Australia: 3214 Bombo Beach in 1984

[Steve Appleton]

This pic looks like an oil painting and reminds me somewhat of the Natal south coast. It is posted on behalf of the photographer, Dennis Mitchell:

The following shot could have been taken anytime between 1892 and 1964, when the 32 class 4-6-0 (formerly P class)
and the end-platform carriages worked the majority of Illawarra services. In fact it is a tour in 1984, the last time that 3214 ran and one of the last steam tours to Bomaderry (Nowra).
The 32 class were built from 1892 until 1917, 191 in number, 3201-3391. They survived as a complete class until 1956 when 3264 was deemed irrepairable after rolling down an embankment at Otford.
With continuing dieselisation, the class was withdrawn in ever increasing numbers from 1958 onwards, but the last 4 were in service until 1971. Number 3246 was the last steam loco in regular passenger service in Australia, working the Newcastle-Singleton and return commuter runs (737+720) until july 1971. The other survivors were 3214, 3229 and 3237, all as shunt and reclamation work.
Numbers 3203, 3214, 3237 and 3265 were kept after steam finished. 3203 was stopped in 1978 and 3214 in 1984. But 3237 was returned to service in 2003 and 3265 is doing trials now, so double class 32s may again be possible. The last time this happenned was in 1977 with 3203 + 3214 on a weekend tour Sydney- Cootamundra-Tumut-Cootamundra-Sydney. And what a great trip it was!!
3203 1892 Beyer Peacock
3214 1892 Beyer Peacock
3237 1893 Beyer Peacock
3265 1901 Baldwin

[Marc Russell]

This beautiful spot 2 1/2 hours south of Sydney has thankfully been electrified!!

[Steve Appleton]

Marc, most people would not say "thankfully" in respect of electrification and its attendant, ugly catenary and masts! Does this quaint wooden trestle bridge still exist?

[Marc Russell]

I'd love to get a current photo in this very same location for you guys. As soon as an opportunity presents itself. I have fond memories of riding down this line as a kid, back before the days of electrification.

[Marc Russell]

From the same location today (18/7/09)

[Nathan Berelowitz]

G'dai. Blinkin nice photo's there mate. Love to see the before and after stuff hey! By the way, the bridge, yeah, looks very similar, to the one on the Port Shepstone to Harding line.

[Marc Russell]

G'day cobber(s). I've uploaded some more pics for youse to gawk at. Youse must be wonderin' why there is a flamin' DMU on a electrified line. Well let me tell youse, cause there was rail maintenance work on furtha up the line from Dapto upto the 'big smoke'. So instead of makin' the punters take the rail bus from Central to Dapto, the 'V set' EMU from Dapto to Kiama then the 'Endeavour' DMU to Nowra. They made it heaps easy by takin' out the middle man. KnowwhatImean?

[Steve Appleton]

Thanks, Marc.
I suppose we have to be grateful for progress! At least the station buildings still inject a bit of quaintness, even if the electrification, the DMU and an ugly 6-lane highway don't. Glad that the access across the railway to the beaches on our Natal South Coast isn't impeded by such threatening danger signs either.
You have to like the catch-point installation off the loop line at the approach to the bridge. Overrun the stop signal even slightly and it's straight into the lagoon! That's one way to enforce such a signal and ought to take the casualness out of any cow-boy drivers!
I also note there was a bit of Aussie indecision in the place name too - couldn't have been due to Ricky Ponting: he wasn't around in the late 1800's!