GoPro arrival at Wallangarra

On 9 Feb 2014. SDSR allowed a Gopro to be strapped to the front.
This is the re-post of the last few hundred metres into Wallangarra.

[@chriscorrigan7420]

So many of the old lines have been closed now and its a bloody shame. Our early heritage all moved by rail and now it still does but by more powerful loco's and longer consist's, wouldn't it be so nice to see and here the nostalgic scene's and sounds of times gone by and the smell of burnt coke floating in the air. As a boy I used to love nothing more than to stand on the footbridge over the main lines at Wangaratta and wallow in the smoke and steam of the majestic monsters of the rails used to belch out as they launched from a stand still with great plumes of mixed black coke and white steam. Now the yards are gone , the footbridge and road bridges are making way for double stack container trains, a couple of the old buildings are still there though, the station I believe is going to get a make over and a line relocation. I suppose that's progress.

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

Some plurals have apostrophes, some don't. Poor understanding of English . . . . but it's so frequent. Education? What education?

[@chriscorrigan7420]

@@EllieMaes-Grandad What are you smokin'?

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

Nothing, but I wonder about others . . . . get it right, or don't do it. @@chriscorrigan7420

[@chuckanoo1455]

Currently there is a push from the Glenn Innes area to have the railway line re-opened all the way back to Wallangara. Let's hope that it is successful.

[@alanhaynes4576]

I would love to see this but to do that you would need either a very rich philanthropist who likes trains or a NSW Minister for Transport who also likes trains. Do you have any idea how much it would cost to reopen the line? Also unless it was totally Heritage run, it would need to start from Armidale. Certainly a scenic run but those bridges that would require replacing don't come cheap and are usually not in the budget of an Historical Society of any sort. I fear that sadly in Australia we lack the population to allow many of these worthwhile dreams and projects to materialize. Just look at the Reunification of the Great Central Railway in England. It has two companies working together to bridge the gap and yet it is still a mammoth task that has taken years to even begin. They also have the population to support it once completed along with the closeness to the line. What does Armidale to Wallangarra have in its Favour? Limited population and for tourists a long journey to get to a starting point at either Wallangarra or Armidale. Please don't misunderstand me as I am a railfan and have been for most of my life. However, after 42 years working in rail and seeing the well intentioned plans of many to perform miracles, such as the Beaudesert to Bethania and the Dorrigo Railway to name just 2; I have come to understand the enormous challenges in our sunburnt country with relation to distance and population. Just look at our Airline industry; we still can't support 3 domestic airlines. I guess if the line from Regatta Point / Strahan to Queenstown in Tasmania can be done then it is possible. But remember they already have a tourist base at both places. And Puffing Billy in the Dandenong's is also successful and just a stroll from Upper Ferntree Gully Station on the Melbourne Rail Network. I also hope it is successful as I would love to ride a train from Warwick to Glen Innes or Armidale and return. When and where was this announced?

[@jacktattis]

Gee that will be tough much of the line has been ripped up and the bridge on the road out of Tenterfield to Wallangarra cannot be used .

[@chuckanoo1455]

@@jacktattis Actually, most of the line is still there! I don't know about the bridge from Tenterfeild to Wallangarra, but the old wooden one heading from Glenn Innes definitely needs replacing!

[@jacktattis]

@@chuckanoo1455 I know the railway line was ripped up at Bluff Rock and many of the properties along from Deepwater to Tenterfield took over the tracks .

[@alanhaynes4576]

Sad that the full turning of the loco and Water Gin was not shown. Anyone can get video of a train running along mainlines and through stations, but very few videos these days show the turning of locos. The dual gauge Angle at Wallangarra is now lost forever as I believe the line is now closed from Stanthorpe to Wallangarra / Jennings.

[@allsteamedup1]

Hi Alan, It’s very sad that the Wallangarra turning fork may never be used again. Footage of past activity can be viewed here: Bob Keogh memorial, from 16:35. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4LcZ6esl5uAlZI Downs Dash double header, from 16:25 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXbVoIN3j62ZrcU I have previously rendered the scene you describe, will see if I can find that for you. Kind regards,

[@davidbell1676]

I saw the remains of Wellington to Yeoval nsw line is still intact or what I could see of it. Don't understand how no one sees not to save theses old lines. Same with Coonabarabran to Barraba... great rail trails.

[@jacktattis]

And NSW ripped theirs up the fools I went to a few dances at the Garra back in the 60s . Wonderful people

[@jonnawyatt]

Wallangarra white gums are beautiful trees and i have planted lots on my farm.

[@jacktattis]

Are they a separate variety I never knew that I was raised in Tenterfield Loved it too cold for my wife.

[@tomskellern6128]

What disgrace that QLD government won't spend the money on the repairs for this line

[@MATT-xv4bh]

Talk about a lack of vision regarding tourism....

[@scottcannell5584]

Is this about when the tressle bridge was completely destroyed by last year's Fire

[@alanhaynes4576]

The QLD Government is not interested in preserving history. It does not fit in with the New World Order or Globalist scheme of things. Besides how can they keep getting all their lurks and perks if they set aside any money for a Heritage Railway? And before anyone criticizes me for calling out the current government. I don't believe the LNP are any better.

[@oracle11iappsdba]

@ 3:20 the point is set for straight movement, not cross movement 🤔🤔🤔

[@algrigg9039]

Spring loaded. Quite normal with manually set points.

[@gavinthomas4239]

Non interlocked points and are trailing so no need to set them, train will trail through them

[@alanhaynes4576]

@@algrigg9039 Sorry, NOT Spring loaded; Non Reversible Switch Lever with a Folding Arm, is the correct name for this switch lever. They are the ones with the long lever and at 90 degrees is a large round weight, which is designed to return the points to the normal position, whatever that may be. This particular one has a folding arm so it is clear of any potential loading that may be outside the loading gauge, either intentional or which may have moved during transit. They can be scary when you have to hold them to allow a 30 wagon Cattle train into a siding. Most Shunting yards I worked in had them. I shunted for 22 years and then trained shunters, drivers and guards for 9 years with QLD Rail. 😀

[@algrigg9039]

@@alanhaynes4576 Sounds like a spring to me! :)

[@michaelnaisbitt7926]

Lines like this are doomed as is all rural branch lines lines throughout Australia The State governments do not what to spend money on their maintenance when road transport costs them nothing In the future only rail connections to major cities like Sybdney and Cairns will exist country lines will be scrapped