3801 Operations from 2021

Not my videos of the official relaunch on Friday 12th March, at Sydney Central Station, with a train of invited guests to Rhodes station (16.58km/10Miles) plus subsequent runs over the weekend to Hurstville:
Copyright Bevan Wall -
Copyright Tulloch4801 - [Try creating a Safety Case for a heritage EMU (with open unbarred windows) pacing a steam loco hauling open windowed (unbarred) rolling stock on a UK main line. I realise the Australian loading gauge is much larger than the UK's but even so!
Copyright Howie's Rail Videos -
Copyright Howie's Rail Videos - [After 3801 had departed (on 13th March) hauling its shuttles to Hurstville (14.84km/just over 9 miles) then 5917 departed with The Kiama Picnic Train (119km/74Miles). Incidentally, the NSWGR water carriers (known locally as 'Water Gins') behind both locos carry around 7,000 gallons I believe.
There's now loads more You Tube videos for you to enjoy of these runs over this (apparently) beautiful weekend.

 

Arrival at Hurstville:
Apparently a little moist yesterday (Sunday 14th):
Not my videos.

 

Includes footplate action on the Inaugural day: [copyright Transport Heritage NSW]

 

Historical video of 3801 from conception to relaunch: [not my video so don't blame me for the background music!]

 

Also check out "Round the World in a Steamy Haze" on YouTube (sorry I do not know how to post direct Youtube links like those above). This has some excellent footage of 3801 on the notorious Bethungra Spiral last Friday (9/4/21). It ran three shuttles up the spiral with 7+ a water gin and no diesel assistance. Sounds superb.

Peter

 

Immediately below the youtube video screen to the right you should see a link marked "Share". Click this and it gives you several options including the URL with an invitation to copy it (and you can then paste it into your post). There seem to be several videos which appear based on your description and this is one.
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Thanks, Robin - I must remember that. You've got the video I had in mind there. I gather that it was the first unassisted steam up the spiral since 3642 did it in 2014.

Peter

 

https://www.visitcootamundra.com.au/bethungra-rail-spiral Basically, the ruling gradient on the new (1940's doubling) uphill line is 1 in 66 for around 8.9 km and the downhill (original single track) line remaining at the original 1 in 40!
Only load 7, plus a 'water gin', seen behind 3801's drawbar but NSWGR vehicles are heavier than BR MkIs! Those in the tour rake have tare weights ranging from around 42 to 46 tonnes although I'm not sure how much heavier are the 12 wheeler vehicle(s). Can't see a wagon number for the 'water gin' but it's either 42.5 tonnes or 55 tonnes gross so suspect the all up trailing load is at least 450 tonnes gross and might be verging on 500 tonnes.
All in all, 3801 is an impressive loco.
EDIT - Not sure if it is a 'water gin' after all as I saw "ESSO" painted on the outer end. Puzzled!
EDIT 2 - Further research ..... Apparently the gin is a former petroleum tanker, duly modified in the late 1990s, and accredited for use as a water carrier with wagon number L229. This is smaller than original NSWGR gins but carries sufficient water for The Cockatoo Run operation and has a lighter tare weight.

 

CORREECTION, ESSO Tanker is an 10,000 Gallon NTAF Oil Tank converted to use water, Gross weight of 76 tonnes, tare of 28.
L229 is currently being used by Sydney Rail Services behind 5917.
Cars used in the Train vary from 42 to 53 tonnes and by my calculations the train has a max weight of 388 Tonnes a light load for an Eighter, which are rated for about 600Tonne on a 1 in 60 (I think)

 

Many thanks for your corrections to my post and apologies for the mistaken gross train weight - although it's still much heavier than an equivalent length train on the UK network.
Anyway, much appreciated. (I'm sure there used to be a Thumbs UP emoji but I can't find it - so a will have to suffice)

 

Apparently 3801 had some trips out of Albury in early April. Reportedly about 3,000 people boarded the train across the Easter long weekend as part of a state-wide tour. Passengers were treated to hour-long round trips across three days of the holiday weekend.
Not my videos:

 

3801 to the Blue Mountains on 8th & 9th May 2021 - some of the weekend's videos [all copyright to the respective videographers] -



Approach to Valley Heights, from Sydney, is roughly 1 in 60 I believe.
However, the 20.5Mile (33 km) section from Valley Heights to Katoomba rises 670 metres, with a ruling gradient of 1 in 33 - hence the two diesels giving assistance where necessary.

