Trains around Sydney - 1990

Trains around Sydney - 1990. Take a trip back in time to an era of single deck suburbans, u boats and electric locomotives. Watch trains in Various locations around Sydney. Also includes trains in the Illawara and Newcastle,

[@imacgra1]

man, so many memories. Glad someone caught the budd and riverina cars on the south coast daylight.

[@timothysdog6130]

I lived in Sydney in 1990 and used the train system. It was very good and easy to get into the city from the suburb. I also liked the two floors. Much better than our British trains that are very expensive, over crowded and often late

[@sydneytravellervlogs4659]

Back when the V Sets were new, Tangaras were brand new, Candy Livery was there, C sets were used off peak, S sets everywhere, U boats, Red Rattlers, No Berijiklian, New Heavy Rail Lines being built and Much more that we don’t have today!

[@Djr67]

Love the V sets

[@euckb]

Still going on the central line. Catch them almost daily. Soon to be replaced. :((

[@Brucetiki1]

Nothing like the guard announcement chimes on the Tangara 😍

[@OtherworldJudge89]

Back when the Tangaras were new!

[@sydneytravellervlogs4659]

The DMS lol I wish they were still black

[@selilatte]

Loved walking between the carriages! Thanks for the nostalgia.

[@happytrader7210]

Sydney seems so much more comfy and laid back back then.

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

yes, everything was more laid back then!

[@yerolo]

Definitely my favorite era from a train spotter perspective....so much variation unlike nowadays with all the cookie cutter trains you see around.

[@nicholetheotter1957]

yerolo Those Waratahs... they’re the most boring fleet in Sydney, yet take up almost 2/3 of suburban rosters!

[@HunterS0502]

Loved the variation of all the liveries and 4 car trains running on suburban lines

[@AllRound_GG]

Mine too!

[@talkingpens]

totally feel you, passengers are now called customers! I had fond memories with my dad on those old trains in that era, had way more character and feel.

[@Bennyboy1985]

Coupled with it being my childhood (with plenty of memories of riding the Sydney network around this time) this is why I'm planning to model the NSW network circa 1990

[@brentmcc6048]

Bloody excellent footage and the last of the good old days. When freight was still in the hands of the Government, the brake van had gone but look at it now. I worked both in and underneath so many of those trains over my time of 28 years. Mechanical, Ticket Inspecting and finally Security Control Centre. Great memories and thank you.

[@jonglewongle3438]

Sydney trains. In 1984 I was doing weekend on-campus stuff with a University as part of an external studies, as I lived well outside of Sydney, and at the same Sydney suburban railway station some two months apart, March and then May, I saw the same teenage boy waiting on the platform and the same middle-aged wierdo wandering around like a fruit cake. I tappped into a ' rythm ' of Sydney going at that time. They won't be there now. The boy was an adult by the time of this 1990 footage. The wierdo, well.... it was 36 years ago.

[@jimbojhonson4121]

love the complete disregard for safety or speed limits. Some of the V sets were blasting through those points

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

Pre the nanny state. Common sense prevailed and everyone survived!

[@r-labs9357]

The Tangaras really looked like something ahead of it's time back in those days

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

They certainly did, I was sceptical the real thing would look like the images but they did.

[@SR-xk8cd]

Thanks for sharing, it brings back some great memories, I loved the old trains, plus they were made in Australia of the highest quality.

[@flipflopslover8452]

now everything is made in china :(

[@georgejones6696]

The Tangaras were so NEW! Wonderful video, thank you for posting! So much history!

[@OldAussieAds]

Excellent video! Loved the candy livery on the V-sets and some selected suburbans.

[@paulusintas8627]

Thanks for this! They were great times .. love the U Boats!

[@petermurphy7109]

Awesome video. Thanks for uploading 😃

[@russellgxy2905]

What a unique variety! Loco hauled trains, Diesel railcars, and bilevel EMU's!

[@jestronixhanderson9898]

Grafton to SYD XPT “ CountryLink” then red rattler to Wollongong :) fond memories as a kid going to stay with Nan.

[@tomcarlos7929]

This is fantastic!

