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Geostralis
@geostralis.bsky.social
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Today's historic pic: The northbound Cooma Mail from Cooma behind candy liveried EMD diesel 42209 and an unidentified 48 class Alco branchliner, arrives at Goulburn, NSW, October 27 1984. After connecting with the up Riverina XPT, the Mail would continue north stopping at Southern Highlands stations
A dark photo on an overcast day of a short passenger train of non air-conditioned carriages hauled by two diesel locomotives arriving at a passenger station in an industrial provincial town.
December 26, 2025 at 2:01 AM
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Today's historic pic: SRA NSW Alco diesel 4433 and the up North Mail ready to depart for Sydney at Tenterfield, NSW, November 2 1984. The North Mail, an overnight sitting and sleeping car train from Sydney to Moree, Armidale, Glen Innes and Tenterfield, last ran in 1988 and no trains now run here.
A black and white image, taken from trackside at ground level just beyond the end of a platform at a passenger railway station, showing a 44 class Alco diesel locomotive, flat end leading, at the head of a passenger train sitting at the platform with the brick and stone station building on the platform at right. A wooden post and rail fence is in the lower foreground.
December 23, 2025 at 1:37 AM
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Today's historic pic: Exactly 40 years ago today, after completing its afternoon run from Sydney, the Riverina XPT shunts from the station to a stabling siding at Albury, NSW, December 21 1985. The Riverina XPT last ran in 1994, but since then, daylight XPTs have run through from Sydney to Melbourne
An XPT in candy livery shunts in a multi-track railway yard with rakes of louvre wagons standing in sidings at left and some diesel locomotives sitting in the loco stabling point in the middle distance at right.
December 21, 2025 at 12:57 AM
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Today's historic pic: Exactly 42 years ago today, an EMD-engined 422 class loco and train S38, the Canberra Express, one of two Canberra to Sydney Sunday afternoon trains, head east through Fyshwick, ACT, December 18, 1983. The Canberra Express ran Sunday day-return trips from Sydney to Canberra.
As seen from a road overbridge looking down onto a section of three-track railway in an industrial setting, a short passenger train hauled by a boxcab style diesel locomotive heads towards us along the middle track. The train is in shadow whilst some of the background is in sunlight, so it is all very under-exposed.
December 18, 2025 at 12:50 AM
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Today's historic pic: Exactly forty years ago today was the first day of electric trains from Sydney to Wollongong and Port Kembla. On that first day, late 1950s-built Metrovick-motored 1500V DC 'U-Boat' Electric Multiple Unit set U10 sits at the terminus at Port Kembla, NSW, December 15, 1985.
A stainless steel, 1950s-era single deck electric multiple unit passenger train sits at a slightly convex curved platform at a 1960s-era passenger railway station in an industrial setting.
December 15, 2025 at 1:26 AM
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Today's historic pic: Exactly 40 years ago today, the Canberra Monaro Express with PF901 at rear, crosses the Cooma Mail at Farrer Loop, between Bungendore and Queanbeyan, NSW, December 14 1985. Farrer Loop opened in 1953 to increase capacity for the Snowy Mountains scheme, and closed in about 1989.
A streamlined DEB set diesel railcar in a tattered Candy livery runs away from us on the adjacent track to our right, as seen leaning out through a window of a Mail train standing on a track in a crossing loop in a rural location.
December 14, 2025 at 2:02 AM
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Today’s historic pic: Two 49 class diesel locos and the Lachlan Valley Railway "Gwabegar Weekender" tour train, whilst returning from Dubbo to Sydney via Narromine and Peak Hill, sit at the station at Parkes, NSW, on the Australia Day long weekend holiday, Monday, January 31 1983.
Taken from a footbridge over a railway station looking down we see a station platform and building at left with a passenger train sitting at the platform - predominantly in Indian red livery although one carriage is in the then-new Candy livery. Three more tracks to the right of the train form part of the station yard. In the distance, some rolling stock, including a candy liveried 73 class shunting loco sits in the yard.
December 12, 2025 at 2:12 AM
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Today's historic pic: Exactly 42 years ago today, two 44 class Alco 'World' model diesel locomotives, with 4440 at this end and either 4484 or 4494 at the far end, sit coupled back to back on a siding in the yard at Canberra railway station, Kingston, ACT, December 10, 1983.
A pair of cab style streamlined diesel locomotives sit coupled back to back in a small railway yard in front of a 1960s era passenger railway station. Both locomotives are NSWR 44 class Alco units with the classic Alco squared-off streamlining style. The loco facing us is painted in traditional NSWR Indian Red livery, and the second loco, facing away from us is in the early 1970s Yellow-end or Reverse livery.
December 10, 2025 at 2:43 AM
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Today’s historic pic: The northbound Cooma Mail double headed by 42206 and a 44 class Alco runs towards the Canberra line junction at Queanbeyan, NSW, on a Saturday in early December 1984. The Cooma Mail last ran in 1986 but the Canberra line still today still gets three daily Sydney-Canberra trains
A black and white image taken from atop an embankment at the side of a pair of railway lines in a provincial city setting. The two tracks are diverging from a junction with the right hand track running straight and the left hand track curving away. A passenger train hauled by two diesel locomotives is just approaching us around the curve in the left hand track. Two semaphore home signals stand - one facing each track, with BOTH signals cleared for trains to arrive.
