The Hunter Line: What an oddity! (North Coast Line section)

[@BuildingBeautifully]

Follow me on Ko-Fi here to watch my bonus video! ko-fi.com/buildingbeautifully# Join my Discord server here: discord.com/invite/Hg2cMkaedH Thank you for watching everyone! Next video will be a return to the Sydney Metro, so get hyped!

[@cyberpunk.386]

19:23 "Emergency Help Point" … I can't stop wonder what would happen if you're mugged at Wirragulla station and try using the Emergency Help Point. "Yeah, mate. We'll be there in…about 9 hours." One request though: Don't add a "ping" sound whenever you place an arrow. It makes me jump to look for a new message on my phone every time.

[@notsureyou]

I've heard that the stations that were only "half upgraded" (like High Street, Greta etc), was done for the purpose of bypassing a rule, If they had upgraded the whole length of the platform, then they would had to have put in lifts etc. So by only doing some of the platform, they didn't need to put in lifts.

[@notsureyou]

The access to the Martins creek quarry has not been used in "some time"

[@notsureyou]

At Dungog, Technically the other platform is called the "Back Platform" and the signal shows "BP" on approach for the turn out.

[@ElYmmit]

I recommend taking the hunter line between Singleton and Muswellbrook. The line runs between open mine pits so you a good view of the highwall and workings which is interesting.

[@digicell2882]

The soyjack thumbnail is hilarious

[@KatoombaTourGuide]

Agreed lol

[@impulsivedata8712]

😮

[@NSWTrainsandBusesVlogs]

I thought that it looked like that thing yeah

[@Johnthecardboardsmileyface]

Half the reason I clicked on this vid 😂

[@randomonium19473]

You are absolutely correct about those switches at Martins Creek by the way. I'm a train driver and have taken a train in there once before. The switches are actually called a ground frame. The frame has a key, which is in the nearby box with the padlock on it, which can only be released by the network controller. Pulling the levers over will change the points to allow a train into the quarry siding. Hope the info was useful for anyone that's interested!

[@BuildingBeautifully]

Thanks for letting us all know, very interesting!

[@rorythered1936]

This is so nostalgic to watch. I lived in Wallarobba as a kid in the early 2000's. Me and my siblings would catch the train home from school most days We'd almost always get a 620/720, which were saunas during summer. The summer days an Endeavour with its air conditioning showed up were a treat After getting off, we'd wait on the platform until the train was around the corner, out of sight. Then we'd cross the track and a few fields to get home. Always keeping an eye out for brown snakes though! And fun fact, between the original larger station, and the concrete one there now, there was a short wooden one when I lived there. It was similar to the now closed Allandale Station. It was so short the train would regularly miss the platform and we'd have to climb down to ground level to get off

[@BuildingBeautifully]

Happy to have brought back memories for you! That's very interesting, yes I think many of the currently concrete short platforms used to be wooden platforms, like Wirragulla.

[@linmal2242]

Great stuff! Bit different from my little station that I grew up with and used to catch to Wynyard every morn , called Strathfield !!! Used to love strolling over to platform 3 to watch as the loco pulled Newcastle Express steamed through ! I think it was the only one that ever roared through S'field without stopping there !

[@mozismobile]

Mindaribba probably wins the "percentage of platform occupied by station sign" contest though.

[@penguinvic9892]

Okay, a fan post. I ❤️ your comment. Droll to the point of hilarious !! Made my day. 😊

[@darylcheshire1618]

In Victoria, (now closed) “Wedderburn Junction” was bigger than the platform. The line to Wedderburn was only 5 miles long.

[@trekswithnick]

As someone who used to live in the Hunter Valley area for 20 years and used this line frequently. I got a real sense of nostalgia just watching your video and honestly really appreciate a non-locals opinion of the Hunter Line. I think the line is useful for commuting between Maitland and Newcastle plus I absolutely loved travelling to Sydney by train when I was a teenager and in my early 20s. In all seriousness, I absolutely loved the video, keep it up!

[@lesliebishop3516]

As i said before, love it when you have a co host. Amy is great.... MORE AMY !!!

[@BuildingBeautifully]

Oh she really is!

[@andrewjgrimm]

What is this, Half as Interesting?

[@antonzangl9018]

@@andrewjgrimm is Amy Sharath's outside correspondent?

[@robertcox1835]

Used to ride the Scone branch from Singleton regularly from 1987-1989. Abandoned stations on that branch include Whittingham, Minimbah, Belford, Allandale and Farley. Most are away from their town centres probably because their main function would have been transporting stock. The long ramp is due to Australian design standards for access which mandate that ramps built after 1994 be no steeper than 1:14.

[@Mattb81]

It’s not a branch line. It’s the Main North!

[@jamesfrench7299]

Australia and it's excessive rules. Look at the result. Makes 1970s brutalist architecture look Victorian.

