Thanks so much for the amazing video and detailed commentary! Lived in the area for ages and seen the track from basically every road, bridge and station over the last decades and is wonderful to be able to see it from this perspective!
Great video Paul! Just a bit of information for you, Joyce Dr is named after Frank B Joyce who was the mayor of Botany from 1949 to 1961, fortunately it's not named after the other infamous Joyce!
From what I saw the old Botany yard siding has changed a lot. I worked there on an off as a car and wagon examiner, back then it was not cemented and oil/petrol cars/trains were the primary use for that siding. These petrol cars would leak very small drips, we would place plastic buckets under these wagons and by the end of an 8 hour shift these buckets would make there way into our cars. Great video and I do remember the smell in the air from the Kellogg's factory.
Back when I first started working at Delec Enfield as a fireman and acting driver I used to run goods trains from Enfiled to Botany. I can't believe how much it has changed. The Dulwich Hill triangle completely gone. So many times worked trains to Rozelle yard and Darling Hbr. All gone now.
Yes it has changed a lot since then! Hope it bought back some nice memories anyway! It's great that most of the old line that went to Rozelle Yard and Darling Harbour is now being used for light rail.
Thanks for making an otherwise plain boring topic a most interesting and very well documented video. I used to be a Qantas cargo agent based at mascot and later an air and sea freight Forwarder at the time of shipping terminal transfer from Darling harbour to port Botany in the late 70's. Thks for sharing an exceptional ride and well informed comments.
From my memory as a second person at Enfield in 1988, around about where the bridge over the access road to Frasier Park is located is where the double track goods line became the single track towards Cooks River and Botany. There was a miniature electric staff machine in a small hut in this area that was almost impossible to use and (occasionally) was visited by snakes. Down at Dulwich Hill was a triangle situation that allowed freight trains to come and go from Darling Harbour towards Cooks River/Botany or head off towards Enfield - the run towards Darling Harbour is now all used by the light rail.
I'm not that familiar with the history of this line, but the bridges over the Illawarra rail corridor, and over the Princes Highway and Alexandra Canal look like they've always been wide enough for two tracks. A snake visiting would be scary! Yes, that's right. It's all the L1 now!
Great video, Paul, keep them coming. Mystery lines, these "Goods" line (our British connection?) now "freight" lines (Yankee connections). Takes me back to the time (early 1950s) when, playing in a little park near the corner of Meeks Rd and Marrickville Rd with siblings and young (female) cousins, I led them all through a break in a corrugated fence up onto the Botany Goods Line where we played (single track then ,I seem to remember) until cousin Caroline came back from around a curve to announce "There's a train coming". We scuttled off safely as an old Standard Goods 54 Class shuffled by en route to Botany.
Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for sharing your childhood memories of playing on this line! Yes I tend to use the terms "goods" and "freight" interchangeably these days!
What a privilege. I've worked tangentially around intermodal freight for much of my adult life and worked in Botany for almost a decade. In fact you can see my old office in the video, where I used to watch the fairly infrequent container trains squeal past. Freight and its associated infrastructure is fascinating to me, and this filled in a few gaps. I was lucky enough to tour a container ship a few years ago with just one other person from work; one of the most interesting things I've ever done. The scale of being in the port and on one of the vessels is truly impressive.
Yes it was! - I never thought I would get to travel on this line, so when I saw this advertised, I booked it immediately! I'll look out for your old office next time I watch it. Yes, I'm keen to do more freight videos. A tour of a containership was a fun thing to do! Perhaps one day I can do something similar and make a video about it!
Hi Paul, I thoroughly enjoyed this presentation as I have wanted to travel this line since I was knee high to a grasshopper and finally you have allowed this to happen through this presentation. I grew up in Balmain and can remember when the Caltex terminal was located there in close proximity to the current White Bay cruise terminal. Patrick's terminal was located at Glebe Island at the foot of what is now Anzac Bridge. Both terminals had to be relocated to Port Botany as the ships were becoming too large to sail under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I miss the days when Port Jackson was a working port but it was definitely necessary to move the shipping to Port Botany. I am definitely looking forward to your next video adventure to Chullora and Enfield and of course the new Waterloo Metro Station. I am so happy that you have been able to meet some of our wonderful young trainspotters recently and I am sure you will agree that they are all amazing people. Excellent presentation Paul, well done 👏
Thanks John, Glad you enjoyed this virtual train ride! The Chullora and Enfield video will probably be next year now. The Waterloo Metro video is almost finished (you might see a draft version on Patreon very soon!), and it includes some interesting interviews with a couple of Sydney Metro managers. Lots of people recognised me there, and I felt like a celebrity!
As the song goes...."Ah Sweet Mystery ol Life, I've Found Thee" This excellent video has solved those life-long mysteries for me. All the times I've driven out to the airport(s) and wonderd about these lines which as you pointed out link up with thhe Chullorah and Enfield tracks. You have excelled yourself again. Thanks Paul
Hi @lukebohun8843, me too! - I've often noticed this line when I'm been around the airport, so it was awesome to take a ride on it! Glad you enjoyed this video!
Thanks! Yes it's an interesting project, and it makes you realise that the process of duplicating a line is quite involved! Hope you've been involved in other exciting engineering projects since then.
Great video. It seems absolutely mad to me that such an important goods line was single track for so long. We need to get freight off trucks and into the rails.