[@mickjames73]

I used to love the old diesel railcars on the Richmond branchline. Nice and toasty in winter with the strip heaters and not bad in summer with all the windows fully open and plenty if breeze blowing through.

[@CaptainsChannel58]

Yep got them every day

[@jamesfrench7299]

My one and only ride on one there in 1990!

[@waltercoslovi6404]

Thanks for the memories.

[@trubyssot]

Wow man absolutely great footage man this brings back so many memories growing up in Sydney in the 1988-2001 were the best times in Sydney red rattlers tengaras were new what a great era Campbelltown was so different back then all the rail crossings are gone.

[@arokh72]

You can still see the remains of the crossing at Gilchrist Rd today, I went passed it this past weekend (6-7 Feb 2021), after leaving Campbelltown in 2017. I also went to uni at UWS from 1991, and remember the crossing, the old Macarthur Square, and Macarthur Station of that era. I was living in the Liverpool area in the early 90s.

[@cameronwhyte7223]

I remember visiting Sydney as a kid in 1990 and riding in tangaras and also the single decker red trains, from memory, were a bit like one of Melbourne's blue Harris trains.

[@gtrain7951]

Sensational quality & great variety of operations covered. Well done!

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

Thank you

[@MartyMcFly3]

COMENG V sets & S sets will always be my favourite trains of all time.

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

It will be strange when the V sets are retired. As they dominated the intercity lines for so long.!

[@sydneytravellervlogs4659]

It will be the worst day when the V Sets will be retired from the NSWTrainLink fleet

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

@@sydneytravellervlogs4659 I don't think the seats will be as good as the V sets.

[@sydneytravellervlogs4659]

Andrew Surgenor No design can beat the V sets seats!

[@astapic]

Good memories for us nsw railfans from three decades ago.

[@bonda01]

Some amazing history there!

[@mb3558]

Excellent all round footage of various consists.

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

thank you

[@privatemerro]

10:45 my absolute favourite train of all time.

[@rubberonasphalt]

Those K set trains have a smell about them. Not a particularly bad smell, but a smell that is particular to the K set train, and no other. The rare time I come across one, I get hit with that nostalgic smell that reminds me of trains I caught when I was a kid. Then I'm reminded of the uncomfortable directional seats, and how they squeak, and the carriage to carriage doors that violently slams shut when someone uses it. Still surprised they are still around today, especially during a hot summer when the A/C breaks down.

[@andrewkemp1882]

I dread going on a K set - really noisy inside, really noisy outside, air that seems to have been filtered through a filthy old tube...and those doors that slam. I can’t believe these were preferred over S sets. Yes, S sets were basic but they were quieter than K sets and were the last place on the city network where you could get some real air!

[@smophie6260]

Now you say it, being on one recently near me (Gosford sticks to these sets like there’s no tomorrow), there is some unexplainable yet not unpleasant smell

[@Bluey8890]

I was only 2 years old when this was filmed. Wish the government never changed the railways as it would have been good to see Sydney's trains in their heyday

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

A lot has changed since then, less variety now!

[@lukey391]

1:05:58 we still use those trains!

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

and there falling apart!

[@oliverpoate4865]

apart from the red ratlers and recently s sets most of the trains in this video are still in service

[@larazeesk7080]

I can smell em 10,000 miles away here in rural Alabama - I grew up in Sydney - used to ride the red rattlers down the north shore line to school -

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

That’s a long way from Sydney! Glad it brought back memories

[@larazeesk7080]

@@andrewsurgenor1294 Ty - it certainly did - left Sydney at 18 - 33 years ago - I miss those days terribly -

[@funkypaulo]

Magnificent 👌

[@ALCOPRO]

You did keep your pants up when the Candy Colors appeared I presume??

[@lundsweden]

Some of these trains are still rolling!

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

But the end is coming for the XPT and the V sets. V set might be around for a while given the union and government disagreement over the operation of their replacements.!

[@astroboy3507]

Red rattlers the best!!!!

[@jzzonmymang]

trains these days are so boring and have no character. i was 9 in 1990 and was starting to take an interest in trains. i miss these times.