[@BuildingBeautifully]

I understand why the ramp is there and so long. It's still a bad ramp, because there's no stairs. Realistically, those who can will just cross the tracks directly instead of using the long ramp, which is problematic.

[@PETERWATT-ly5yt]

the line to scone name is the main north it went to the QUEENSLAND Boarder till they closed the line past Armadale so the Trucking companies can make more money and railways loose and people say COST OF LIVING I wonder why?

[@jamesfrench7299]

@@PETERWATT-ly5yt that's vile and tragic. A piece of infrastructure built by our forbears thrown in the trash like that. We have too many trucks. They are a pest and don't drive particularly professionally to help their cause.

[@grahamfrench9874]

Sharath I have always loved your videos, but this is the best yet. Sarcasm well delivered is hilarious, and you nailed it.

[@BuildingBeautifully]

Aw thank you, I'm happy you enjoyed it!

[@davidmorrison3814]

Dungog and Paterson stations are used more than Opal figures would lead you to believe, Several rail heritage group run trips to Dungog or Paterson from Maitland or Newcastle. It is quite pleasant going to Dungog behind a steam engine.

[@DOGPC44]

Honestly best channel on YT right now. Well done

[@BuildingBeautifully]

Aw thank you!

[@Rmizis]

Reminds me a bit of the stony point line down here on the outskirts of Melbourne. Like this hunter lines has small infrequent diesel trains, tiny stations and frequency and low patronage

[@tylerdotapp]

fun fact about the Stony Point Line, the Sprinter trains that are used on the line were built in the Hunter. specifically Broady

[@biosparkles9442]

I love the Stony Point line because whenever something happens in the city that takes down all of the city lines, Stony Point is the only line with a green dot next to it on PTV, I used to joke that you'll know when the apocalypse is upon us when Stony Point isn't running as scheduled.

[@BuildingBeautifully]

Oh for sure, I went on the Stony Point Line when I was in Melbourne in March. I think it's not as bad though, the stations certainly look bigger and Stony Point was fairly busy that day.

[@Voyagerthe2nd]

These stations make developers rub hands aggressively

[@tasmaniantaswegian]

and then tfnsw says 'hey darnick was a great idea, staircases in the middle of absolutely nowhere isa blo'oy brilliant idea, so lets downgrade the hunter line to that :)'

[@gregessex1851]

Why?

[@BuildingBeautifully]

"Let's build 10,000 new homes at Hilldale. Only 1 hour to Newcastle and 4 hours to Sydney. Location location location!"

[@tasmaniantaswegian]

@@BuildingBeautifully perfection, i am definitely move from tasmania to there

[@Dobuan75]

@@BuildingBeautifully- “but how will we make it perfect?” “Easy! We copy Parramatta Stroad and put half the buildings on one side and half on the other - to save money, no footpaths! We place a giant strip mall at one end of the suburb with a massive car park. No trees of course. Then we link everything with a single direction monorail!!! It’ll put us on the map!”

[@Ladadadada]

Somewhere around Mindaribba I realised that you drove to all of these stations and I thought "Surely catching a train is the best way to get to a train station, right?" which was immediately followed by the realisation that if you're visiting multiple stations in one day where there is an hour gap between trains there's really no feasible way to do that by catching the trains themselves. Let alone if you want to catch any drone footage of a train passing. Edit: Oh lol, you covered that later.

[@BuildingBeautifully]

Yeah it would've been hell! Especially since we're both only ever free on the weekend, when services are even worse.

[@bogeyholetroll]

It's more like a four hour gap at best.

[@thekennethofoz3594]

Great video!! I love quirky stuff like this.

[@LavenderHaze301]

Hey Sharath I've been here since about 15k subs and I want to say that I love your channel so much. It's a great mix of informative and humour, and that's what makes a great city planning channel!

[@colintyrrell3670]

Great vid. I was on this line last week - the 2nd last on my quest to ride all the intercity/suburban/metro lines of Sydney. The usage figures that CityRail say are interesting. I caught the 8:29am from Hamilton to Dungog and the same train on its return, which due to late running was 7 minutes. I couldn't walk around Dungog due to other commitments in Newcastle. On that trip people hoped off at Paterson (6), Martins Creek (2) and 2 people at one of the single door platforms (can't remember which one). None of them tapped off on the opal reader -all just left the platform. About 8 go off at Dungog and a similar number caught it back to Maitland. Definitely a quiet line. As I have a gold opal card, it was a great $2.50 ride!

[@BuildingBeautifully]

Wow, what a bargain! Yeah, you're not gonna get Opal checked out there, that's for sure. The passenger figures are likely higher.

[@mouse1442000]

As someone that lives in the Rutherford area I hate that the westerly tracks out to Scone are nothing but coal trains every 15 minutes or so. If there was more than 5 trains a day, people would use them... I also selfishly wish the old Farley station that was removed in the 1960s is returned for the new developments in Rutherford and Farley, but we need at least 1/2 hourly services for it to be usable. Even the hourly off peak to Telarah isn't enough.

