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2Nov/110

Cup Day: NSWRTM heads to Mexico

Just in case the title confused you: Most Australian's know Victoria as 'south of the border' and therefore 'Mexico'. It's a colloquialism/pay-out that's lasted generations and wont stop anytime soon. Now that we have that sorted we can get back on to the trains... The NSW Rail Transport Museum owns a large amount of heritage stock and annually visits Melbourne for the infamous 'Melbourne Cup' horse race. Unfortunately the train didn't make it all the way last year due to a derailment at Albury!

West Footscray

Melbourne struggles when it comes to good trainspotting locations making use of the morning sun. The main issue is that most of the good locations (viaducts, etc...) are good in the morning for out-bound traffic and the afternoon for in-bound traffic. As the train was in-bound in the AM it was time to think of a new strategy. I'd previously checked out Middle Footscray, but the options were limited and so I instead headed up to West Footscray.

It turns out 3 other onlookers had thought up the same concept and we all sat and waited. Fortunately we didn't have to wait long as the usual suspects soon came through... The XPT, The Overland, NRs on containers, Gs on containers... etc... etc...

LDP001 at West Footscray XPT at West Footscray NR+NR at West Footscray
V/Locity at West Footscray XPT at West Footscray NR+NR at West Footscray NR on Overland leaving Melbourne G+DL+G on 2CM2

And then ... the one we'd all been waiting for...

4490+4520 on RTM Southern Aurora 4490+4520 on RTM Southern Aurora 4490+4520 on RTM Southern Aurora

Pretty ugly eh? a 44-Class arse-end-leading isn't the prettiest site at 9am in the morning. Either way, it was worth the wait as the damn thing hauled ass through Footscray. That was it for the mornings movements; the train wasn't due out again until 1830.

Departures

ARTC posted that the departure time was 1830 and the train was right on time... fortunately there was more than enough entertainment at Sims St right up until the train left.

NR18 and QR6004 at South Dynon Junction NR47+NR57 arriving with steel NR47+NR57 arriving with steel
SS, GHAN, IP at South Dynon Loco NR89 departing with intermodal G530 departing South Dynon
G530 departing South Dynon A78 departing South Dynon A78 departing South Dynon
V/Line Albury Service departing Melbourne V/Line Albury Service departing Melbourne 4520 passing 8114
Southern Aurora deparing Melbourne Southern Aurora deparing Melbourne Southern Aurora deparing Melbourne

...and that was a wrap... Supposedly the Southern Spirit is back in town again this weekend... might go out West and see what is happening.

Complete album here.

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