Keith - lost in Aussieland

#1

Figured it's about time I invented my own thread. Not gonna give biography just yet, but I can start it off with tales from my trip from Sydney to Perth by train ( the Indian-Pacific.

#2

Yes, please.

#3

First day.
Despite getting boarding passes 24 hours in advance, 10 minutes before going to bed early so we can get up in time to catch the plane to Sydney I get an SMS that the flight is cancelled.

So shit fight. Finally the Qantas app reports we are moved to an earlier flight, but no SMS confirm. So we get to airport full of trepidation.

All is well and we are checked in.

As we leave the checkin desk, an SMS the flight is now leaving at 9:00. The exact same time as the original flight.

FFS.

Then of course the first thing I do when I sit down is spill coffee on my white pants.

#4

Of course. That's what being a traveler is all about.

#5

Well, that and the drunk who throws up on you.

#6

View from lunch table

#7

keith wrote: ↑Tue Apr 18, 2023 12:01 am

Oh, no. I can never see your images. Now I'll really miss them.

#8

Izzat better?

I accidentally sent it before I had debugged.

Dave from down under · #9

much better

Park Hyatt Hotel?

jcolvin2 · #10

Dave from down under wrote: ↑Tue Apr 18, 2023 12:23 am much better

Park Hyatt Hotel?

6 Head?

Dave from down under · #11

6Head

A lot different from when I was last there.

much ado · #12

Seems to be Luna Lu, Contemporary Asian, next door to 6HEAD.

Looks like an excellent place to have lunch. (If I ever find myself in Sydney...)

Google maps...

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Luna+ ... 11sxylnf9s

#13

jcolvin2 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 18, 2023 12:33 am
Dave from down under wrote: ↑Tue Apr 18, 2023 12:23 am much better

Park Hyatt Hotel?
6 Head?

No next door, Luna Lu

#14

Much better. And lovely view. It's been twelve years since I was there.

#15

The ancients lied to us

It isn't turtles all the way down, it's buildings.

And all the way up.

Dave from down under · #16

That looks epic - where is it?

#17

Dave from down under wrote: ↑Tue Apr 18, 2023 11:24 pm That looks epic - where is it?

Where? It's the universe of course.

Pictured at the NSW Museum of art.

Sorry I'm not sure if that is the accurate name. It's a new building off the domain I think.

It's all mirrors and not smoke.

#18

FUCK

Somebody decided to walk in front of OUR train.

The western Sydney train network is in chaos, everybody is diverted to buses.

It took 45 minutes for police and emergency services to clear the incident.

We have now moved forward about 2km to the next station and have been waiting for a new engine crew. The original crew will go into counselling and other support services.

Dave from down under · #19

Not good for everyone.

The number of suicides by train is highly distressing, talking to a railworker he said it is likely that every driver will have at least one of these in their time driving Sydney trains.

#20

Dave from down under wrote: ↑Wed Apr 19, 2023 4:11 am Not good for everyone.

The number of suicides by train is highly distressing, talking to a railworker he said it is likely that every driver will have at least one of these in their time driving Sydney trains.

That’s horrible!

Australia is such a beautiful place; we’ve been to Chiltern, Ballarat, Queenscliff & Melbourne. We were supposed to go back this summer and then on to Japan but my sister-in-law got sick so we went to see her in London instead. Maybe next year we’ll get there again.

#21

keith wrote: ↑Wed Apr 19, 2023 3:44 am FUCK

Somebody decided to walk in front of OUR train.

The western Sydney train network is in chaos, everybody is diverted to buses.

It took 45 minutes for police and emergency services to clear the incident.

We have now moved forward about 2km to the next station and have been waiting for a new engine crew. The original crew will go into counselling and other support services.

Been there, done that. The whole thing sucks. It happens way too often around here. It is either inattention (or assumption that a train will be stopping) or suicide by train. It is always sad.

Sometimes the Metra police or the local police will do a ticket push at various places, normally stations, and cite people for crossing when the bells are ringing and gates are down (and especially a big issue when folk cross after getting off and don't see the other track to see if something is coming). Some folks complain about the tickets and say it's their problem if they get hit.

No, it's not just their problem!!! It impacts their families and friends, the engineer especially, the train crew who are first on the scene, any bystanders around who may witness it, and everybody riding the train (or whose other trains are delayed for 2 hours). Too, also the police and paramedics. To see it as just their problem if they get hit is absolute selfishness.

The police enforcement does work. When I had to use the Lake Forest station while the parking lot was being redone at mine, I was amazed at how almost all the people waiting until the gates were up before crossing. A few told me that the Lake Forest Police are rather strict on that. Good for them.

Also, if somebody crosses in front of an incoming train while they are entering the station and the engineer can identify them, they will inform the crew, and they won't let that passenger board.

I hate that moment when you hear the horn wailing away, and then the airbrakes kick on. You are then hoping that after 1 minute or so to recharge the brakes, you start moving again, which means you just missed somebody or something.

RTH10260 · #22

northland10 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 19, 2023 10:24 am
No, it's not just their problem!!! It impacts their families and friends, the engineer especially, the train crew who are first on the scene, any bystanders around who may witness it, and everybody riding the train (or whose other trains are delayed for 2 hours). Too, also the police and paramedics. To see it as just their problem if they get hit is absolute selfishness.

You may include maintenance workers at the locomotive depot who need to clean up the locomotive from human remains off the undercarriage. Including disassembly to find every part before steamjetting.

#23

RTH10260 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 19, 2023 10:58 am
northland10 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 19, 2023 10:24 am
No, it's not just their problem!!! It impacts their families and friends, the engineer especially, the train crew who are first on the scene, any bystanders around who may witness it, and everybody riding the train (or whose other trains are delayed for 2 hours). Too, also the police and paramedics. To see it as just their problem if they get hit is absolute selfishness.

You may include maintenance workers at the locomotive depot whe need to clean up the locomotive from human remains off the undercarriage. Including disassembly to find every part before steamjetting.

That too, and the work done for rescheduling crews since, at least for Metra (and the routes Union Pacific runs for Metra), since they have at least 7 mandatory days off.

#24

Woke up this morning to clear blue skies and groans and shrieks that some likened to an elephant in heat. I wouldnt know about that but this train has weird noises.

3 hours or so late into Broken Hill, we'll miss the scheduled side trips.

Rats. I was looking forward to the Drag Queen tour.

#25

That's a great trip. How long are you onboard?