[@belchy94]

I agree 100%

[@BuildingBeautifully]

We just need more regional train stations in general. Stop enforcing car dependency on everyone, Australian Government :((

[@slicer2938]

@@BuildingBeautifully i mean tbf, its hard to offer anymore services to towns of barely a few hundred people. Yes its definetly great but financially viable? i mean there a suburbs in sydney missing train stations which would need the funding more than these. (LIKE BONDI BEACH TRAIN STATION, im always going to be pissed off that locals boycotted it only for them to ignore the fact the busiest bus on nsw is the bus to bondi beach...)

[@linmal2242]

@@BuildingBeautifully Yes, Totally agree, we are the FLATIST developed(rich) country in the world and yet we have buggerall train lines. Yes, our population is not that of Europa or Chyna but the Albanesy Govt wants to import more, so where will they put them? SYD + MEL + BRI of course ! No plans to 'build Australia' unless you count extra suburbs in CAN as builing the country !

[@linmal2242]

@@BuildingBeautifully No it is the damn developers building apartments in the cities; that and the lack of regional development. Once upon a time' there used to be a Department of Decentralisation & Development but since Greiner/Wran the regions have been forgotten/overlooked !

[@brendanmeadors3099]

Really good pies at the cafe at lochinvar. Would be a long walk from the station tho

[@davidmorrison3814]

But something to fill the hour between trains....

[@leokimvideo]

Wirragulla looks like the template for the Sydney Metro

[@daniellaugesen8355]

These are my fav type of videos from Building Beautifully 🎉🎉🎉 Thank you!

[@kimballthurlow577]

In early 1967 at age early 20s I lived with my uncle and grandmother just west over the Hunter River at the Luskintyre timber truss bridge. One Sunday I went to church in Newcastle with a friend and was invited by other friends for lunch and dinner near Sandgate. In order to get home to Luskintyre I had to catch a train to Singleton going through Sandgate. It was after 8pm at night and my nearest station to get home was Lochinvar. I had to tell the train driver (on a steam engine) that he had to stop at Lochinvar to let me off. So I was pretty scared that he might forget. Anyway he did stop and I got off at the old station on the southern side as shown in the b/w photo in this video. It was dimly lit and even scarier. So I had to walk west to the level crossing to walk north into Lochinvar. I had never been to this part of the district so being late in the evening I was literally walking into the unknown, and I was quite unnerved. It was now pitch black and I could barely make out the gravel road as the dim lights of Lochinvar station receded behind me. Dogs sort of got roused as I passed a few farm houses, and their barking really put the wind up me. But I sort of trudged stoically on till I got to the well-lit New England Highway 2km from the station. Then I had a further 2.5km to get to the bridge, which included a 300-400 metre west on the Highway past the Lochinvar Hotel which was near closing or was closed being a Sunday, I can’t actually remember. I was now feeling more at ease in the more familiar landscape even though it was difficult away from the town lighting to see anything. Google maps now tell me the whole walking journey would have taken 1 hour and 14 minutes. So I guess I arrived home a bit after 10pm. Of course in those days the farmhouse back door was not locked so I crept into bed quickly knowing I had to get up at 03:30 next morning to help uncle with the milking. That is one of my abiding memories of Lochinvar and surrounds. Thankyou for the interesting video, I found it fascinating.

[@davidpickford.]

It's allways a good day hopping on youtube and seeing new Building Beautifully content

[@robertjoey1063]

It’s honestly so weird seeing you romp around my area of the woods. At uni I wrote an essay on why Victoria Street (my local) is the most important station in the Hunter. There’s some very interesting heritage resources around about the Hunter Line’s history, such as the bizarre Morpeth Branch.

[@goldenhour5331]

Vic street is my local too! Do you remember the red rattlers back in the day? My grandad used to smoke in between carriages on those things haha

[@robertjoey1063]

@@goldenhour5331 I quite literally was born a decade after the Red Rattlers were withdrawn lol.

[@mouse1442000]

Speaking of that particular area, I find it funny that Metford station is so close to the massive new Chisholm development, but you cannot access the station from that side as there is a private property that would have to be bought to allow for access. But since until that went in it was all vacant land, I can see why that land was never kept public, with no access ever built.

[@peepeetrain8755]

vic st is the most important? wow woulda guessed it would be hamilton guess not

[@BuildingBeautifully]

Sounds like quite the essay, would love to read it. And will definitely look more into the Morpeth Branch.

