Robbie
@zoqaeski.bsky.social
Railway aficionado and occasional worldbuilder.
Proposal: A railway tunnel between Waterfall and Coledale to avoid the winding 1915 deviation.
Using the NSW topographic maps as a base, there certainly seems to be a usable alignment between just north of Coledale station and south of Waterfall station.
(1/n)
Using the NSW topographic maps as a base, there certainly seems to be a usable alignment between just north of Coledale station and south of Waterfall station.
(1/n)
February 4, 2026 at 4:30 AM
Proposal: A railway tunnel between Waterfall and Coledale to avoid the winding 1915 deviation.
Using the NSW topographic maps as a base, there certainly seems to be a usable alignment between just north of Coledale station and south of Waterfall station.
(1/n)
Using the NSW topographic maps as a base, there certainly seems to be a usable alignment between just north of Coledale station and south of Waterfall station.
(1/n)
Photographic highlights of today's adventure (a thread)
Early morning at Lithgow station, unprecedented crowds:
Early morning at Lithgow station, unprecedented crowds:
January 30, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Photographic highlights of today's adventure (a thread)
Early morning at Lithgow station, unprecedented crowds:
Early morning at Lithgow station, unprecedented crowds:
Somehow I am still standing after being awake for 18 hours, having travelled well over 400 km by train today, including the final V set journey from Lithgow at 5:47 this morning.
January 30, 2026 at 11:04 AM
Somehow I am still standing after being awake for 18 hours, having travelled well over 400 km by train today, including the final V set journey from Lithgow at 5:47 this morning.
These trains were ahead of their time. They were the best trains in Australia when they were built, and they've held onto that title for decades.
After more than 55 years serving the people of New South Wales, tomorrow is the last ever run in public service of a V set interurban double deck electric train. So this is the perfect time for a photographic tribute to these venerable, hard working and much loved trains.
1/n
1/n
January 29, 2026 at 11:35 AM
These trains were ahead of their time. They were the best trains in Australia when they were built, and they've held onto that title for decades.
I also got to travel on the new Mariyung train this afternoon. They're not bad, very quiet and comfortable. The seats are as comfortable as the ones on the Vlocity, which will bother some passengers but I didn't mind them.
January 29, 2026 at 4:38 AM
I also got to travel on the new Mariyung train this afternoon. They're not bad, very quiet and comfortable. The seats are as comfortable as the ones on the Vlocity, which will bother some passengers but I didn't mind them.
I finally made it to Lithgow. I've wanted to travel on the Blue Mountains line ever since I was a little kid. My parents have some books about the history of the railway and the idea of going through TEN tunnels was so exciting to five-year-old me.
January 29, 2026 at 4:34 AM
I finally made it to Lithgow. I've wanted to travel on the Blue Mountains line ever since I was a little kid. My parents have some books about the history of the railway and the idea of going through TEN tunnels was so exciting to five-year-old me.
It's the last full day of service of the NSW V set multiple units. When these trains entered service in the 1970s, they set the standard for passenger rail comfort in Australia. Quiet, air-conditioned, with a very smooth ride, they've given over 50 years of service.
It's the end of an era.
It's the end of an era.
January 29, 2026 at 2:09 AM
It's the last full day of service of the NSW V set multiple units. When these trains entered service in the 1970s, they set the standard for passenger rail comfort in Australia. Quiet, air-conditioned, with a very smooth ride, they've given over 50 years of service.
It's the end of an era.
It's the end of an era.
Melbourne is the better city overall but it does not have a station with this view.
Also it is 11 PM and the trains are running every 10–15 minutes. Melbourne, lift your game you are not good enough at timetabling.
Also it is 11 PM and the trains are running every 10–15 minutes. Melbourne, lift your game you are not good enough at timetabling.
January 28, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Melbourne is the better city overall but it does not have a station with this view.
Also it is 11 PM and the trains are running every 10–15 minutes. Melbourne, lift your game you are not good enough at timetabling.
Also it is 11 PM and the trains are running every 10–15 minutes. Melbourne, lift your game you are not good enough at timetabling.
Reposted by Robbie
When the engineers say, "It's not safe. Something bad will happen," it's always best to listen and err on the side of caution.
'It's going to be catastrophic': The inside story of the Challenger disaster
Forty years ago, the Challenger space shuttle disintegrated just after lift-off. A small team of engineers tried to prevent the tragedy.
www.abc.net.au
January 27, 2026 at 8:04 PM
When the engineers say, "It's not safe. Something bad will happen," it's always best to listen and err on the side of caution.
