Trains through the Midlands
16th October 2005

I refer to the Midlands area as being the section from Parattah, north to Western Junction. This is probalbly not technically correct as the Midlands extends further south, but this will be covered in another collection.
However it will be easier to group together various photos from my back collection this way to show certain aspects of operations in these different geographical areas.
This section is very interesting from a photographic viewpoint. From Parattah the line twists and turns, and around Andover there are numerous opportunities in a short distance. The line passes through Nala and then around the curvy Tin Dish deviation, and finally the line meets the main highway for the drop down through Antill Ponds to Tunbridge. The scenary changes somewhat from here northwards over plains and a generally flat topography. The trains get a move on through this section too. Conara is a major, but unmanned station, where various trains are stabled and rakes of loaded and unloaded log and coal wagons are stabled in numerous sidings. This is also the junction for the Fingal branch and a fettlers compound is also situated there. Some train crew are also assigned to Conara and it is a major crew change over point. North from Conara the line is fairly straight and passes some very uninspiring scrubby countryside through places such as Cleveland and Epping Forest. Powranna, its deviation, new earthworks and cuttings giving some opportunities. There the line leaves the road and passes near Evandale before arriving at the very interesting junction next to Launceston Airport, known as Western Junction

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DQ's 2003/2012/2002 with train no 36 as the sun sets between Antil Ponds and Tunbridge. At Tunbridge the train must wait to cross no 31, rarely running south of Conara on a Saturday. 21st Jan 2006: 19.59: f5.6@640th: iso 400: 28-135mm zoom set at 85mm.
DQ's 2003/2012/2002 with train no 36 as the sun sets between Antil Ponds and Tunbridge. At Tunbridge the train must wait to cross no 31, rarely running south of Conara on a Saturday. 21st Jan 2006: 19.59: f5.6@640th: iso 400: 28-135mm zoom set at 85mm.
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2003-2012-2002-Nr-Antil-Ponds.jpg
 The sun disapears quickly behind the hill as train 36 rounds the reverse curves at Nala. DQ's 2003/2012/2002 are the units : Sat 21st Jan 2006 :19.30: f10@400th: iso 200: 28-135mm zoom, set at 85mm.
The sun disapears quickly behind the hill as train 36 rounds the reverse curves at Nala. DQ's 2003/2012/2002 are the units : Sat 21st Jan 2006 :19.30: f10@400th: iso 200: 28-135mm zoom, set at 85mm.
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2003-2012-2002-Nala.jpg
 DQ2012/DQ2003/D2021/DQ2002 near Nala on train 1-36, Sunday's load of zinc, which takes an earlier 'table than 36 does on other days of the week. This enables more northerly photos than would normally be possible. Sunday 15th January 2006, Time 19.18: f9@400th:iso 200: lens 28-135mm zoom set at 115mm
DQ2012/DQ2003/D2021/DQ2002 near Nala on train 1-36, Sunday's load of zinc, which takes an earlier 'table than 36 does on other days of the week. This enables more northerly photos than would normally be possible. Sunday 15th January 2006, Time 19.18: f9@400th:iso 200: lens 28-135mm zoom set at 115mm
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Snake_at_Nala2.jpg
 At 19.18 on a beautiful Sunday evening sees train 1-36 with a DQ/DQ/D/DQ lash up on the northbound zinc train, negotiating the reverse curves near Nala. Sunday 15th January 2006: 19.18: f8@400th:iso 200: 28-135mm zooms set at 47mm
At 19.18 on a beautiful Sunday evening sees train 1-36 with a DQ/DQ/D/DQ lash up on the northbound zinc train, negotiating the reverse curves near Nala. Sunday 15th January 2006: 19.18: f8@400th:iso 200: 28-135mm zooms set at 47mm
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No36-at-Nala.jpg

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Woodbury-36-25-3-06.jpg
 2117 and 2118 Mona Vale. Train 43
2117 and 2118 Mona Vale. Train 43
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No43-Mona-Vale.jpg
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No31-near-Antill-Ponds.jpg
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No31-at-Andover.jpg

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No31-approaching-station-site-Andover.jpg
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Conara-36-25-3-06.jpg
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Antill-Ponds-36-25-3-06.jpg
 ZR2101/DQ2003/D2021 whipping its load through the reverse curves near Andover. Loading was 28 wagons, 4 o which were empty. 10-7-05: Time 14.12: f8@400th: iso 200: 28-135mm zoom set at 112mm Canon EOS300D
ZR2101/DQ2003/D2021 whipping its load through the reverse curves near Andover. Loading was 28 wagons, 4 o which were empty. 10-7-05: Time 14.12: f8@400th: iso 200: 28-135mm zoom set at 112mm Canon EOS300D
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2101-Andover.jpg
© 1998-2009 Steve Bromley - All copyrights rest with the Author
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