[@owenmcdonald8342]

Couple of comments from a local - East Maitland station is also weird. Victoria Street opened to replace the original East Maitland station and was the original terminus before the line was extended to Maitland and was an interchange with Maitland's Steam Tram network. It has one of the oldest surviving station buildings on the whole network. The new East Maitland station then opened just 400m away, but then the old one never closed and got renamed to Victoria Street. Today East Maitland mostly serves the old Maitland Gaol which is still used as an event venue, and also Grossman High School. There is also a disused platform next to the parking lot showing where the old branch line to Morpeth Branch Line used to be - Victoria Street is the busiest station after Newcastle Interchange on the Hunter Line. It serves the town Centre of East Maitland and the was once a Tram Line between East Maitland and Telarah. It now also serves the Maitland Hospital. - Technically three stations serve East Maitland (Metford, Victoria Street, and East Maitland), three for Maitland (High Street, Maitland, Telarah) - Tarro is also a fairly underused station that I don't really understand - Hexham does get a bit more use from shift workers as it's in a mostly industrial area. You'll see more people early morning and late at night. -Sandgate is next to Newcastle's largest cemetery and there used to be a small branch line with a station inside the cemetery. A bit like Lochinvar it is a hassle for pedestrians. - Lochinvar is two KMs from the town, but since they removed the level crossing you have to walk over the road bridge, then up the ramps to the other platform. It's crazy. It may get more useful later because of all the housing developments happening in the area. - Wirragulla is the only station not voiced by Taylor Owynns - Mindaribba and Paterson (kinda) serve the nearby Tocal Agricultural College. Mindaribba is named after the local tribe from the Wonnarua people. As you said in the video Midaribba is super weird because it's only accessible from one side of a passing loop - For just $2.80 on a weekend, you can use your Opal Card to travel from Scone all the way to Bathurst, Goulburn, or Bomaderry

[@BuildingBeautifully]

Thank you for all these stats! Fascinating.

[@owenmcdonald8342]

​@@BuildingBeautifully I guess the main reason for the Hunter Line is Historical Intertia. Mindaribba, Hilldale, Wallarobba, and Wirragulla were all once much larger stations with station buildings on them, much like Paterson is today. When people moved to cars they were demolished and reduced to the small platforms they are today. I'm guessing TNSW don't spend that much maintaining them so they're allowed to stay

[@GreatAussieDrives]

Another fantastic video from you Sharath. I wonder if the maintenance costs for that crazy long footbridge at Lochinvar is higher than those station buildings that they removed 😂

[@mark123655]

A lot lower than a lift however

[@RodneyAvery-o2q]

​​@@mark123655 Exactly. Not enough people use the station to justify the cost of installing and maintaining lifts, so there are ramps instead. However, to make the station accessible to disabled people and parents pushing prams, the gradient on the ramps has to be quite low. This requires the ramps to be as long as they are. Gradient is vertical rise over horizontal distance, so for any given rise, if you increase the distance, the gradient decreases. Hope that helps!!

[@BuildingBeautifully]

Thank you! You might be onto something there...

[@phinix250]

Hi, I used to travel most weekdays on the hunter line (Dungog to Maitland 2002-2003, then later Dungog to Warabrook 2016-2020) , the numbers you mention do seem a little low and I don't know if that counts concession tickets since from memory there were a semi decent number of people jumping on the morning train (6:30 am from dungog) and the late train (6:00 pm from maitland). For me that train was a lifeline as it was how I could afford to travel to university.

[@helmutsandner6964]

Very enjoyable video. I used to drive trains along this line. I remember these wayside stop stations being built.

[@staryoshi06]

I'm honestly surprised that these are quieter than Lysaghts, and that Lochinvar is quieter than Rydal despite Rydal being right next to the actual town. I guess more evidence than ever that frequency of service matters.

[@staryoshi06]

Okay seeing mindaribba station in it's beauty has made me understand how it's quieter. Yet Rydal is quieter still. Insane.

[@BuildingBeautifully]

For sure. Rydal gets very few services and is in the middle of a very small town. I'd imagine at least part of the reason that a station like Mindaribba is busier is that it's easier for gunzels to get to due to more frequent services.

[@arokh72]

It would, I'd suggest. I use Tarana, at times, for rail services, and we only get 4 Endeavour services per day (2 in the morning to Central, and 2 in the afternoon from Central), plus the Dubbo XPT in the morning from Central, and in the late afternoon to Central. It can be easier to just drive to Lithgow for electric services, which are every 2 hours on week days.

[@buchinsku]

Lysaghts is for when your car pool mate is on holidays and you haven't served out your license suspension yet.

[@whophd]

I went to Scone and back on the Fare Free Days around 20 years ago - it was the furthest you could get, and I totalled 1,000 km in 24 hours

[@ArtemimiOCE]

wow i wish they'd continue doing that

[@leonwilson1089]

I have done that trip many times just to fill in a morning and also have done Newcastle interchange to Singleton to have lunch with a mate them catch the Explorer back to Broadmeadow Station instead of the afternoon train. Once I did the Newcastle interchange to Singleton by train then car to Muswellbrook then a bus to Scone then the explorer back to Broadmeadow Station.