December 8, 2025 at 1:32 AM
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Today's historic pic: Alco 4861 and EMD streamliner 4204 on a special LVR Walangarra tour train between Limbri and Danglemah, NSW, August 3 1985. The scenic line north of Armidale is no longer used, but you can still travel this section, just north of Tamworth, on the daily Sydney-Armidale XPLorer.
A train hauled by two diesel locomotives rounds a gentle left hand curve on a high earth embankment in front of a large sloping hill in the background. Eucalyptus trees dot the landscape as the late afternoon sun lights the scene.
December 6, 2025 at 2:05 AM
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Today's historic pic: English Electric engined diesel loco D1 at the NSW Rail Transport Museum, Thirlmere, NSW, November 9, 1985. D1 was built by Comeng in 1950 as the first of 8 units for Australian Iron & Steel's Port Kembla steelworks. It was the first diesel to run on a main line in Australia.
A small to medium sized, orange liveried, hood style diesel locomotive sits on display in a railway museum. Just visible at left is a black liveried steam locomotive. Additional exhibits are in the background under cover.
December 3, 2025 at 1:13 AM
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Today's pic: NSW State Rail Authority Alco-engined diesel locomotive 4479 hauls the northbound Cooma Mail onto a wooden trestle bridge over Bumbalong Road and Colyers Creek near Colinton, NSW, early December 1984. The Cooma Mail last ran in 1986, and no trains have run here since 1989.
A black and white photo of a 44-class diesel loco-hauled passenger train running from left to right in a rural location. The train is crossing a wooden trestle bridge across an un-sealed road and a small creek. Willow trees frame the train on the left and right. A range of hills forms the horizon in the background.
November 30, 2025 at 1:18 AM
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Today's historic pic: The station at Penrose, NSW, November 9 1985. Penrose is 171km from Sydney on the Southern Highlands line. Many trains run through non-stop but just 3-4 daily Goulburn trains stop here nowadays. The only buildings remaining today are the nearer two at right.
A two-platform railway station on a double track main line in a rural location. The station platforms are quite low level (by Australian standards), are earthen topped, and are on a very slight curve. Large, two-posted nameboards stand on each platform, with the name PENROSE in black block letters against white backgrounds. thw or three cream-painted station buildings stand on each platform, with most being skillion-roofed, although a larger peaked and gabled roof building stands on the left platform. Stands of tall pine trees fill the background and all of this is beneath a sky filled predominantly with cumulus clouds of varying threatiningness, but patches of blue are visible too.
November 28, 2025 at 1:27 AM
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Today's historic pic: SRS141 at Hawkesbury River, NSW, September 5 1983. Built in 1928 as a passenger railcar for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, Sperry converted it to a rail flaw detection vehicle in 1972 and sent it to Australia. It returned to North America where it still runs today
Taken from a pedestrian overbridge looking down over a curved island platform at a passenger railway station, we see yellow-liveried single car rail vehicle passing through on the far side of the platform. In the lower foreground in the centre of the platform is a white-painted roundel style station nameboard with the name HAWKESBURY RIVER in black block letters. In the background is a large expanse of water that forms a reach of the Hawkesbury River itself, beyond which are ranges of hills on the opposite banks.
November 25, 2025 at 12:52 AM
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Today’s historic pic: The neo-gothic style Mortuary station, now Regent Street, Chippendale, NSW, June 8 1985. Built in 1869 as the Sydney terminus for funeral trains carrying coffins and mourners to cemeteries, it last served funeral trains in 1938 and later was a platform for rail parcel vans.
Taken from a passenger platform at a railway station, looking along the platform towards the station building. The station is made of stone and is built in a neo-gothic style with an octagonal station entrance with a steep roof leading to a point, and a roofed over part of the platform extending over the first track. At this end are two pointed arches - one over the platform and one over the track. The roof extends for some distance over the track with a colonnade on the outer side.
November 23, 2025 at 12:51 AM
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Today's historic pic: Alco-engined diesel locomotive 4475 in yellow end livery sits at the head of a rake of carriages stabled in the yard as an XPT on train S16, the Albury to Sydney Riverina XPT, arrives at Moss Vale, NSW, November 9, 1985.
An XPT in Candy livery arrives at a platform at a passenger station. To the right of the XPT in the next track across in the yard is a 44 class diesel locomotive in yellow end livery, and rakes of candy liveried non-air-conditioned carriages sit on each of the next two roads across.
November 21, 2025 at 2:02 AM
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Today’s historic pic: 48151 stabled at Canberra, ACT, February 16 1985. From their introduction in 1959, 165 of these rugged little 48 class Alco engined locos did just about every rail job on NSW railways from branch line goods to mainline passenger, freight and suburban trains.
A backlit shot of a 48 class hood style diesel locomotive in Candy livery sitting at a locomotive re-fuelling point on tracks overgrown with long, dry, late summer grass.
