NR117 & NR16 at Wallerwang NSW. Sat 25th July 2020

Описание: This would have to be one of the few freight trains that either runs spot on time or near to it as 1829 passes through Wallerawang Junction NSW from Chullora to Goobang Junction NSW right on the mark. NR117 and NR16 are in charge this Saturday with the usual lengthy train with many refridgerated containers aboard containing food perishables for the supermarkets of Perth WA. This train normally receives priority running by Train Control due to the nature of the freight on board. At Goobang Junction the crew will be relieved and double stacking of the well wagon containers will begin, an extra loco or two will also be added as per the total tonnage and the train will continue on its way to Perth WA. From time to time the second locomotive is more often than not an AN or 82 class but not today. NR16 was built in 1996 by Goninans at Newcastle whilst NR117 was built in 1997 by Goninans at Bassendean, Western Australia. The NR class is powered by a 16 cylinder GE 7FDL-1`7 diesel prime mover delivering 4,000hp and a maximum track speed of 115KMh. The old building to the immediate left is the Goods Shed built in 1882, which is heritage listed and you can also see the original five ton hand crane, also erected in 1882, as the train moves westward. Wallerawang was opened on the 01st of March 1870 and was locally known as "Mudgee Road" before being officially gazetted as Wallerawang in 1873. There was a three road locomotive depot and 60 foot turntable just beyond the overhead road bridge, at the end of the PerWay siding which runs past the Goods Shed. Considerable sidings and shunting yards back in the steam era, were spread around the station area, behind the signal box on the platform was the six "Down Sidings" roads, all long gone. The double storey station building is now leased out as a coffee shop. On the approach, from Cox's River, on the Down Main coming into the platform you can see a cast iron water tank and pump house sitting on the embankment, relics of the steam era. 1420hrs on Saturday 25th of July 2020.