A fantastic experience Paul. I hope everyone appreciates the effort that goes into making your videos. Well done. And a few lols along the way such as 29:30 on. Hehehe
WOW! What an eye opener! Terrific video - I would love to travel this goods line. I think it also has a rare level crossing at Mascot?? Thanks for this very informative overview.
Thanks Mark, glad you enjoyed it. I didn't notice any level crossings in the Mascot area, but if think you spotted one, let me know the time it appears in the video, and I'll check it out.
Obviously a while since I was over that way - it was closed in 2020 with the new roads near the airport going over the track. There is a video at the following: www.google.com/search?q=old+rail+level+crossing+at+mascot&oq=old+rail+level+crossing+at+mascot&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCjE2ODU5ajBqMTWoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:b1bb9013,vid:t5EFUF-Xt4g,st:0 @@TransportVlog
A part of Sydney I’ve not seen. Good to see freight becoming more important. Interesting all the new road infrastructure going on for the existing airport so looks like an intention to have both airports operational for some time
Yes, its an interesting part of Sydney, and I'm keen to explore some of this area on foot now. I'm hoping the cycleways on the new roads will mean some new viewing point points for the Botany Line!
Great video thanks! A couple more curiosities for you - originally the line ran straight from O'Riordan St to the Alexandra Canal rather than curving. In 1945 a runway was extended across the line so there was a level crossing! In 1950 a plane and train collided. In 1953 the runway was closed and the railway was diverted in 1960 so Qantas could take over the space. The Alexandra Canal bridge used to lift to let ships through.
Glad you enjoyed it! That's fascinating! I've added this to my pinned comment. This line has such an interesting history! If the CPH Rail Motor does the Botany Line again next year, then I'll do an updated version of this video, and I'll certainly mention this rerouting!
Glad you enjoyed it! I already have footage of this from the previous years Rail Motor trip which went via this line! I realised now that I could have included a snippet of this, but you’ll see it when I release the video for Enfield and Chollura, as that train started at Central and went via Sydenham and then this line.
Thanks John, Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for your lovely feedback. I use music vary sparingly in my videos. Much better to hear the sound of the train, and a few kids enjoying the ride!
Great video! I learnt a lot about the line. I like the section at 24:00 where there are sound barriers and trees along the line; they look quite nice, but they also serve a functional purpose as there are houses immediately beyond them. Interestingly, the cadastral map shows that this part of the corridor is still subdivided like the adjacent residential blocks, so perhaps there were plans to build houses there, or there might have been houses in the past that were demolished to build the railway.
Probably because this subdivision was older than when the line was put through in a cutting under the highway. So yeah probably Victorian-era terrace housing built around the time of the Stuart and Jennings State Governments. The houses nearby were bought up in the area by the Keating Government not long after the Third Runway opened because the area was under a flight path and turned into a public park.
Glad you enjoyed it and learned a lot more about the Botany Line! Yes quite possibly! - I'm sure the barriers serve a useful purposes. The other white barrier like objects around the airport are for advertising boards.
No sign of the old SIMS Metal recycling plant near the airport. As a train mad kid, I'd see the scrapping of the old Red Rattlers there and locomotives, which always saddened me. Great vid mate. I've always been interested in this line and now I too now know what it looks like from rail level!
Yes that is a little sad. I remember travelling on many loco hauled trains as a kid in the UK. Looks like V-Line in Victoria still has some loco hauled trains, so plan to take a ride behind them soon! Glad you enjoyed this video.
first time to you channel, wow I'm impressed, so detailed and informative! It was around 40 years ago I was working in the city and took the train from Parramatta to the city, when one day there was an incident ahead of Lidcombe station, and we were re-routed on the good line and rejoined the main network near Marrickville, so the line was electrified then, it was a great trip as I've never obviously travelled on that line before. I'm looking forward to more of your informative vlog's!
Hi James, glad you found my channel. I was hoping this video would attract some new viewers. That would have been a fun diversion! With the strive for zero emissions, I wonder if this line will be electrified again in the future. It would also be a handy diversionary route once the T3 is converted to Metro. I also did a video on the Cockatoo Line (Unanderra to Robertson). This one was from the back of a heritage train, but had a similar style of commentary. Do check that one out.
Another point of interest is the old level crossing between Wentworth Ave and the Park n Fly. There doesn't look like there's anything visible left. The crossing was closed a few years ago when Wentworth Ave was extended below the goods line.
You're very welcome! Yes it was to me too, until this trip. I've seen bits of this line when travelling to and from the airport, and it was wonderful to travel on it and film it too.
Great Video Paul, I have really enjoyed this one, and like many others I have travelled under the bridge near Sydenham Station I remember in the 50s seeing small coal trains on the bridge that were taking coal to the old Bunnerong power station.
@@TransportVlog As a young boy I always enjoyed the train trip along the east hills line to the city especially past the Eveleigh workshops Thanks again for the videos John
Very interesting, thank you. I remember a few years ago seeing what looked like a pedestrian bridge opposite the airport freight bay on Qantas drive going over this line, I thought it would be a good spot to photograph both trains and aeroplanes, guess I left it to late 😮
Glad you enjoyed it David, Yes that probably went as part of the Sydney Gateway works. I'm hoping some of the new roads (especially the ones with bike paths) will have some interesting views of this line.
Excellent Work Paul, great Update. The old Botany Goods Yard is now the Veolia Transfer Waste Station where waste (Rubbish) is put into containers and sent to I believe south of Goulburn.
