@the_rail_life@aus.social
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

the_rail_life

@the_rail_life@aus.social

Rail tourist, hipster Gunzel. Victoria, Australia (usually).

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

the_rail_life, to random
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

A small tray truck just drove past me (looked like it was used by a builder). It was turning left and there was an orange box mounted on the door blaring out "STAND CLEAR... VEHICLE TURNING LEFT"

I've not seen/heard that before.

the_rail_life,
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

@NormanDunbar Generally (but not always) pedestrians and cyclists have right of way over a turning vehicle

the_rail_life, to Wuppertal
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

One year ago today, I woke up in Wuppertal, where the trains are upside-down ๐Ÿ™ƒ

The Wuppertaler Schwebebahn is a suspended monorail that runs for 13km through the city of Wuppertal, most of it above the Wupper river. It is the oldest suspended monorail in the world, and has been in operation since 1901.

#wuppertal #schwebebahn

Blue suspended monorail car above a river
Blue suspended monorail car above a river
Blue suspended monorail car going around a corner above a river

the_rail_life, to random
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

Good morning Melbourne!

timrichards, to Birds
@timrichards@aus.social avatar

This bird came visiting our picnic at the Royal Botanic Gardens yesterday. What is it?

#Bird #Birds #melbourne

the_rail_life,
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

@timrichards Looks like a Purple Swamphen

the_rail_life,
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

@timrichards LOL

No, it's an actual bird: https://backyardbuddies.org.au/backyard-buddies/purple-swamphen/

the_rail_life, to random
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

Can anyone identify this plant? I have a few that have self-sown in my garden

the_rail_life, to random
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

Today is a very hot day in Melbourne, and lots of people are heading for the beaches, which is a really nice thing to do on a hot day in Melbourne.

If you decide to head to the beach, especially in the southeast, I suggest you take public transport. Mordialloc, Aspendale, Edithvale, Chelsea, Bonbeach, Carrum and Seaford beaches are beautiful and all very easy walks from their respective railway stations.

Trains on the Frankston line run every 10 minutes. Also 902 (Chelsea) & 903 (Mordialloc) buses run frequently.

Alternatively, you could drive, get caught in the local traffic jams, spend ages searching for a car park, end up parking somewhere you're not quite sure is a legit parking spot and worry if the council is going to fine you.

the_rail_life,
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

Marvel at the car park traffic jams as cars circle, waiting for someone to leave...

Cars getting in eachothers' way in a car park

the_rail_life, to random
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

After driving a hire car between Sydney and Goulburn and back, I have some thoughts.

Firstly, y'all got a lot of toll roads.

the_rail_life,
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

Speed limits in Sydney seem to be a vague suggestion, with equal parts 20 km/h under, approximately equal to, and 20 km/h over.

It also seems to be a faux pas to leave any sort of gap between you and the car in front, punishable by tail gating.

the_rail_life, to random
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

Every sign has a story, I wonder why horses are specifically banned at Bundanoon station

the_rail_life, to Trains
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

Spent some time around the Moss Vale area today. A 421 class locomotive in candy livery, running light engine (locomotive without carriages) was not what I expected to see!

#train #locomotive

Locomotive 42103 in candy livery running B end leading
Locomotive 42103 in candy livery with A end trailing

the_rail_life, to random
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

I was running out of daylight, but managed to snap this empty grain train at Towrang Viaduct just before dusk.

the_rail_life, to random
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

Made it to Adelaide. Here's the interior of the Premium Class carriage. No time to photograph the noisy end of the train, have to rush off catch a suburban train (or it's 45 minutes to the next one).

Adelaide Parklands Terminal (where all Interstate trains arrive/depart) has no local public transport. The nearest suburban station is Adelaide Showgrounds, a moderate 12 minute walk away.

the_rail_life,
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

Summary of my trip from Melbourne to Adelaide on The Overland today.

The trip was enjoyable overall. The seat was comfortable and clean, and the carriage was bright, open and airy.

The carriage was old, and felt every bump in the track. The gangways between the carriages scraped and rattled, with a moderate amount of noise in the carriage.

There were no at- seat power outlets nor WiFi, however there were power outlets in the cafe/lounge and mobile coverage for most of the journey.

Train staff were professional and helpful.

I travelled in Premium, the difference being 1+2 seating with massive leg room over 2+2 seating with generous leg room. Premium class also gets free breakfast, lunch and non-alcoholic beverages. Premium was $250, double the price of Standard.

The 10.5 hour journey is comfortable and reasonably timed, but it's not a real contender for regular public transport because it's only twice weekly, and the lack of public transport connections in Adelaide.

the_rail_life, to random
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

Nhill (pronounced Nil). Approximately halfway to my destination of Adelaide.

We're about 10 minutes early here.

the_rail_life, to random
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

Off to Adelaide on The Overland! NR83 ready to haul us out of Southern Cross station at 8:05.

Let's see if the train lives up to its nickname, "The Overdue".

the_rail_life,
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

The Overland connects Melbourne and Adelaide, stopping at North Shore (Geelong), Ararat, Stawell, Horsham, Dimboola, Nhill, Bordertown and Murray Bridge.

The train formerly operated an overnight service, 7 days per week. It's now a daylight service running just 2 days per week.

Originally, the train ran on broad gauge (1600mm). The Melbourne - Adelaide line was converted to standard gauge (1435mm) in 1994.

the_rail_life, to random
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/06/sydney-to-melbourne-sleeper-train-services-return

the_rail_life, to random
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

Now blog post - The Outback Xplorer

https://theraillife.wordpress.com/2023/12/30/the-outback-xplorer/

the_rail_life,
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

@timrichards It would work better as a sleeper to Adelaide. If they ran it as-is, it would be an after midnight arrival.

But yes, a regular Sydney - Adelaide train would be great.

the_rail_life,
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

@timrichards Yes, if I were boss of all railways (don't know why I'm not, TBH), I'd have 2 daily services to Broken Hill.

One would be an overnight Sydney - Adelaide train. Leaving Sydney around 19:00, Broken Hill around 09:00, Adelaide around 15:00. Stops between Broken Hill and Adelaide at Peterborough, Jamestown, Crystal Brook & Snowtown. Return run would leave Adelaide around 11am, Broken Hill 17:00 and Sydney 07:00.

The other service would be a daylight DMU, which would spit at Orange, half to Dubbo, the other half to Broken Hill.

#ThereIFixedIt

the_rail_life,
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

@timrichards @CaraBruar

said in a pompous voice that is clearly not my own

Don't be silly, that's what aeroplanes are for!

the_rail_life, to random
@the_rail_life@aus.social avatar

B2 Class Tram waits at the traffic lights at the corner of Flinders and Market as an X'Trapolis train passes over the Viaduct.

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • โ€ข
  • JUstTest
  • ngwrru68w68
  • everett
  • InstantRegret
  • magazineikmin
  • thenastyranch
  • rosin
  • GTA5RPClips
  • Durango
  • Youngstown
  • slotface
  • khanakhh
  • kavyap
  • DreamBathrooms
  • provamag3
  • tacticalgear
  • osvaldo12
  • tester
  • cubers
  • cisconetworking
  • mdbf
  • ethstaker
  • modclub
  • Leos
  • anitta
  • normalnudes
  • megavids
  • lostlight
  • All magazines
    •