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A stream of consciousness.

The 3801

photography

A few weeks ago we went for a shot trip on the 3801, a vintage steam train that was visiting Canberra.

I had not heard of the 3801, but apparently it is quite famous. Transport Heritage NSW has a bit of a writeup:

3801’s status as leader of the class was first recognised in 1962 when it made the last run of steam on the Melbourne Limited Express from Junee to Albury. Returned to green livery in 1963, it set a new speed record from Sydney to Newcastle in the following year, covering the 167 kilometres in 2 hours, 1 minute and 51 seconds. Assisted by 3813 it hauled the first steam train from Sydney to Perth in 1970.

Withdrawn from regular service later that year, 3801 continued to run in preservation across a range of landmark services. It has made many more interstate journeys, becoming the only Australian locomotive to visit every mainland state and territory. …

Today, locomotive 3801 is the flagship in the State Operational Heritage Fleet. It continues to lead services across the NSW Mainline as one of the few steam locomotives anywhere in the world to run on main lines unassisted.

The day we went was a fine Canberra Spring day – cold in the morning but bright and clear and sunny. I took along my old Panasonic Lumix micro four thirds camera with the 20mm pancake lens to take some photos. I don’t think I’ve written about it here, but despite being 15 years old, it’s such a nice little camera. And because it doesn’t have a viewfinder, and the back screen on mine (which was never particularly high resolution) is cracked, it’s sort of a point-and-hope-for-the-best camera. Like shooting in film, kind of.

A diesel locomotive
This bad boy did most of the work on the outbound run

A green steam locomotive from the front on a train platform
It's very green and very shiny

The side of a steam locomotive with shiny 3801 numbers and a shield of some description
What it says on the tin

A view inside the conductor compartments of one of the heritage carriages
The (volunteer) staff are spared every expense in the name of comfort

Some sort of industial storage, covered in graffit, seen from the train
Fyshwick, seen from the other side

A small valley from the train, with green grass and a number of blossoming trees
Canberra doing Canberra Spring things

The wheels of a steam locomotive by the station platform with Mind the Gap visible on the platform
The wheels were shiny and enormous

A green steam locomotive next to a chain-link fence
About to re-fill with water at the conclusion of the run

If you would like to know more about the 3801, the NSW Environment Department has an interesting entry on the State Heritage Register on the locomotive.