3801 Operations in 2022 and 2023

DIARY FILLERS (Transport NSW will announce 3801's tour details nearer the time)

15th & 16th October 2022 “NEWCASTLE FLYER” Weekend of day trips from Sydney to Newcastle and return - more details to be announced soon.

5th & 6th November 2022 “THIRLMERE FLYER” Sydney to the NSW Rail Museum and return - more details to be announced soon.

19th & 20th November 2022 “HYDRO EXPRESS” Sydney to the Blue Mountains, with High Tea at the historic Hydro Majestic Hotel, Medlow Bath and return - more details to be announced soon.

Incidentally, Medlow Bath is an Australian small town located near the highest point of the Blue Mountains, between Katoomba and Blackheath. It's over 3,400 ft (1,050 m) high and is located about 71 miles (115 km) west-north-west of Sydney.

21st & 24th April 2023 “STEAMFEST FLYER (one-way) Sydney to Broadmeadow & Maitland only. Join the transfer trains to/from Sydney (Concord West) to Broadmeadow and Maitland in preparation for the 2023 Hunter Valley Steamfest - more details to be announced soon.

22nd & 23rd April 2023 “HUNTER VALLEY STEAMFEST” [35th Anniversary] Maitland, NSW comes alive with all things steam for the Burton Automotive Hunter Valley Steamfest. This year's event should have been the 35th anniversary but it had to be cancelled due to severe flooding in Maitland and the Hunter Valley.

 

Catching up on (fairly) recent outings for 3801 [not my videos]:
3526 double heading with 3801 stopping at Strathfield to take on passengers before departing on the way from Sydney Central to NSW Rail Transport Museum at Thirlmere :

Return from Thirlmere:
The Southern Highlander between Picton and Moss Vale on Saturday 13th August 2022:

 

Some recent footage of the Sydney Harbour Bridge 90th Anniversary. As usual, not my videos:
[copyright Rock Solid Railroad Videos - Bevan Wall Productions] Helicopter sounds courtesy of Channel 9 apparently.
- sounds like a pretty steep slope up to the middle of the bridge.

 

The power of 3801 from a standing start after water stop from local Rural Fire Service.
Almost straight into (at times) a 1-in-40 curving climb from Hawkesbury River Station on 16th October "Newcastle Flyer": [6 cars weighing 250 tons or more ?] Apparently touched 120 kph (75 mph) at some stage during the rail tour from Sydney to Newcastle and return.
Also this shows it speeding along:
Video copyright owned by film makers as always.

 

Latest update: https://www.thnsw.com.au/events
Summary of 3801's workings during (Oz) late Autumn/early Winter -
25th/26th March 2023 - 3801 and 3526 hauling THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDER [Sydney Central - Bowral - Moss Vale and return] Travel from Sydney behind two heritage diesel locomotives to Picton. 3526 and 3801 (unassisted) take over for the onward journey to the Southern Highlands. Not sure if the return is steam-hauled all the way to Sydney or comes off at Picton – but suspect the latter.
15th/16th April 2023 - NSW RAIL MUSEUM EXPRESS direct from Sydney to Thirlmere [and return] by steam [believed to be 3801] for a day out at the NSW Rail Museum.
28th April & 1st May 2023 - STEAMFEST FLYER (one-way) Sydney to Broadmeadow & Maitland on 28th and returns on 1st. Transfer trains to/from Sydney (Concord West) in preparation for the 2023 Hunter Valley Steamfest.
29th/30th April 2023 - BURTON AUTOMOTIVE HUNTER VALLEY STEAMFEST based at Maitland with 3801 in steam amongst the 'exhibits'.
24th/25th June 2023 - 3801 hauls NEWCASTLE FLYER [Sydney - Newcastle – Sydney] on both days.

 

Thanks for this Peter. No mention of any 80th anniversary trips. In 1993 it went on tour for its 50th anniversary and I travelled with it during its Easter visit to Melbourne. Here it is on Easter Sunday during the tripple parallel run to Seymour. What a fun weekend that was.

Peter

 

Perhaps the 'powers that be' felt that Sunday 22nd January 2023 was not a suitable 80th Anniversary date - being at the height of the Aussie summer.
As they couldn't do the 75th Birthday however, due to it still being in bits, one might have hoped they could have done something for the old girl's 80th.
Currently, it doesn't look promising.

 

Looks like this has been moved back a week to 1st & 2nd April (originally 25th/26th March) - 3801 and 3526 hauling THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDER [Sydney Central - Bowral - Moss Vale and return] Travel from Sydney behind two heritage diesel locomotives to Picton. 3526 and 3801 (unassisted) take over for the onward journey to the Southern Highlands. Not sure if the return is steam-hauled all the way to Sydney or comes off at Picton – but suspect the latter.
Other dates appear to have remained the same.

 

Hunter Valley Steamfest last month at Maitland (3801, 5917, 6029 & R766):
and at Newcastle (NSW!):
Great Train Race with 4 Steam Locomotives involved the complete closure to regular services on both Up and Down (?) on the Main and Coal lines!
The 'race' started at Waratah Station near Newcastle and finished at Maitland - around 15.5 miles (25 Km):


Copyright of the videographers of course.
I realise it's much busier - but the above '4-track race course' is roughly the equivalent of Kings Cross to Welham Green!!

 

BLUE MOUNTAINS FLYER - 16th and 17th September 2023
3801 and 6029 [super power!] from Sydney Central Station to Katoomba and Zig Zag Railway. Sold Out apparently.

STEAM TO THE SURF - 28th and 29th October 2023
3801 from Sydney to Wollongong along the scenic Illawarra Line. No surprise about the tour's name in view of the noted surf beaches at and near to the City of Wollongong. Specific tour details still to be announced.

 

EDIT: THIS TOUR SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN RE-DATED TO 14th/15th OCTOBER
STEAM TO THE SURF - 28th and 29th October 2023
3801 from Sydney to Wollongong along the scenic Illawarra Line. No surprise about the tour's name in view of the noted surf beaches at and near to the City of Wollongong. The trip is now fully booked apparently.