Hi Paul, this video is fantastic! I love to watch trainspotting videos to wind down and the in depth narration really helped with that even with eyes closed. I’d love to see more of these!
Thanks Alex, glad you enjoyed it! Yes drivers eye view videos are very relaxing, and I watch quite a few of them! Do check out my Unanderra to Robertson video. It was from the back of the train, rather than the front, but still very enjoyable and has incredible scenery! Here is a link to it - czcams.com/video/T1T_xgn3a7E/video.html
Here are a few updates and corrections from the CZcams community. 5:54 The Old Botany Yard sidings are now used as for a Veolia Transfer Waste Station, so the containers wagons you see in the sidings contain lots of rubbish! 11:45 The footbridge was built in the 1980s and that was when Banksia Street was split into two. 15:30 Wentworth Avenue is a new road that opened in 2018, so the railway bridge was built at the same time to take the rail corridor over this new road. It replaced an old level crossing on Wentworth Drive, which the line goes over at 16:23, and through traffic on Wentworth Drive, now uses Wentworth Avenue instead. 17:09 Joyce Drive is named after Frank B Joyce. He was the Mayor of Botany from 1949 to 1961. There used to be a level crossing on Banksia Street in Botany at the location where the footbridge now is. 18:18 Between O'Riordan Street and the Alexandra Canal, the line used to take a more direct routing via what is now part of the airport. It went over part of an old runway which had a level crossing! In 1950 a train and plane collided on this level crossing. In 1953 this runway closed and in 1960 the line was diverted to it current alignment. Thanks to @Mrpanda1961 for this! 23:54 Its not an old overhead wire gantry, as the Botany Line was never electrified. It's actually a height sensor to check that departing trains will fit under the overhead wires on other parts of the network.
Banksia Street was split in two way before the 1980 or at least that is what my memory tells me. Don't quote an old man but I suspect it was in the 1960"s. There were some horse stables near the level crossing and my Grandfather worked there as a blacksmith shoeing horses. All my family lived in Botany in those years.
You missed the part of the Sydney Gateway that opened this week.. around Joyce Dr, O'Riordan, Airport Dr is the new flyover that takes Eastbound traffic into the Donestic terminals. This will be connected into the broader Sydney Gateway/ St. peters interchange when it completes.
Great video, Paul. The gantry at the 28:45 minute mark isn't an old overhead wiring gantry. Those were pulled down years ago. That one in the video seems to a temporary one and has something do with works on the Livingstone Road bridge. Also, the Port Botany line has never seen overhead wiring. The furthest it ever went was not far east of Marrickville station but even then that was when the old car park at Marrickville was still up. That was torn down in the early 2000s.
Thanks for that. It's always good to hear from people that live locally and/or remember this line from the past. I was aware that the Botany Line was never electrified, so the gantry at 23:51 was unexpected! Let me know if you know anything about this one too?
Thanks very much for that. I knew that the line was never electrified, so that gantry did surprise me! Now I know what its purpose is! I've added this to my pinned comment.
Joyce Drive at Mascot was NOT named after Allan Joyce, but after Frank B. Joyce - Botany Alderman (1949-61), Mayor 1949-53. Former President of Sydney County Council.
Wow that was awesome, very informative. I’ve always wondered where does train tracks went and what they were. Thank you for sharing. I’d love to go on that train trip
Great video. Very interesting perspective and one very few people have seen. The history of the rail freight corridors in Sydney is interesting. It wasn’t that long ago that Sydney harbour hosted the big container ships and bulk cargo carriers. I remember as a teenager when the Rozelle rail yards were operational. I think the planning decisions to move those operations out of Sydney harbour have been positive, but it’s nice to reminisce about the old days. BTW I have some recent aerial photo's that cover Rozelle interchange, trains facility south and Sydney Gateway if you are interested.
Hi Mark, glad you enjoyed it! The history is similar to other cities (like London), where containerisation required larger and deeper ports, which had to be built further out. It would have been fascinating to have been in Sydney when the Rozelle yards were operational. Yes I'd love to see these aerial photos. You can send them to paul@transportvlog.com. Thanks Paul
I am 76 YO and my first memories are looking at this line from our house in Brown Avenue when I was about 4 YO. I guess this line's original purpose was to haul coal for Bunnerong Power Station??
Thanks for a great video. Very interesting and enjoyable. I missed out on getting tickets for this year's journeys but hopefully the same run will be offered next year.
Glad you enjoyed it! Yes hopefully! - the CPH Rail Motor trips seem to be a regular part of the Heritage Expo, and it would be wonderful if they do the Botany Line again next year, as the duplication work will all be pretty much finished by then.
Paul, can we put in an order for, say, the Southern Freight Line from Chullora to Macarthur. Or the new entry and exit for the Moorebank Qube Terminal. I travelled the Moorebank/Holsworthy/Anzac Rifle Range line by steam in my Army Cadet days but there still seems to be a connection from the Holsworthy-Glenfield line near Moorebank Avenue.
You can! but for front of train footage, I'm going to be relying on further CPH Rail Motor tours, unless I can find a way o get in the cab of a freight loco! Nothing's impossible, and as the channel gets larger, then it gets easier to arrange this and other behind the scenes type activities.
Thanks for this interesting old freight line. You sort of threw out a hint as to where this is all gonna be a part of Metro eventually. Hope I got that right. I am updating my Metro Preparation at St Marys files if interested. The number 1 revision is done already.