[@scottietheshark]

Yes!😄 Finally, the Hunter Line in all it's weird glory! Can hardly wait for Southern Highlands line👍 You and Amy are really funny

[@davidgardiner5308]

airdrie was a very small station back in the day. .. the 620/720 sets used to stop there but only one door of the rear carriage fitted on the station. .. most of those stations (not airdire) had staff machines for single line operation and at kilbride junction just north of martins creek. .. martins creek had a staff machine that was connected to both paterson and kilbride so that quarry trains could clear the single track .. paterson used to also (like dungog) have a stop for both the northcoast daylight and northcoast mail in both directions and martins creek had a request stop northbound for the northcoast mail (1:03am). ... martins creek had a working water tower and heritage steam trains used to go up as far as that to refill, certainly still extant in 1988 when the flying scotsman visited the area ... it was just south of the platform

[@APP1E5]

My Grandfather was a stationmaster. Most of the "outbuildings" formed part of the station master's residence. My Uncle was a postmaster and the reason they had these stations continue was because the mail, you know, when you write a letter and post it, were transported by rail. I recall also there was a "travelling post office" on the train and the bags were sorted by direction by the postmaster. 1 bag for North and one for South on that particular line. These bags were sorted on the train and mail was then deposited with the station master for the post master to collect.

[@larryquinn4119]

Hey man love the content, have you thought about doing a video on the Cessnock line?? Would be sick !!

[@kcobley]

In the 70's it was a 2 car rail motor, in winter it was like sitting in a freezer people sitting on boxes in the corridor.

[@strawberrysoup1]

can Amy please drop the fish themed fit i bc love it

[@galliman123]

Its the Wii play fishing game isn't it? 🥺

[@tamworthtrainnut285]

@@galliman123Yes it is

[@sanitygone-l9y]

Women want me, fish fear me

[@BuildingBeautifully]

You can find the hat by googling it, she designed and printed the shirt herself. She can't sell it because it uses the Wii Play fish haha.

[@peterhelm6003]

It's actually a very useful service, allowing commuting for work and university plus shopping trips for seniors who can no longer drive. People can access the cityrail system to go to Sydney and beyond. All this makes Dungog a very popular place to retire to.

[@CaratsRitzy]

We used to do a lot of weekend family trips/commute up and down the Southern Highland and South Coast line, both are scenic route in their own right. The Southern Highland line is great during early spring/autumn for natural photography, we would often stop by a station and just wander around for a whole day. If you want some free adreleline rush, take the 751/752 trainlink coach from Wollongong to Moss Vale. >:) There's nothing more stress-inducing than watching an experienced bus driver squeezing past *that* infamous corner on the Macquire pass heading towards Robinson.

[@tranmere292]

I didn't have high expectations of this video but I must say it was fascinating. As a passenger every year or so on the North Coast XPT trains, I pass through many of these stations but didn't know they existed. The fact that they are still there is a tribute to the NSW Railways providing a public service and not thinking they are a just a business. Long may it remain.

[@ktipuss]

Wollarobba has a rural fire service station. I also recall a local former church being offered for sale there (on the Dungog Road). Wirragulla is near the junction of Dungog Road with the road to Clarence Town, so might get some "customers" from there. Curiously, "Wiragulla" station (note the spelling) is listed on a PTC list of NSW stations as "closed on 20/10/1975". Very odd; obviously not closed! BTW the 32 Class shown at 9:35 is one of the only two 32s (then P Class) built as compounds. The experiment didn't work out well and both were soon change to standard types.

[@greglance4712]

Another well researched and really interesting video. Well done. People who view it should be hitting the like button.

[@BuildingBeautifully]

Thanks mate!

[@tonzo8]

This was great! Wouldn't it be cool if all little old rail lines had this level of infrastructure and services for residents.

[@BuildingBeautifully]

That would be the dream!

[@cyberpunk.386]

I had a good chuckle at the comparison "these stations make Denistone look like Central".

[@shanojebs]

Nice deep dive into an area very few of us get to see! I took a trip from Newcastle Interchange to Dungog one Saturday, the 5:49am and 1:11pm trains weren't practical, so I had to get the 9:33am XPT from Broadmeadow. I didn't find much to do there, the usual shops and cafe, a bakery, a brewery, and randomly a mountain bike park with lots of trees. I was ready to leave after an hour, but the next train was 5 hours later, so I walked around the bike park and then hung out at the brewery. It was a lovely scenic train ride but one visit is enough. The Scone line is now the only section of the Opal network I've never been to, but if it's anything like Dungog I'm in no rush.

[@SydneyCityTransportVlogs]

The towns along the line to Scone are much more larger than that of Dungog. In saying that, they're still country towns, so this isn't much to do in them.

[@linmal2242]

What a great video/blogeo and thank you very muchass ! I live up this way and have occasionally thought about catching the train to somewhere 'up there' Actually thought about purchasing property there, around Mindaribba, but cannot persuade the 'boss' to give up her water view !

[@davidau8455]

Being a local listening to you pronouncing Lochinvar without the "r" on the end was like fingernails down a chalkboard. Lol! A great video showcasing the line though. Nice work!