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

Yes, it’s certainly has lost a lot of appeal. Now Sumer people get excited over seeing B41!

[@Swimintex]

Very nice! Like!

[@aazimmermann]

Great footage! Which camera was this shot on?

[@dberk71]

Very Cool

[@slyonme]

Sydney has been neglected by past governments. As of 2023, we still use the same trains. I remember when they unveiled the Tangara, but since then, nothing has changed.

[@sydneytravellervlogs4659]

The good old times when we didn’t have Berijiklian

[@sydneytravellervlogs4659]

Silver sets Vlogs Yes that’s absolutely true, in its last days Cityrail was totally messed and the network needed a major overhaul, there wasn’t a single train that wasn’t vandalised and the carriages were in a mess too. Though I agree that closing the Newcastle line and the Epping to Chatswood line was the biggest mistake they’ve ever done, they shouldn’t have closed the T6 but should’ve dual tracked it and then extended it to Castle Hill or some place.

[@AustralianRailwayVideos]

I would say best time to be born if you love trains is late 50’s or early 60’s, its because you will have young memories of steam and be in your 20’s when all this variation of rollingstock comes out. And be in your 40’s when the rolling stock mixes with the new stuff (early 2000’s) and now you would be getting older and starting to settle down on travelling everywhere to film trains. And a good time for comfort. Sadly for me i was born at the worst time for train fans, late 2000’s… having young memories of the new and old and getting into your teens has but only the normal waratah. Sorry i rambled on… this is just my opinion by the way.

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

Born any eelier often didn't like diesels and hung up their camera's

[@AustralianRailwayVideos]

@@andrewsurgenor1294 a bit like not appreciating the times?

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

@@AustralianRailwayVideos true

[@DKS225]

This is a fantastic compilation Andrew do you mind if i share this to Facebook as i know of a couple of groups that would love to see this compilation Please with your permission of course.

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

You are welcome to share. I pleased you enjoyed it.

[@minicelica75]

there looks like there is Damage on the 702 at 12 minutes. many fond memories

[@HardcoreHeely]

Thing that blows me away is seeing the people walking on the tracks! Especially that one business man at 8:40 These days if someone did that there would be massive delays

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

20 to 31 August 1990.

[@NathanBRing]

9:50 granville station looks so different back then

[@kfcwickedwings]

The tangaras really do look like they are from another planet in this

[@duncanpadgett]

Wow I had forgotten what a racket trains used to make. I think I miss the noise.

[@wnn.g1]

back in the old days without the waratahs

[@sydneytravellervlogs4659]

The L7 Livery 🤩

[@The_Evil_Monkey_93]

Excellent. You must of had a great camera for the time. I was just a bit too young to get a U Boat or Red Rattler. Although then again. I did grwo up in Kempsey in the late 90's after moving from Wyong in 1996.

[@The_Evil_Monkey_93]

Oh wow... Look at Riverstone. It's a terminus with 620/720 rail motors serving it. I live at Vineyard at present. I always thought the line extended to Richmond without electrification in those days.

[@peejay1981]

@@The_Evil_Monkey_93 I grew up in Riverstone, been on many rides with 600/620 sets. If you look at Riverstone station where the current carpark meets the platform, there used to be a dock platform there (Between the tin building and the radio tower). That's where the diesels would terminate.

[@QuarioQuario54321]

The new T sets look out of the future here.

[@Techno-Universal]

Seems like there was a Diesel version of the electric U sets that are featured there and are used for non electrified routs though they a most likely a different set that were built at the same time as the U sets also using the same general bodies as the U sets! :)

[@alexandermarchel1104]

"Doors closing, please stand clear"

[@dieseldavetrains8988]

Opening video, the fellow standing at the "S" set in the four foot looks like Terry Holborn? Used to be at DELEC, he passed away about two or three years ago after 45 plus years on the job. Great video, it was a real railway back then, good mates, good times, taking the piss and and having a laugh plus practical jokes and the various nicknames, none of that anymore PC mob and Do-Gooders put an end to all that. Then the graffiti wankers came along, the rest is history. Very sterile environment these days for staff.