Glad you enjoyed it Geoff. Yes I continued the journey to Dulwich Hill partly to talk about the Metro conversion work. Yes I'll check out your St Marys video.
28:30 I think that if a goods train derailed on the freight line adjacent to the new "Metro" line, the freight wagons would crumple the fence like paper. Not much of a barrier. Also, at 15:30 the new Bridge over Wentworth Drive replaced the old level crossing located at about 16:23 next to the large Park and Fly building. I was lucky enough to travel on the Botany line as far as the by then defunct Bunnerong Powerhouse sidings behind 53 Class loco 5461 in the early 1990s. It must have been a surprise to traffic on busy Botany Road to see a steam train pass overhead!
Thanks very much for that. I've added your points about Wentworth Avenue (and the rail bridge over it), replacing the Wentworth Drive level crossing to my pinned comment. That must have been great fun travelling on the Botany Line behind a steam loco!
@@TransportVlog Yes, a level crossing in the Eastern Suburbs was definitely an oddity and a rarity by then. I did use it a couple of times in its last weeks of operation.
I live in Campsie and have always wondered why the train station has no platform facing the rear. Now I understand it's the main freight line behind the station. It's a good idea to replace trucks with trains as trains emit way less carbon, pollutants and dust per ton of goods. Would be even greater if the trains were electric driven.
Loved this video as always! Wondering why the metro conversion will only reach Bankstown and not Regents park or Sefton? Looking on google maps, they could even build a new interchange station between Regents park and Sefton in the 'sefton trinagle' and have new elevated track from just north of Birrong Station, over the freight railway and Auburn road to the new interchange station with terminating metro platforms.
Bankstown was the main goal, being a large population centre, and as Mark says, it also allows for a future extension to Liverpool. Regents Park and Sefton will still have direct trains to the CBD following conversion of the Bankstown Line to Metro.
Glad you enjoyed it. I think' its always been considered as a freight line, and the T8 covers the airport area. Also, there are no junctions or connecting tracks to take this line onto the Illawarra Lines at Sydenham without reversing, so that would be an issue. Good question though!
Hi Paul, I have always wanted to see this line. Many times, I saw goods trains passing behind Marrickville Railway Station in years gone by. I would love to see light rail running on this line some day. Would you happen to know what the building is on the right, (27:14) behind Marrickville Station? It seems to have replaced the former Marrickville RSL Club building. you are correct about the goods line previously being electrified. I remember back many years ago seeing electric parcel vans using it passing Marrickville Station. i notice that they have even fenced off the back of Marrickville Station, which used to have an open view when I was there years ago. Anyway, thanks for sharing another truly incredible video. All the very best from Rob in Melbourne Australia.
Hi Rob, that's an apartment building now. Yes that fencing at Marrickville has gone up very recently, as I remember that open view well! Glad you enjoyed seeing this line.
Interesting. The entire building there has completely changed even since I was there back in early 2000 for a short visit to Marrickville. On checking further, using Google Maps, that new building seems to include shops as well. The address of the Marrickville RSL Club is also listed as being there, though when looking at a street photo view, I could not see any mention of it at all. Hence, they may be behind the building or moved to a new location. I remember, when they first built the former RSL Club building, I was rather disappointed, as I thought it was originally going to be something new for the trains.
It will probably happen again for the next Transport Heritage Expo which is normally on the long weekend in early October. The route might change, but the CPH Rail Motor trips always incorporate some freight only lines.
I lived in Bay St in the early 1950's and it did not have a level crossing. I remember racing down as a kid to watch a goods , usually a coal train for Bunnerong power station or oil to the refinery, mostly hauled by standard goods but my favourite was the new kid on the block, the 41 class diesel in their green livery. The smells in the area were notorious, we had a tannery 2 houses away next to the railway and when the wind was blowing, the strong pong from Kelloggs. I also think there was a siding on the Botany side of Bay St, although it was rarely used. Paul, another exceptional video bringing back wonderful memories as a 6 year old .
Hi @traindude1949. Thanks for confirming that Bay St didn't have a level crossing, and your sharing your childhood memories of this line, and the local industrial smells! Thanks also for your lovely feedback on this video, and glad it bought back those wonderful childhood memories!
When heading to Sydney it is referred to as the Up direction and when heading away it is the Down direction irrespective of where you actually are and all trains and platforms are even numbered on the up and odd numbered on the down direction
Great question! Yes that's right, but as the Down Botany Line (going north), goes into the Down Mains Goods Line at Marrickville Jcn (which is going away from Sydney), it's referred to as the Down Line. I got this information from two sources, which I've linked to below. ARTC - www.artc.com.au/uploads/ARTCS3120002_SFN.pdf, and Railsafe - railsafe.org.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/54329/Botany-Line-Botany-Interface-to-Marrickville-Jct-M50.pdf
@@TransportVlog From what I understand on single line working the same applies with the signalling a signal that is on the left facing to wards Sydney is an up signal and a signal on the left facing away is a down signal This has been the case for upwards of two hundred years and is world wide It's possible they have a system specific to the botany line but that would be unusual probably once the duplication is finished they will go back to the old system
At 6:09 those grey containers to the left are called techtainer I think... They carry putrescible waste. The rail line to the immediate left of the 3 power engines goes I think into the large grey white shed in the background which is the waste transfer station run by Veolia. Nicely narrated. I'm enjoying your video... Do you remember or are you old enough to remember the two single deck red rattler carriages that were parked up on that line ? They were faded and had spoked wheels and were there from at least 1977 by themselves until they were joined up with other decommissioned single deck fleet ? The two would of been parked on the centre line at about the 20:13 min mark clearly visible from the road. I've got photos somewhere from inside of them and all angles around them as in 1989 as a teen I went to see them. At least one of them had a coat of arms logo thing displayed on the outside.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Yes someone else mentioned that Old Botany Yard is now a Veolia waste station. I've only lived in Sydney since 2010, and I hadn't been on this line (or even close to it), prior to making this video, so sadly haven't seen the single deck red rattlers. If you can find the photos, and can scan them, feel I'd love to see them. My email is paul@transportvlog.com.