[@barnardward5293]

I used to travel on Hunter line trains way back in the 1957 and 1958. At the time, my family lived on a farm about 15km out of Dungog, and I was attending Newcastle Boys' High school. I boarded in Mayfield (a Newcastle suburb) during the week. On Monday morning I would travel to the school by local carrier's truck - on Friday afternoon I would catch the afternoon service from Waratah station for the 2-hour journey to Dungog. In those days the train was steam hauled and usually had 6 or so carriages. A lot of school children travelled on it, mostly between the three Maitland stations all stations to Dungog. About mid-1958 my father sold the farm and we moved to Speers Point on Lake Macquarie. The trip to school from there was by bus, mostly old Leyland or AEC double-deckers. Most of those little stations you talked about weren't much bigger than they are now - Wiragulla in particular. But we stopped at them all to let off school children.

[@visualdescript804]

Shoutout out to all these stations. Growing up in Dungog and being able to catch the train to Wallarobba or Paterson was great; or all the way to Sydney. Have had interactions with every one of these stations. When I first riding the train it was the Red Rattlers too! You could open the windows, which was awesome. Even had the pleasure of one breaking down on a journey.

[@flamingfrancis]

Loch-in-vAR...the r is not silent....and there is a LockinvEr You are indeed fortunate that trains still run on the historic Hunter line...there are many , many other historic lines in NSW that are overgrown with weeds.

[@davidmorrison3814]

The lines are there for freight, not passengers!

[@Mattb81]

Coal keeps the main north one of the busiest lines in Australia

[@lyndonlives638]

I live right near a Hunter Line station (not one of these tiny stations though!) and really enjoyed this video. I find the line really useful, especially between Maitland and Newcastle, which I think is a key route to the further development of the Hunter region. So easy to hop on a train and get into Newcastle for work or socializing without always having to drive. There's even been times I've changed trains at Hamilton to take a day trip ALL the way down to Sydney to have lunch with Sydney-based friends...so funnily enough I would actually be one of those strange hypothetical Hunter residents who might want to know what was going on with Sydney local trackwork! Obviously it takes a while to get down to Sydney, but then so does driving and you save an absolute shitload on petrol costs - plus you can just read or watch movies or just stare out at the scenery (which can be beautiful, especially around the Hawkesbury), and you don't have to worry about Sydney parking costs or availability! I use the Hunter Line way more than I thought I was going to do when I first moved up here and I've become a bigger train fan than I ever thought I'd be. With more and more people being pushed out of Sydney and the cost of petrol rising persistently, folks should really try to think of more creative ways to utilize public transport in NSW rather than just defaulting to their car every single time.

[@Thatonestrangefella]

Between Newcastle and Maitland the hunter line actually runs pretty good frequency during peak of roughly every 20-30 minutes

[@drillbag]

In the late 90s i did an apprenticeship as a Railway Signal Electrician, we covered this entire area. There was some places in the hunter that i never knew existed until we visited them to perform maintenance or for a failure!! Fun times!!!

[@transportj0]

awesome video! i don't usually comment but this video was just excellently produced. graphics, details and the humour - absolutely nailed it this time.

[@johnblyth9787]

I enjoyed this video very much. I worked as clerk in the ticket office at Moree 1972 for about 7 years and Gunnedah for 18 months. I have a love of trains. I am now retired and living in Brisbane.

[@vfattie2598]

i once had an NDIS client and his thing was trains he taught me so much about trains and especially the hunter line. we went to the library and looked up all the old stations and where the steam trains stops once stood. did a lot of driving through the hunter country side. was cool to look through the past on trains in the hunter thanks for the video.

[@lyndsaysmith]

fun vid mate. ive taken the XPT from Maitland to Coffs Harbour and iirc, it took about 6 hrs to do. it was fun but got super boring with no internet + no phone charges for the trip 💀 but the pies on from the trains shop was delicious

[@srinednco]

every country town in australia has a great bakery, I have realised

[@lyndsaysmith]

@@srinednco yes indeed, nut i meant the shop inside the train itself haha

[@SydneyCityTransportVlogs]

I did a much more indepth video (linked below) about all these stations between Maitland and Dungog, it was quite the interesting day out and definitely learnt some stuff. I believe Wirragulla was so close to closure that no voice announcements were made and it was removed off most timetables and other railway information posters, and that's the reason as to why it was voiced by someone else in that announcement. Wallarobba station is one of confusion. As someone else mentioned you can get access to the article using the Wayback Machine. Apparently the community (of less than 200 people) sent enough petitions and protested the government enough to make the station properly accessible. The hilarious side of this is that the platform wasn't even extended to be a full 2 carriages, which I mean if you're going to make it full accessible may as well right?, but the entry road wasn't even paved (still gravel) and the only paved parking space is a disabled spot. When I visited last year the local roads of the town were atrocious, with it being more of a situation of watching out for the road in the pothole. It was dragging the government to make the station, barely served, accessible. Since then, the station has infrequently been used. I feel as a lot of data of Opal journeys do come from transport enthusiasts just travelling to these remote stations. Oh and don't get me started on Lochinvar, the design there is just bizarre and confusing. It must've worked out cheaper to build a giant ramp (and once again, not even bother extending the platform or improving service) than it was to build stairs and a lift. Link to my video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWbFq3ydo82EbLcsi=bBnTrHLJiU-sgy4V