[@flipflopslover8452]

Amazing how the Red Rattlers would run with fully open doors and nobody seemed to be worried about it. Nowadays we are suffering an endless train strike since according to the train union, some of the new foreign made trains have safety issues like, they seem to open doors for no reason while moving.

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

The whole system would be shut down today if there was a door open! Common sense has gone out the door.

[@flipflopslover8452]

@@andrewsurgenor1294 not only common sense but I guess with more and more crazy young people and junkies out there it would be unthinkable to run with open doors. Sadly I didn't get to live the Red Rattle era but surely there were no teenage or arab gangs out there in Sydney randomly attacking people... they would just be pushing people off the trains for fun nowadays!

[@Bennyboy1985]

Red Nose day- so this would've been filmed around late June?

[@stupendous1068]

Back in the days when Grant Goldman was the City Rail announcer.

[@hooliganarfza15]

Where is 54:17, double candy 86Class hauling coal? What station is this coalie passing through?

[@antmer3954]

Born April 10, 1970 here in Melbourne, my "Golden Era" as a male Melbourne Railway Enthusiast is as follows: Melbourne: 1910 - 18, etc, Tait "red" and 1956 - 71 Harris "blue" trains, plus Hitachi and Comeng trains in 1970s - late 1980s, electric trains Sydney: "H", "W" & "M" set single deck red, Comeng & Goninan Series 1 ("R" & "S"), Goninan Series 2 "K", Goninan Series 3 "C", Goninan Series 4 (Tangara) "T", in the Dec - Jan summers of 1987/88, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1990/91, 1991/92 & 1993/94 Brisbane: Dec - Jan summers of 1989/90, 1992/93, the second as part of trip down the QLD Coast Cairns - Brisbane, with flights as Melbourne - Cairns & Brisbane - Melbourne, and rode both the locomotive - hauled Tin Sets and 6 - car EMU trains Perth: Dec - Jan summer of 1990/91, where I saw and rode on the old WAGR timber locomotive - hauled, leased from Brisbane Tin Sets, 3 - car 1950s era, 2 - car 1960s era, and the then new 2 - car 1980s Goninan (WA) era DMU trains: several months later in 1991, A Series 2 - car EMU trains replaced these older ones Adelaide: Dec - Jan summer of 1991/92, as part of a trip with discounted airfares on Australian Airlines as Melbourne - Adelaide - Sydney - Melbourne, I saw and rode on 300/400 Class (Red Hen), 2000/2100 Class (Jumbo) & 3000/3100 Class Comeng DMU trains And unless stated above all interstate travel was on overnight trains, locomotive - hauled, in sleeping berths, the 1993/94 trip used the XPT, still in sleeping berths. I still have the photos I took on these summer holidays taken after working in a factory every year. This video here is a magnificent sight and reminder of a great era. 10 out of 10 for the video here 👍👍👍👍👍✔️✔️✔️

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

The good old days when suburban trains were interesting!

[@b1akjak]

Where the U boats air conditioned? Amazing footage, thanks for posting, I can almost remember all this, was a kid in 1990, an ignorant one at that.

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

No the U boats weren't air conditioned. Great for listening the traction motors whine !

[@b1akjak]

@@andrewsurgenor1294 I remember wagging school and catching one with my mates to Katoomba would have been 1985-1986 that blue lino floor is hard to forget. Could still smoke on long distance trains then, and we took full advantage of that (cough cough). :)

[@jamesfrench7299]

U-boats or the silver rattlers as I nick named them as they always looked like a stainless steel version of the red suburban sets to me, had electric GE fans on each end of the saloon section. I remember they worked when you found the button. Reminded me of a VN Commodore V6 revving.

[@sydneytrainspotting1421]

Good ol loco hauled trains

[@Jezzy54]

With the first train that appears in this video (what i can make out to be an R set i think?), What’s with the doors being open? I noticed with a some of 80s & 90s train footage of the silver sets the doors seem to be open. Was it usually from vandalism?