@@TransportVlog be my pleasure. I need no credit tho if I can obtain them again and I think a mate has them on computer as well.. feel free to share them where ever ☺️👍
That fence that separates the metro line is only meant to exclude people. It wouldn't stop a derailed good train. I half expected to see a concrete wall here.
Yes that's right. I clarified the purpose of the segregation fencing when I spoke with Hugh Lawson at Sydenham Station. You can see that part of the video here - czcams.com/video/fFd8WZowJ2M/video.htmlsi=Ts1K-1ESeo1S3lD4&t=792
Hi Paul, that will get included in a future CPH Rail Motor video, which started at Central, went via Sydenham and right past the XPT centre. It wasn't visible on this CPH rail motor tour (well not from the front anyway) which is partly why I didn't mention it.
Now I heard you acknowledge the bottle neck and need for duplication but are you aware of the Intermodal yard out at Moorebank which intends to receive a lot of these trains? I worked on its design & construction management for the first 4 years of the project.
Yes I've seen the Moorebank yard (and line veering off towards it) from trains on the T8on the approach from Glenfield. Great to hear that you've worked on that. It would be a fun place to visit sometime!
@@TransportVlog It's quite an operation! Once the train arrives at the IMEX (Import/Export) gates, the driver steps out and automation takes over. Containers scanned as they enter the yard. The overhead and mobile cranes are all automated as well. Containers are either delivered to a truck, warehouse or the adjacent interstate train yard.
Possibly not, but it also provides a barrier for track maintenance crews working on a possession on either line. I'll see if I can find out some more about the purposes of these fences.
Is there any info as to why these lines were "de-electrified"? Would surely be better than having the diesels spewing fumes all around. But in the yards where they're loading containers onto wagons they need the space above the tracks for cranes etc. So a limited number of diesels would be required for shunting I suppose.
Hi Robert, National Rail (now Pacific National) decided in the late 90s to use diesel traction for all freight services and that forced the withdrawal of the remaining 86 class electric locos, and the removal of overhead wires on the goods lines. It seems like a crazy decision now, and it will be interesting to see what happens in the future with the strive for zero emissions. Personally I would like to see some bi-modal diesel/ electric locos, as many freight services run under the wires for quite long distances! And that would solve the shunting issue too! Also battery powered locos may become a thing too!
I was saddened particularly where it veers away from the airport and seeing all those changes with the new roads being built and all that soulless new concrete and overpasses under construction. When I last drove taxis in 2014 non of that was there and I yearned to explore the train line there. The NSW government have ruined it. Thy only part that looked fascinating and original looking was after the final new overpass going to St Peters interchange. I hate it.
Are anglophone countries just bad at building things? I wonder if the T3 would be able to run more services if it’s simply rerouted via this goods line? Or not practical
Capacity isn't really an issue on the T3. I'm sure the line could run trains every 5 minutes if there was enough demand for it. The problem would be capacity closer to Central. It's good to keep passenger and freight trains separate where possible, and that's what the goods line does well.
Hi @jpm2035, yes it is a bit - I did consider changing then opening phrase, especially as I wasn't sure if my Dad would approve! Having been on this line has sparked an interest to explore the Botany area further.
You put so much work into the editing and commentary!. Very clear and informative 👍
Thanks! Yes, there was a lot to talk about in this one! Glad you enjoyed it.
I’ve always wondered about these train lines. Never imagined a 100 year old train would do a Tourist run. Great vid Paul.
Glad you enjoyed it David! Yes that CPH Rail Motor does other tours as well. Its based at Paterson, and often does rides between there and Dungog.
This video is definitely my all time favourite.
Thanks Rob! Glad you enjoy it so much!
Thanks so much for the amazing video and detailed commentary!
Lived in the area for ages and seen the track from basically every road, bridge and station over the last decades and is wonderful to be able to see it from this perspective!
You're very welcome! Yes must have been wonderful to see this line that you know so well from the front of a train!
wonderful trip!
in the early 80s as kids we used to ride out trail bikes along that rail line from Botany to Tempe tip
I just went to La Perouse and Botany Bay by taking 390x bus, had a lunch at The Boatshed with my schoolmate, the scenery was breathtaking!
Very nice! - I'm quite keen to check out Botany Bay further!
@@TransportVlog I really recommend you to visit it Paul
Great video Paul! Just a bit of information for you, Joyce Dr is named after Frank B Joyce who was the mayor of Botany from 1949 to 1961, fortunately it's not named after the other infamous Joyce!
Thanks very much for that Paul. I've added this to my pinned comment.