[@tamworthtrainnut285]

The NSW TrainLink Xplorer that runs from Moree, Armidale and Sydney DOES NOT STOP at Branxton, Greta and Lochinvar so Xplorer trains NP24 and NP23 run express from Singleton to Central

[@qjtvaddict]

Sounds like a joke

[@trowl42]

Now we need a video on the rest of the line to Newcastle and the Newcastle Light Rail!

[@RailwayStationEnthusiast]

I've actually seen some people get on at Wallarobba one time... I wonder where they are now...

[@JimCullen]

The Dungog Chronicle article is fully available on the Wayback Machine. Apparently it was difficult even for able-bodied people to ascend or descend safely, and "almost impossible" for a wheelchair, even a motorised one. It was estimated at a gradient of 1 in 3 (guidelines are between 1 in 20 and 1 in 14). So...yeah.

[@melglobus]

Caught the train from Scone to Newcastle in the 90s - Recently drove to Allandale (where 2 blokes routinely got on with surfboards) and Belford, about where Hermitage Rd crosses the main line now… no sign of either station. The old station buildings at Lochinvar were still there in 1998. There were remnants of oakhampton a few years ago though last time I went for a look- just bits of the platform

[@drivingsydney]

Nice video! Could you do one on the closed railway lines around the Hunter region? There are the Richmond Vale line from Hexham and the South Maitland railway from Maitland to Kurri Kurri and Cessnock. Those last 2 towns that I mentioned are major towns in the Hunter region which I have read use to receive passenger services. They were mostly used as industrial railways however. Could they potentially be used as a 3rd branch line for the Hunter service?

[@mrawesome9219]

There is currently a push from local MPs, councils and community groups to at least buy the rail spur to Cessnock (for future use) if not re-open rail services in the near future because of the massive suburban development and population growth in this part of Greater Newcastle. The transport links from Cessnock to Newcastle are woefully inadequate.

[@mouse1442000]

@@mrawesome9219 I am hoping that the South Maitland Railway does get re-purchased by TfNSW and also extended down to Fassifern. Would be a great shortcut for those in Maitland and surrounds not having to go via Newcastle. If they put enough capacity on it, say every half hour, it will definitely be well used and a good investment.

[@TrainsForNSWVlogs]

Reopen Toronto and Belmont too

[@mouse1442000]

@@TrainsForNSWVlogs Yeah, Toronto should be the end of a new 'suburban Newcastle line' and make the Sydney-Newcastle an express (i.e. Fassifern, Cardiff, Broadmeadow, Hamilton, Newcastle Interchange). Not so sure about the Belmont line, looking at its old alignment, might be better served as light rail, building that out throughout Newcastle. It isn't be built up enough for heavy rail.

[@dutchmansmine9053]

I was surprised to learn how long the 620/720 railcars were in service. The reason is the Endeavours that were going to replace them ended up working the southern lines instead. However, you do occasionally see Endeavours on these lines. I'm glad your hat reincarnated.

[@the_clawing_chaos]

Now you'll need to do the scone line. Scone to Nowra video!

[@suzannamurray2751]

Great videos! When are you showing us the sydney cycleways? And when are you doing a video on how to fix western Sydney congestion? Also penrith is doing a new bus stop program. Could you look at how we can do bus stops for hot climates without hostile street furniture?

[@mitch438]

That ENG1300 quip struck me deep in my bones 😅

[@BuildingBeautifully]

Glad someone got it ;)

[@rossjohnson-pullin5633]

I saw you today at Glenfield (12/07/2024) waiting for the Sydney Trains Intercity (Endeavour stock) service to Central. Good to see you on the network!

[@peterwatt4438]

you should try wonderbyne. very tiny station between Hornsby and Woy Woy. . NSW. Once held a sand stone sculpture event I think they may be still there.

[@akswalia6588]

omg I LOVE AMY's T SHIRT with the WII PLAY FISH. I NEEEED IT.

[@NvidiaRTX_4070]

Imagine the driver seeing the exact same person 5 times

[@rolexcel]

I was expecting the launch of the Building Beautifully cap to replace the Wallabies one! If you go to Northern NSW you should review the Byron Bay Solar train which uses a beautiful 1949 built 600 class train.

[@qjtvaddict]

It would be better as a modern solar train it would be even better going to casino

[@RandomDallasMavericksfan]

the hat may be in bad condition but its in better condition then the actual team so it could be worse

[@thegreenlandshark6086]

I'm impressed the line is still being serviced at all. In New Zealand nearly all our passenger rail is gone.