I knew this was a terrible deal, but wow it is worse than I expected by a long margin. Imagine spending $10B+ for the hopes and dreams of a few submarines. What country would possibly be that stupid?
Us, apparently.
Us, apparently.
In which I have a look at AUKUS and tbh lose my shit at how dumb it is. @thepointau.bsky.social
thepoint.com.au/opinions/260...
thepoint.com.au/opinions/260...
All the money, none of the submarines: AUKUS deal paying upfront for hopes and dreams
When Kerry Packer bought Channel 9 back from Allan Bond for effectively half the price Bond had sold it to him, Packer famously said “You only get one Alan Bond in your lifetime, and I’ve had mine”.
thepoint.com.au
January 28, 2026 at 10:53 AM
I knew this was a terrible deal, but wow it is worse than I expected by a long margin. Imagine spending $10B+ for the hopes and dreams of a few submarines. What country would possibly be that stupid?
Us, apparently.
Us, apparently.
What kind of track maintenance regime and expenditure would be required to make WOLO timetables a thing of the past? Summer temperatures over 40°C happen every year, so surely the permanent way can be maintained so it doesn't buckle in high temperatures?
January 25, 2026 at 12:33 AM
What kind of track maintenance regime and expenditure would be required to make WOLO timetables a thing of the past? Summer temperatures over 40°C happen every year, so surely the permanent way can be maintained so it doesn't buckle in high temperatures?
This is cool. They haven't diverted freight trains through the Sydney Underground line and over the Harbour Bridge for decades. I wonder when was the last time that a revenue freight went via the North Shore line?
youtube.com/watch?v=tcSM...
youtube.com/watch?v=tcSM...
Australian 46 & 86 class electric locomotives - Sydney Underground and Harbour Bridge - August 1993
YouTube video by Rock Solid Railroad Videos
youtube.com
January 24, 2026 at 2:15 AM
This is cool. They haven't diverted freight trains through the Sydney Underground line and over the Harbour Bridge for decades. I wonder when was the last time that a revenue freight went via the North Shore line?
youtube.com/watch?v=tcSM...
youtube.com/watch?v=tcSM...
Reposted by Robbie
Checking back into Australian politics news and
January 23, 2026 at 10:08 AM
Checking back into Australian politics news and
Reposted by Robbie
I think we're now able to build a pretty clear picture of the most likely mechanism of the train crash at Adamuz in Spain.
January 19, 2026 at 12:49 PM
I think we're now able to build a pretty clear picture of the most likely mechanism of the train crash at Adamuz in Spain.
"There's no way to prevent or mitigate this disaster," say politicians and leaders of nation where this kind of disaster regularly occurs.
January 9, 2026 at 8:21 AM
"There's no way to prevent or mitigate this disaster," say politicians and leaders of nation where this kind of disaster regularly occurs.
If we're doing controversial tram takes, mine is that Sydney should have adopted enclosed drop-centre trams in the 1920s instead of having a predominantly toastrack tram fleet for as long as they did.
Same number of doors for passengers: Ws have two sets in the middle; Fiducias have two sets, one at each end
My controversial tram take is that the Ws are not a very attractive tram, although the City Circle livery is handsome
My controversial tram take is that the Ws are not a very attractive tram, although the City Circle livery is handsome
January 6, 2026 at 11:06 AM
If we're doing controversial tram takes, mine is that Sydney should have adopted enclosed drop-centre trams in the 1920s instead of having a predominantly toastrack tram fleet for as long as they did.
Had anyone in the government cared enough to invest in it, this line could have been an electrified Regional Fast Rail line twenty years earlier than the mid-2000s partial upgrade.
Today’s historic pic: Exactly 40 years ago today, broad gauge 1500V DC electric loco L1157 hauls the down Gippslander into Morwell, Vic, December 24 1985. The Gippslander was a day-return train between Melbourne and Bairnsdale. This line was de-electrified in 1987 but VLine DMUs still run here today
January 2, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Had anyone in the government cared enough to invest in it, this line could have been an electrified Regional Fast Rail line twenty years earlier than the mid-2000s partial upgrade.
Reposted by Robbie
I still enjoy pressing the button at pedestrian crossings just to make traffic stop, but not cross the road. I'm 43 now.