[@lundsweden]

There used to be a button you could press behind the seats on the single level part of the double decker trains. This was common knowlege, teenage boys used to press it for fun, lol. Sometimes an angry guard would show up and say "who pressed the button!", so they must've had some way of knowing the doors were open (possibly just looked when at the station).

[@Jezzy54]

@@lundsweden Thank you for the reply and the info! :)

[@transportsydneynswaustrali4397]

1990 Tangara latest train 2020 D sets latest train

[@DKS225]

Rest In Peace Grant Goldman

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

Filmed on a Tamron video 8

[@benvatu8159]

Anyone else trying to figure out what stations or lines these trains are on?

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

Turn on subtitles to view captions

[@TrainmasterCurt]

Impressive rail system, way better than Communist Canada where I live. Most of these trains are unfamiliar to me, but I swore I saw some stainless steel Budd equipment in there, as that’s what’s still used on our VIA Rail passenger trains.

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

Very different to Canada but you there are cars built-in Australia under budd license. A lot has changed since. There are no longer electric freight trains and virtually all passenger trains are now MU,s

[@jesstill7833]

The days without Greenies. And Lefties life was so good I use to park my truck while waiting for a load and watch trains love the 1980 was magical Trains were Sweet💪💪❤️👍🦘🇦🇺

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

Yes, those were the days!

[@australiantransportvlogs5191]

34:41 that’s at Hamilton right?

[@Specific_XPT]

Ah yes, back when “safety” wasn’t a word. The good old days.

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

back went we used our brains. Now we work on the basis that everyone Brain less!

[@Specific_XPT]

@@andrewsurgenor1294 Very true, do you happen to have any more videos of trains in Sydney back in the 80s and 90s?

[@davidneil9423]

S14 starting

[@gnhansen29]

It's good to see the red nose.

[@antoniomisiti2282]

Trains had far more character back then, far more enjoyable time. These days with every 2nd train being a Waratah it’s just so bland

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

So true

[@sydneytravellervlogs4659]

We still have the last trains which operated in the golden ages, V sets, K sets, Tangaras and Millenniums. Now with liberals wanting to privatise everything and make it metro or making every train Waratahs, we will unfortunately only have the Tangaras and Millenniums left unfortunately in 2 years.

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

@@sydneytravellervlogs4659 All these NSW built trains. But that is not possible anymore!

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

Cost cutting

[@qfa330]

You wouldn't happen to have any videos from Perth in this time period would you before all ADL's and ADK's were sent to NZ ?

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

No sorry, My only visit to Perth was before I had a video camera..

[@tunkmootlopperreebit8747]

When trains had windows that opened

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

the good old days

[@jamesborg4279]

Where is this?

[@ridgeys]

7:55 A proper c set with those windows? Why would they be there

[@amtrakmidwest4830]

since when did some s sets get single arm pantos?

[@sydneytravellervlogs4659]

42:45 is that the firsts batch of V sets?!

[@sydneytravellervlogs4659]

Silver sets Vlogs oh nice, what driving cars were the first batch usually attached to?

[@trainity7330]

i do see a 1st batch v set car

[@inthedesert2008]

People getting off moving trains! Pre 1990s?

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

August 1990

[@mrhominoid4312]

Andrew ,I'm Mr hominoid KZbinr doing the Richmond station history,any chance on getting any footage of the steam,620s and yard,station footage please as I'm doing the pansy train to kurrajong my father drove and the 620 too he drove,you might have filmed him,neil

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

That's ell the footage I have of Richmond.

[@larrylongprong5219]

10:24 tulloch

[@JayJayGamerOfficial]

Campbelltown is with 2 l's not one

[@mikhailr13]

Why did NSW stop all loco hauled passenger trains?

[@antmer3954]

As a means of cost - cutting, after a review by a non - rail industry group of the then State Rail Authority NSW. I recall as a Melbourne resident, then age 19, on holiday in Brisbane in December 27 1989 to January 4 1990, the overnight trains I rode on, in sleeping berths cars, were the "Sydney Express (from Melbourne)" "Melbourne Express (from Sydney)" and "Brisbane Limited" both ways. These were loco - hauled trains and they were targeted for replacement by the XPT........minus sleeping berths. The Brisbane Limited disappeared a month after I arrived back in Melbourne on January 16, 1990 from Sydney, however the fight that Victorians put up against the NSW State Government of the era, via a Petition on the trains, saw the Sydney - Melbourne trains unchanged until sleeping berths cars were built for the XPT. Once built, the XPT replaced the "Melbourne/Sydney Express" in late 1993. Hope this answers a few things.

