Farewell Newcastle, Pt 1.

Being a local boy in Newcastle has some good things, and bad things that come with it. Of late, the good was LVR and the NSWRTM running trips in Newcastle, the bad, the LVR trips signifying the end of steam in Newcastle, at this point forever. I was away during the weekend which RTM ran trips knowing full well LVR were going to do so later in the year. Prior to the running of these trips I was called upon at the last minute to volunteer as a Carriage Attendant on some of the runs, which was a delight.

Lachlan Valley Railway provided locomotives 3237, 5917 and 4906 for these runs, and they proved to be a very good few runs. On the first weekend (8th and 9th of November) shuttles were hauled from Newcastle to Port Waratah and return, utilising the ARTC balloon loop at North End, Carrington. This gave photographers many opportunities to catch the train during the weekend, and was a surprise to the local folks of Carrington being surprised of these happenings - being the first heritage steam train to operate in the area for a number of years.

The following weekend involved a run to Singleton behind 3237, and 5917 hauled a 3801 Limited train from Gosford, for the folks of 3801 Limited. Before departure, locomotives 3237 and 5917 crossed paths in Newcastle station, this being a rarity to happen in the 21st century. 3237 tooted off towards Singleton with a load of happy families and enthusiasts alike. 3237 kept to the timetable quite well with 4906 bringing up the rear, arriving into Maitland 10 minutes early. We were delayed arriving at Singleton as we had to await the passing of the Armidale Explorer, which made us quite late. At Singleton, we had to move off those patrons who were only going to Singo' off and put those who were on the shuttles to Camberwell loop on, which made for a few minutes of hectic activity. With the run up to Camberwell being delayed due to other trains in the section, we were late back into Singleton but had a very fast run home out of Singleton towards Newcastle. A good day.

Sunday presented itself being the end of an era for Newcastle and us all entering the history books for all the wrong reasons. 3237 took the first leg of the train to Gosford, where it was swapped with 5917 for the run up Cowan, and into Sydney. During a 2 hour servicing period for 5917 in Sydney, I slipped out to Paddy's Markets to get a feed as I was starving. Upon arriving at Gosford, we had 3237 put back on the front for a very convincing and fast run into Newcastle, despite being stopped at Fassifern. The crews had put chalk messages on the smokebox of 3237 and 5917, and once arrived at Newcastle, 3237 was put onto the 2nd platform road in order to conduct a short, but brief parallel run into Newcastle. Whistles blaring, being a sad sight which I personally didn't want to be a part of due to the history of Newcastle and being a local myself, I knew it was the end.

Thank you to Lachlan Valley Railway for the magnificent 2 weekends which were had working your trains, and hope all who view these images like them too.