December 18, 2025 at 10:20 AM
I still enjoy pressing the button at pedestrian crossings just to make traffic stop, but not cross the road. I'm 43 now.
The only redeeming thing about summer is that my washing dries very quickly outside. Everything else about it is awful and I hate it and cannot wait for autumn.
December 18, 2025 at 2:43 AM
The only redeeming thing about summer is that my washing dries very quickly outside. Everything else about it is awful and I hate it and cannot wait for autumn.
What an absolute disgrace. So what if accessibility requires sacrificing road space for cars? I'm surprised that in spite of missing the deadline multiple years in a row, there's no legal requirement to build level access stops at all new or upgraded stops.
It's bad enough that there are still hundreds of inaccessible tram stops across Melbourne, 3 years after the legal deadline - now the government wants to build 3 new inaccessible stops, entrenching this problem even further. Disgraceful.
Feedback closes 24 Dec: engage.vic.gov.au/route-57-nor...
Feedback closes 24 Dec: engage.vic.gov.au/route-57-nor...
December 17, 2025 at 9:45 AM
What an absolute disgrace. So what if accessibility requires sacrificing road space for cars? I'm surprised that in spite of missing the deadline multiple years in a row, there's no legal requirement to build level access stops at all new or upgraded stops.
TRAINS!
If you're in need of a distraction, if you're like me and doomscrolling bad news is doing you no good, and if you like trains, then here's a timeline-cleanse of a thread with random railway photos, some by me, some historical
I'll begin with a northbound VLocity in Moonee Ponds, 8 January 2011
I'll begin with a northbound VLocity in Moonee Ponds, 8 January 2011
December 15, 2025 at 9:06 AM
TRAINS!
Melbourne should take a lot of lessons from Zürich on how to manage traffic and transit on arterial streets.
Two examples from Zurich of how indirect maneuvers help simplify intersection management and deliver effective Transit Priority even in very complex junctions, as part of a broader circulation plan.
The Bellevue/Stadelhofen and Kreuplatz nodes
The Bellevue/Stadelhofen and Kreuplatz nodes
December 9, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Melbourne should take a lot of lessons from Zürich on how to manage traffic and transit on arterial streets.
Hot take: Melbourne needs more stations with layouts like East Pakenham where express trains can overtake stopping trains. We also just need more quad-tracked sections in general.
November 30, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Hot take: Melbourne needs more stations with layouts like East Pakenham where express trains can overtake stopping trains. We also just need more quad-tracked sections in general.
Reposted by Robbie
![4-panel vertical comic. (1) 100 Years Ago [two people standing next to bicycle with small car nearby] PERSON 1: It’s too dangerous riding a bike with these cars around. I should get a car, too. (2) 50 Years Ago [two people between smaller car and bigger car] PERSON 2 with short hair: Small cars are less safe in collisions with larger vehicles, so I should get a bigger one. (3) Today [two people between big car and even bigger car] PERSON 1: Everyone has huge SUVs now. If I don’t get the biggest one, I’m putting my family at risk. (4) Soon [two people next to large armored car with spiked clubs attached] PERSON 2: If I don’t install more whirling spike clubs, I’ll be destroyed by all the other drivers who...](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreiby6can6k76yzfmv2czxs4pu2l7zie7bqbrpswi7h3ifmiadkuqvu@jpeg)
Reposted by Robbie
Superb example of the genre of "AI produces bad outputs, but what can we do, we're stuck with it so the solution is somehow 'AI literacy' rather than plugging the holes from which slop oozes"
Boy are people fatalistic in the face of tech that is within our power to regulate, marginalise, reject
Boy are people fatalistic in the face of tech that is within our power to regulate, marginalise, reject
Help, the bot I fed on racism has turned out to be a racist. theconversation.com/historical-i...
Historical images made with AI recycle colonial stereotypes and bias – new research
Generative AI is known to mirror sexist and racist stereotypes, but it also carries a colonial bias that is reinforcing outdated ideas about the past.
theconversation.com
October 24, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Superb example of the genre of "AI produces bad outputs, but what can we do, we're stuck with it so the solution is somehow 'AI literacy' rather than plugging the holes from which slop oozes"
Boy are people fatalistic in the face of tech that is within our power to regulate, marginalise, reject
Boy are people fatalistic in the face of tech that is within our power to regulate, marginalise, reject