The cockatoo run to Robertson
The Cockatoo Train Trip, Well a very early start for all of us, meeting at Leppington Station to catch our first train via Glenfield and Sydenham and on to Central where we hurriedly walked through the station to platform one, where our journey was about to begin. Our vintage train carriages were waiting pulled by two huge diesel loco’s. Once on board we found our allocated seats with the assistance of our carriage volunteer.
As the train left the station we were all very excited, we made several stops to pick up additional passengers at Hurstville, Sutherland and Thirroul. From here we journeyed south along the scenic coastline high above Stanwell park and Wollongong and on to oat Robertson.
On reaching Robertson we all made a dash to the Bowling club for lunch, where the one cheff managed to feed the multitudes quite well on his own. After lunch many too the opportunity to investigate Robertson even further and picked up a few souvenirs along the way.
We returned to the train around 3:15 pm ready for our journey home, while we had been away the volunteer crew had cleaned the train and turned it around and had fresh scones, jam and cream for sale in their tiny buffet area.
There was much chatter with each other and with the crew on the way back, some found it necessary to have a little nap along the way.
Our train driver was keen to get home as we clocked him at one stage doing 127 Km per hour, I thing that is the fastest these old carriages have ever gone.
We also found out why this train trip is called the Cockatoo run, it is because the continual loud screeching coming from the carriages sounds like a cockatoo having his tail feather ripped out constantly.
As the train left the station we were all very excited, we made several stops to pick up additional passengers at Hurstville, Sutherland and Thirroul. From here we journeyed south along the scenic coastline high above Stanwell park and Wollongong and on to oat Robertson.
On reaching Robertson we all made a dash to the Bowling club for lunch, where the one cheff managed to feed the multitudes quite well on his own. After lunch many too the opportunity to investigate Robertson even further and picked up a few souvenirs along the way.
We returned to the train around 3:15 pm ready for our journey home, while we had been away the volunteer crew had cleaned the train and turned it around and had fresh scones, jam and cream for sale in their tiny buffet area.
There was much chatter with each other and with the crew on the way back, some found it necessary to have a little nap along the way.
Our train driver was keen to get home as we clocked him at one stage doing 127 Km per hour, I thing that is the fastest these old carriages have ever gone.
We also found out why this train trip is called the Cockatoo run, it is because the continual loud screeching coming from the carriages sounds like a cockatoo having his tail feather ripped out constantly.
Click on pictures for a larger view.