, my last train shot in Melbourne.

Comeg EMU arrives at North Brighton on the Sandringham Line.

That was the end of my rail related adventures in Melbourne and that's about it.