November 18, 2025 at 2:02 AM
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Today's historic pic: Exactly 40 years ago today, Alco diesel locomotive 8025 and the southbound Intercapital Daylight train travelling from Sydney to Melbourne pull into the station at Cootamundra, NSW, November 16 1985. The Intercapital Daylight last ran in 1991, but XPTs run on this route today.
A train of six passenger carriages and a van on each end hauled by a non-streamlined carbody style diesel locomotive in Indian red livery pulls into a platform at a passenger station in a regional town. The station has a main platform at left, then three recently re-ballasted tracks, and there is a second (island) platform at right.
November 16, 2025 at 2:33 AM
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Today's historic pic: EMD diesel locomotive 42102 hauls the northbound Cooma Mail through the then-closed station at Tuggeranong, NSW, February 16 1985. The Cooma Mail was withdrawn in mid 1986, the last regular passenger train through here ran in 1988 and the last goods train in 1989.
Looking down from an elevated location on an embankment on the outer side of the curve in a single track railway line in a rural location, we see a passenger train running towards us. The train is hauled by a candy liveried 421 class diesel locomotive with no 2 end leading and the headlight shining. Behind the loco are four passenger carriages and one parcels/luggage van at the rear.
November 13, 2025 at 1:11 AM
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Today's historic pic: Exactly 40 years ago today, EMD diesel locos 42219 and 42211 haul a set of Daylight cars with blue & gold liveried Victorian Railways Spirit of Progress compartment sitting car 2VFS also in the consist on the southbound Canberra Express at Fyshwick, ACT, November 10 1985.
Looking down from an overbridge onto a mainline railway reservation in a semi-industrial semi-rural location, we see two non-streamlined carbody style diesel locomotives in candy red livery hauling a 6-car passenger train of carriages - some in Indian red, some in Candy and one in VR blue and gold livery. The three-track section of line, in which the central track is the main line and the track either side is a siding, is lined with tall pine trees either side of the tracks.
November 10, 2025 at 3:44 AM
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Today's historic pic: Exactly 40 years ago today, the station at Tahmoor, NSW, November 9 1985. Tahmoor is 94.5km from Sydney on the NSW Main South line. The station building and platforms are still in use today, and the station now sees 23 daily Southern Highlands DMUs on weekdays (12 on weekends).
A two platform railway station on a double track main line in a small country town. The photo was taken whilst standing on one platform looking across the tracks to the other platform, on which stands a cream painted wooden shelter building with a green roof and awning.
November 9, 2025 at 12:53 AM
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Today's historic pic: Exactly 41 years ago today, Alco-engined diesel loco 8030 heads an express goods at Coffs Harbour, NSW, November 7 1984. 8030 is one of fifty 80 classes built 1978-1983 by Comeng. Many have since been withdrawn, but a few, (including 8030) do still run today.
A carbody style class 80 diesel locomotive in Indian Red livery hauls a goods train of bogie wagons along a single track main line through an industrial area beneath a sky with some fairly turbulent looking cumulus clouds.
November 7, 2025 at 1:50 AM
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Today's historic pic: The Canberra Monaro Express from Sydney, formed by a 7-car DEB set with HPF959 leading, has just arrived at Canberra station, Kingston, ACT, April 4 1987. The rear three cars will run to Cooma whilst the four car set at this end will run a midday return to Sydney.
A 7-car streamlined DEB diesel multiple unit train in candy livery of a silver roof with bright red bodyside down to below window level then horizontal bands of yellow, orange, white and black of varying widths, sits at a single platform railway station. The paintwork on the nearer side of the rounded front of the leading car, no 959, is looking very worn and tattered.
November 5, 2025 at 2:21 AM
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Today's historic photo of the day: Exactly 40 years ago today we see the station at Koorawatha, NSW, November 2 1985. Grenfell branch line passenger trains were withdrawn in 1975 and Cowra-Harden railmotors last ran in 1983. The station buildings here were demolished in the mid 1990s.
A railway station formed of an island platform with a station building in the centre. The building, which is of white weatherboard and red peaked roof construction with gabled ends and two brick chimneys is symmetrical in shape with awnings facing the platforms on each side. Three standard gauge tracks form the station yard on this side of the platform. The track on the far side has been removed and the platform face graded back. A nameboard stands on the platform announcing KOORAWATHA change for Grenfell line. A light pole is also on the platform with two gooseneck brackets supporting a light on each side.
November 2, 2025 at 1:03 AM
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Today’s historic pic: 41 years ago today, South Maitland Railway 10 class 2-8-2T steam loco no 25 shunts no 22 on the Richmond Vale Railway, Hexham, NSW, November 1 1984. The RVR was Australia’s last commercial steam railway with steam used until its 1987 closure ended Australia’s steam railway era.
Two 2-8-2T steam locomotives coupled, with the lead loco in black livery with orange lining, and the rear loco in green livery with white lining run through a steam loco depot yard in a rural location. The lead loco is not in steam, but the rear loco is emitting smoke as it pushes the lead loco into the depot yard.
November 1, 2025 at 1:04 AM