Love the video Portl botney line❤❤
Glad you enjoyed it Max
@@TransportVlog My favourite kind of train is a freight train. My friend drives the cold trains in north queensland i
Well done thank you.👍👍👍👍👍🍺
Thanks 👍 You're very welcome
From what I saw the old Botany yard siding has changed a lot. I worked there on an off as a car and wagon examiner, back then it was not cemented and oil/petrol cars/trains were the primary use for that siding. These petrol cars would leak very small drips, we would place plastic buckets under these wagons and by the end of an 8 hour shift these buckets would make there way into our cars. Great video and I do remember the smell in the air from the Kellogg's factory.
Thanks for sharing your memories of working at Old Botany Yard! What a way to get some free Petrol!
Botany smells great when the Kellogg's factory is in full swing. The air smells like freshly baked muffins!
As always, brilliant!
Thanks Mark!
Thanks for this rather unique video, Paul.
Glad you enjoyed it Peter.
Thanks!
Thanks very much! I really appreciate that!
Back when I first started working at Delec Enfield as a fireman and acting driver I used to run goods trains from Enfiled to Botany. I can't believe how much it has changed. The Dulwich Hill triangle completely gone. So many times worked trains to Rozelle yard and Darling Hbr. All gone now.
Yes it has changed a lot since then! Hope it bought back some nice memories anyway! It's great that most of the old line that went to Rozelle Yard and Darling Harbour is now being used for light rail.
Thanks for making an otherwise plain boring topic a most interesting and very well documented video.
I used to be a Qantas cargo agent based at mascot and later an air and sea freight Forwarder at the time of shipping terminal transfer from Darling harbour to port Botany in the late 70's.
Thks for sharing an exceptional ride and well informed comments.
You're very welcome! Glad you enjoyed it! For me, I think its the most interesting of all the Sydney goods lines!
From my memory as a second person at Enfield in 1988, around about where the bridge over the access road to Frasier Park is located is where the double track goods line became the single track towards Cooks River and Botany. There was a miniature electric staff machine in a small hut in this area that was almost impossible to use and (occasionally) was visited by snakes.
Down at Dulwich Hill was a triangle situation that allowed freight trains to come and go from Darling Harbour towards Cooks River/Botany or head off towards Enfield - the run towards Darling Harbour is now all used by the light rail.
I'm not that familiar with the history of this line, but the bridges over the Illawarra rail corridor, and over the Princes Highway and Alexandra Canal look like they've always been wide enough for two tracks. A snake visiting would be scary! Yes, that's right. It's all the L1 now!
Hi Paul thanks for sharing and your commentary is very informative .
You're very welcome Paul - Glad you enjoyed it.
Great video, living in the Botany area all my life, it was good to see where these tracks go.
Glad you enjoyed it! Looks like there are a few good vantage points for watching and filming trains if you happen to be close by.
Outstanding video. Very interesting and well presented!
Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for your lovely feedback!
Great video, Paul, keep them coming. Mystery lines, these "Goods" line (our British connection?) now "freight" lines (Yankee connections). Takes me back to the time (early 1950s) when, playing in a little park near the corner of Meeks Rd and Marrickville Rd with siblings and young (female) cousins, I led them all through a break in a corrugated fence up onto the Botany Goods Line where we played (single track then ,I seem to remember) until cousin Caroline came back from around a curve to announce "There's a train coming". We scuttled off safely as an old Standard Goods 54 Class shuffled by en route to Botany.
Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for sharing your childhood memories of playing on this line! Yes I tend to use the terms "goods" and "freight" interchangeably these days!
What a privilege. I've worked tangentially around intermodal freight for much of my adult life and worked in Botany for almost a decade. In fact you can see my old office in the video, where I used to watch the fairly infrequent container trains squeal past. Freight and its associated infrastructure is fascinating to me, and this filled in a few gaps. I was lucky enough to tour a container ship a few years ago with just one other person from work; one of the most interesting things I've ever done. The scale of being in the port and on one of the vessels is truly impressive.
Yes it was! - I never thought I would get to travel on this line, so when I saw this advertised, I booked it immediately! I'll look out for your old office next time I watch it. Yes, I'm keen to do more freight videos. A tour of a containership was a fun thing to do! Perhaps one day I can do something similar and make a video about it!
Hi Paul, I thoroughly enjoyed this presentation as I have wanted to travel this line since I was knee high to a grasshopper and finally you have allowed this to happen through this presentation. I grew up in Balmain and can remember when the Caltex terminal was located there in close proximity to the current White Bay cruise terminal. Patrick's terminal was located at Glebe Island at the foot of what is now Anzac Bridge. Both terminals had to be relocated to Port Botany as the ships were becoming too large to sail under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I miss the days when Port Jackson was a working port but it was definitely necessary to move the shipping to Port Botany. I am definitely looking forward to your next video adventure to Chullora and Enfield and of course the new Waterloo Metro Station. I am so happy that you have been able to meet some of our wonderful young trainspotters recently and I am sure you will agree that they are all amazing people. Excellent presentation Paul, well done 👏
Thanks John, Glad you enjoyed this virtual train ride! The Chullora and Enfield video will probably be next year now. The Waterloo Metro video is almost finished (you might see a draft version on Patreon very soon!), and it includes some interesting interviews with a couple of Sydney Metro managers. Lots of people recognised me there, and I felt like a celebrity!
Thanks Paul, as a former Shift Manager with RailCorp at Botany and I enjoyed the presentation of the Goods line.
You're very welcome Stephan. Hope it bought back some happy memories!
That was so interesting thank you
You're very welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.