[@mikhailr13]

@@antmer3954 Thanks for your reply. Being NSW I knew "cost cutting" would be somewhere in the answer. Was in Victoria few years ago and found it strange seeing locos hauling 3 carriage trains ( surely not economical) I was a uni student living in Armidale 10 years ago travelling back and forth to Syd maybe 5-6 times a year. Couldn't afford the plane and the 9 hour Xplorer train service was so slow. I would have loved a sleeper version.

[@antmer3954]

@@mikhailr13 Up until the severe "cost cutting" of the very late 1980s/very early 1990s, there used to be a service called the "Northern Tablelands Express", until the 1980s, when it was replaced by the "Northern Tablelands XPT", both of which ran to/from Tenterfield,.......along the original 1890s Sydney - Brisbane route via Wallangarra (QLD), with a break of gauge at the border. Current interstate route via Grafton and Casino opened in 1930, north from Grafton. For a few years until 1994, trains didn't run any further north of Tamworth. As for country services here in Victoria, it's always been a policy since the first red electric trains ran in 1918/19 in Melbourne, that electric trains be EMU self - propelled, all country services be locomotive - hauled. Today, of course, a variation sees Seymour, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong area & Traralgon InterUrban as DMU trains, with InterCity trains to/from Albury, Bairnsdale (due to change soon to DMU), Warrnambool, Shepparton, Swan Hill as locomotive - hauled. Only exceptions to this are (a) DMU trains on Echuca & Ararat InterCity & (b) loco - hauled on some Seymour and Ballarat Line InterUrban services. Incidentally, of all of Sydney's electric trains, I've actually always the K sets, especially when some had the SRA NSW "Candy" colours on the front. I hope this update is of further use.

[@davidneil9423]

Cityrail

[@imadeyoureadthis1500]

10:07 the train kinda looks like a New York subway

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

About as bland lòoking but a bit taller@

[@sydneytravellervlogs4659]

47:00 what was that guy doing? 😂😂

[@andrewsurgenor1294]

Hitching a ride, certainly couldn't do that these edays

[@sydneytravellervlogs4659]

Andrew Surgenor Yeah, unfortunately if someone did that today the whole rail network would stop

[@nathana7593]

,

[@DJ-Dreaming]

9:09 Since when do the old S sets get snazzy totally looking sharp, single-arm Pantographs? It is 1990 crying out loud surely a conspiracy, the government caught waisting Tillions of dollars of our money, Caught using Double arm ones after the fact😂. it is like Back to the Future: Alternate Panto reality. I know it is just a dang single-arm pantograph, that I'm noticing the most mundane of things. Well, why not anyway have a pot shot at a meme when the meme wasn't pop culture, Years beyond they did it with a weasel, why not an s set? '🎵 I saw a single-arm Panto on an s set, that's really something.

[@trainrover]

I don't understand foamers' reluctance to stand back from adjacent trains (stationary) they're filming, it's thus hard for strangers like myself to see what mustn't be worthwhile admiring. Might they be ashamed?!

[@tinysmoesh9390]

What's a foamer? What part of the video are you referring to? Why is someone ashamed? Is foaming shameful?

[@trainrover]

Foamer => s u p e r *d u p e r* d r o o l e r .. what must be holding you back from looking up the word (term) yourself?

[@tinysmoesh9390]

​@@trainrover Could you please explain these acronyms. I'm 13 and what is this

[@trainrover]

Trainspotter..you must be clever at being spoiled..oh well.

[@tinysmoesh9390]

@@trainrover That's my favourite movie except my mum says I'm not allowed to watch it because I might do heroin and apparently I'm not allowed to but it's really funny so thanks