 

In case you're interested - a bit of background video on the Albury trips including various shots in and around Albury Station as well as the interior of the coach in which the videographer travelled: [his copyright of course].

 

No videos this time.

CENTRAL WEST NSW TOUR from 3rd to 14th June 2021. For the first time since 2007, 3801 returns to the Central West of NSW with tours in Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo. There are also several one-way transfer trips, including from South-West Sydney to Lithgow or from Orange to Dubbo via Parkes.

A .pdf of the full itinerary is available on https://a8c979a7-e97b-4cb0-8cd4-235...d/367ea5_5f2d42fd124e4543a19af3c2973817ae.pdf I note that several trips are shown as fully booked already so 3801 doesn't seem to have lost it's attraction just yet.

Subsequent "Southern Highlander" two-day trips on 3rd/4th July as well as 31st July/1st August are also fully booked it seems.

 

3801's non operation continues. Currently on the Transport Heritage New South Wales site :
UPCOMING 3801 EVENTS
The 3801 relaunch events program has been suspended due to ongoing public health orders.
We look forward to returning 3801 to service as soon as restrictions are eased.
I believe the 'Delta' variant, which is now the prevailing COVID-19 problem for Sydney and elsewhere in Aus, was reportedly 'introduced' Down Under by a member/members of flight crew from the US.

 

Apparently 2022 (Aus) Autumn/Summer outings start with:

https://allevents.in/sydney/sydney-steam-train-rides-with-3801/200022139362620 On Sunday 20th March, Steam train rides scheduled from Sydney Central Station travelling towards Rhodes on the T9 Northern Line and return (non-stop). Departure times, for the one hour journey from Central Station, at 09:10; 10:35; 12:10; 13:40 and 15:10. Not sure where it would be watered/serviced. However, I have heard recently that these trips might have been postponed. Does anyone have an update?

https://thnsw.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/51964 On Friday 8th April, I think 3801 is still scheduled to travel one way from Sydney (Concord West) to this year's Hunter Valley Steamfest via the suburbs, through Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and winding its way along the scenic Hawkesbury River waterways. This will be 3801's first journey north since returning to service last year. Board the train at either Sydney Concord West suburban or Hornsby stations and alight at either Broadmeadow or Maitland stations.

A few weeks later, on 16 & 17 April and 4 & 5 June, 3801 is scheduled to haul the "THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDER" rail tours between Sydney and Bowral and Moss Vale. Details later at: https://www.thnsw.com.au/events

 

I understand that 3801's visit to Sydney over this last weekend (19th/20th March) had to be postponed due to a serious washout on the line between its base at Thirlmere and the main line connection at Picton. On Saturday 19th it should have been taking part in the 90th anniversary celebrations of Sydney Harbour Bridge. Hopefully the washout will be repaired in time for 3801 and 6029's visit to the Hunter Valley Steamfest in early April.

Peter

 

The general very heavy rainfall, high ground water table, etc. also caused the Thirlmere Railway Festival to be postponed to 25th/26th June: https://www.facebook.com/thirlmeref...sWpADtnneMych_W4e2-xm4wvZouDLi2Crzzv_8SuikYuE

 

I understand that the Hunter Valley Stramfest on the second weekend of April has now been deferred to July in part due to the fact that 3801 and 6029 are still marooned at Thirlmere. The Hunter Valley area itself is still very waterlogged after the recent flooding that affected the eastern coastal area of NSW.

Peter