As the song goes...."Ah Sweet Mystery ol Life, I've Found Thee" This excellent video has solved those life-long mysteries for me. All the times I've driven out to the airport(s) and wonderd about these lines which as you pointed out link up with thhe Chullorah and Enfield tracks. You have excelled yourself again. Thanks Paul
Hi @lukebohun8843, me too! - I've often noticed this line when I'm been around the airport, so it was awesome to take a ride on it! Glad you enjoyed this video!
Now I'm sorry to have missed this excursion during the festival.
Hopefully they'll do it again next year. The tickets do go quickly though!
Great Video. I remember tendering for the Port Botany Rail Project when I was a Graduate Engineer in 2019. Good to see the project almost finished
Thanks! Yes it's an interesting project, and it makes you realise that the process of duplicating a line is quite involved! Hope you've been involved in other exciting engineering projects since then.
Great video. It seems absolutely mad to me that such an important goods line was single track for so long. We need to get freight off trucks and into the rails.
Thanks! Yes absolutely!
A fantastic experience Paul. I hope everyone appreciates the effort that goes into making your videos. Well done. And a few lols along the way such as 29:30 on. Hehehe
Thanks Jim, Yes hopefully they do! It was lovely to do a different kind of video!
very exciting video.
Thanks!
WOW! What an eye opener! Terrific video - I would love to travel this goods line. I think it also has a rare level crossing at Mascot?? Thanks for this very informative overview.
Thanks Mark, glad you enjoyed it. I didn't notice any level crossings in the Mascot area, but if think you spotted one, let me know the time it appears in the video, and I'll check it out.
Obviously a while since I was over that way - it was closed in 2020 with the new roads near the airport going over the track. There is a video at the following:
www.google.com/search?q=old+rail+level+crossing+at+mascot&oq=old+rail+level+crossing+at+mascot&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCjE2ODU5ajBqMTWoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:b1bb9013,vid:t5EFUF-Xt4g,st:0
@@TransportVlog
A part of Sydney I’ve not seen. Good to see freight becoming more important. Interesting all the new road infrastructure going on for the existing airport so looks like an intention to have both airports operational for some time
Yes, its an interesting part of Sydney, and I'm keen to explore some of this area on foot now. I'm hoping the cycleways on the new roads will mean some new viewing point points for the Botany Line!
Great video thanks! A couple more curiosities for you - originally the line ran straight from O'Riordan St to the Alexandra Canal rather than curving. In 1945 a runway was extended across the line so there was a level crossing! In 1950 a plane and train collided. In 1953 the runway was closed and the railway was diverted in 1960 so Qantas could take over the space. The Alexandra Canal bridge used to lift to let ships through.
Glad you enjoyed it! That's fascinating! I've added this to my pinned comment. This line has such an interesting history! If the CPH Rail Motor does the Botany Line again next year, then I'll do an updated version of this video, and I'll certainly mention this rerouting!
What a great video! I had no idea that the Y junction at Sydenham included an underground line. You'll have to get footage of that one day Paul!
Glad you enjoyed it! I already have footage of this from the previous years Rail Motor trip which went via this line! I realised now that I could have included a snippet of this, but you’ll see it when I release the video for Enfield and Chollura, as that train started at Central and went via Sydenham and then this line.
@@TransportVlog awesome! Can’t wait 🥳
Another exceptionally well put together vid Paul. Extremely interesting and informative at the same time (and all without music ... well done !)
Thanks John, Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for your lovely feedback. I use music vary sparingly in my videos. Much better to hear the sound of the train, and a few kids enjoying the ride!
Great video! I learnt a lot about the line. I like the section at 24:00 where there are sound barriers and trees along the line; they look quite nice, but they also serve a functional purpose as there are houses immediately beyond them. Interestingly, the cadastral map shows that this part of the corridor is still subdivided like the adjacent residential blocks, so perhaps there were plans to build houses there, or there might have been houses in the past that were demolished to build the railway.
Probably because this subdivision was older than when the line was put through in a cutting under the highway. So yeah probably Victorian-era terrace housing built around the time of the Stuart and Jennings State Governments. The houses nearby were bought up in the area by the Keating Government not long after the Third Runway opened because the area was under a flight path and turned into a public park.
Glad you enjoyed it and learned a lot more about the Botany Line! Yes quite possibly! - I'm sure the barriers serve a useful purposes. The other white barrier like objects around the airport are for advertising boards.
No sign of the old SIMS Metal recycling plant near the airport. As a train mad kid, I'd see the scrapping of the old Red Rattlers there and locomotives, which always saddened me.
Great vid mate. I've always been interested in this line and now I too now know what it looks like from rail level!
Yes that is a little sad. I remember travelling on many loco hauled trains as a kid in the UK. Looks like V-Line in Victoria still has some loco hauled trains, so plan to take a ride behind them soon! Glad you enjoyed this video.
Fascinating. Goods lines are soo interesting, I guess because you never normally get to to go on them.
Yes that's right! I always jump at the chance to get a ride on a goods line!
first time to you channel, wow I'm impressed, so detailed and informative! It was around 40 years ago I was working in the city and took the train from Parramatta to the city, when one day there was an incident ahead of Lidcombe station, and we were re-routed on the good line and rejoined the main network near Marrickville, so the line was electrified then, it was a great trip as I've never obviously travelled on that line before. I'm looking forward to more of your informative vlog's!