[@jakez6851]

Developers and Real Estate agents “Oh a train station!!! Homes now valued at 1.5 million dollars. Thank you.

[@completingsydney]

Shout out to Amy's (hopefully ironically) worn hat 😂 Great video guys

[@tamworthtrainnut285]

12:30 Those levers are called “Groundframes” which are released by an operators key and depending on how many levers are connected to the groundframe, seperate levers can be used to unlock one set of levers on one side of the groundframe and one lever on each groundframe is used to operate the MPI (Mechanical Points Indicator) white bar attached to the relevant groundframe

[@nasalspray3102]

AMAZING VIDEO! Thank you

[@enrimore2988]

12:17 That's today! My B-Day! I am 22 now, and I just stumbled upon this video, today too.

[@PeterArnold1969]

3:47 The maximum gradient for a wheelchair access ramp in Australia 1 in 14 (14 units forward for every 1 up), which I assume is because otherwise it would be too hard to push uphill. That's the reason for such a long ramp.

[@nomadMik]

Fun. 🙂 I think this is my favourite video of yours so far this year.

[@Nebs1]

10:35 there’s 7 tracks side by side at Hexham. If you include the Aurizon rail yard there’s 14 tracks side by side. Then there’s the holding road just north of Hexham station too.

[@indycraft7657]

The spider you found at wirragulla is an orb weaver! Im pretty sure theyre basically harmless to humans

[@murringo9]

So the 'goods shed' at Paterson (also Martins Creek) was actually the signal box before CTC signalling went in, and the 'station residence' was in fact, the good shed! Great vid.

[@holiday197]

Great video. Eventually you’ll probably find more development along the Maitland to Dungog corridor which means the stations will become more frequented (and probably even extended and updated). The ramp at Lochinvar is truly strange. I read people mentioning something about the gradient of land being the reason. But surely they could have just made a level crossing nearby to cut costs.

[@andrewtailby4364]

At paterson that shed was the goods shed where the rail motor group is and on the platform is the old signal box

[@shaughnsimpson441]

as a former wheelchair user, ramps have a maximum incline they can be for accessibility, I think its something like 12deg. that's why they are so long.

[@IonianGarden]

A great idea for your next holiday would be the Byron Bay Solar Train.

[@whataruckusitis]

The combo fishing hat and t-shirt is a very strong look.

[@andrewtailby4364]

The local panel at martins creek was able to be switched in and out to obtain the ground frame key to get in and out of quarry

[@electro_sykes]

Queensland also has some stations that are in the middle of nowhere. You have places on the North coast line like Traveston and Gympie North which are in the middle of absolutely nowhere. In fact Gympie North is a terminus station. The line beyond Nambour doesn’t get much service (only 2 trains a day + Both Tilt trains and spirit of outback).

[@electro_sykes]

Worth mentioning I was only talking about stations that are on the south east qld rail network which is accessible by using a go card (our version of opal). There are other stations outside of SEQ, but regional stations require tickets for services like the tilt train, etc

[@ewokhunter4036]

It's a miracle these stations are still open

[@sunrise-6]

The Wirragulla announcement is the old CityRail voice(correct me if I'm wrong), and using DVA 5 the current Wirragulla on the current voice library sounds the same as the old CityRail one. So they just haven't recorded it again and when the announcement is told to say 'Wirragulla' it is programmed to say the old CityRail one.

[@arokh72]

Makes sense, Rydal and Tarana are where they are in the list. In both cases, it can be easier to just go to Lithgow and catch an electric service to Sydney. Looks like Amy is into fishing, I hope you both come back here to Oberon and join the annual Red Fin Roundup. Also where did she get the shirt, I want to get one for my boss, who, with her hubby and child, fish.

[@JayJayGamerOfficial]

I remember my first time catching the hunter line from hamilton to maitland and was fascinated with the single decker diesel trains having been used to the tangaras and waratahs from living on both the t4 and t8 lines. I always love watching the scenery go past with the paddocks and mountains when travelling on the line. I also find it fascinating how both maitland and east maitland both have 2 stations and find connections to them rather lackluster. Last time i went up i ended up walking up to the maitland riverfront for half an hour simply waiting for the bus that goes down to Kurri Kurri. Its also sad to see the lack of usage of the lines out to scone and dungong which have a lot of potential for urbanisation to help spread the population out of Sydney. Despite those negatives you got to love yhe utilisation that the line gets despite the population that lives near it.

[@PlatformONE]

Darnick station on the line to Broken Hill is even shorter, Darnick station is just a set of stairs.

[@gman83090]

The old Hunter rail cars for the ones that they used to use the trains use to be called the Silver City comet and they were the first trains to have drivers air conditioning

[@Triple-N]

Had anyone heard about the "Fish and Chips" train? Are these the ones shown on this video?

[@ForTheBirbs]

I suspect some of the sheds might have been parcel / mail train stops. I am ancient enough to remember the parcel building at Chatswood