Hi James, glad you found my channel. I was hoping this video would attract some new viewers. That would have been a fun diversion! With the strive for zero emissions, I wonder if this line will be electrified again in the future. It would also be a handy diversionary route once the T3 is converted to Metro. I also did a video on the Cockatoo Line (Unanderra to Robertson). This one was from the back of a heritage train, but had a similar style of commentary. Do check that one out.
Paul good video
Should to more driver view video like that
Yes, I would like to do more of these types of videos!
Another point of interest is the old level crossing between Wentworth Ave and the Park n Fly. There doesn't look like there's anything visible left. The crossing was closed a few years ago when Wentworth Ave was extended below the goods line.
Thanks for that Matthew! Apparently, Banksia Street in Botany used to be a level crossing, and that was replaced in the 1980s with the footbridge.
Informative and well described, thankyou. That part of Sydney Rail has always been a mystery to me over here in the West.
You're very welcome! Yes it was to me too, until this trip. I've seen bits of this line when travelling to and from the airport, and it was wonderful to travel on it and film it too.
Great Video Paul, I have really enjoyed this one, and like many others I have travelled under the bridge near Sydenham Station
I remember in the 50s seeing small coal trains on the bridge that were taking coal to the old Bunnerong power station.
Thanks John, glad you enjoyed it! It must have been very different in the 50s!
@@TransportVlog As a young boy I always enjoyed the train trip along the east hills line to the city especially past the Eveleigh workshops
Thanks again for the videos John
Very good video paul
Thanks 👍
Very interesting, thank you. I remember a few years ago seeing what looked like a pedestrian bridge opposite the airport freight bay on Qantas drive going over this line, I thought it would be a good spot to photograph both trains and aeroplanes, guess I left it to late 😮
Glad you enjoyed it David, Yes that probably went as part of the Sydney Gateway works. I'm hoping some of the new roads (especially the ones with bike paths) will have some interesting views of this line.
worked at kellog for a few months and at the ICI , cum Orica chemical complex for twenty years ..memories , memories
Nice! Glad this video bought back lots of memories!
Thank-you Paul. High quality video and excellent commentary. Keep up the good work. Cheers.
Glad you enjoyed it! - Yes will do.
Excellent Work Paul, great Update. The old Botany Goods Yard is now the Veolia Transfer Waste Station where waste (Rubbish) is put into containers and sent to I believe south of Goulburn.
Thanks Steve, Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the info on the Old Botany Goods Line. I've added this to my pinned comment.
Hi Paul, this video is fantastic! I love to watch trainspotting videos to wind down and the in depth narration really helped with that even with eyes closed. I’d love to see more of these!
Thanks Alex, glad you enjoyed it! Yes drivers eye view videos are very relaxing, and I watch quite a few of them! Do check out my Unanderra to Robertson video. It was from the back of the train, rather than the front, but still very enjoyable and has incredible scenery! Here is a link to it - czcams.com/video/T1T_xgn3a7E/video.html
Here are a few updates and corrections from the CZcams community.
5:54 The Old Botany Yard sidings are now used as for a Veolia Transfer Waste Station, so the containers wagons you see in the sidings contain lots of rubbish!
11:45 The footbridge was built in the 1980s and that was when Banksia Street was split into two.
15:30 Wentworth Avenue is a new road that opened in 2018, so the railway bridge was built at the same time to take the rail corridor over this new road. It replaced an old level crossing on Wentworth Drive, which the line goes over at 16:23, and through traffic on Wentworth Drive, now uses Wentworth Avenue instead.
17:09 Joyce Drive is named after Frank B Joyce. He was the Mayor of Botany from 1949 to 1961. There used to be a level crossing on Banksia Street in Botany at the location where the footbridge now is.
18:18 Between O'Riordan Street and the Alexandra Canal, the line used to take a more direct routing via what is now part of the airport. It went over part of an old runway which had a level crossing! In 1950 a train and plane collided on this level crossing. In 1953 this runway closed and in 1960 the line was diverted to it current alignment. Thanks to @Mrpanda1961 for this!
23:54 Its not an old overhead wire gantry, as the Botany Line was never electrified. It's actually a height sensor to check that departing trains will fit under the overhead wires on other parts of the network.
Banksia Street was split in two way before the 1980 or at least that is what my memory tells me. Don't quote an old man but I suspect it was in the 1960"s. There were some horse stables near the level crossing and my Grandfather worked there as a blacksmith shoeing horses. All my family lived in Botany in those years.
Your videos very informative and cool paul. Thanks i had to subscribe mate 😁
Thanks Bradley, I appreciate your feedback and thanks for subscribing too!
Hi Paul, Really enjoyable video. Thankyou for taking the time to produce them and providing all the maps. Looking forward to the next one. Well done.
You're very welcome. Glad you enjoyed it. The maps are all from Open Railway Map ( www.openrailwaymap.org/) so were pretty easy to add in.
You missed the part of the Sydney Gateway that opened this week.. around Joyce Dr, O'Riordan, Airport Dr is the new flyover that takes Eastbound traffic into the Donestic terminals.
This will be connected into the broader Sydney Gateway/ St. peters interchange when it completes.
Thanks for that Mark. I'm about to go to the airport, so I'll keep a look out for these new roads!
Great video, Paul. The gantry at the 28:45 minute mark isn't an old overhead wiring gantry. Those were pulled down years ago. That one in the video seems to a temporary one and has something do with works on the Livingstone Road bridge. Also, the Port Botany line has never seen overhead wiring. The furthest it ever went was not far east of Marrickville station but even then that was when the old car park at Marrickville was still up. That was torn down in the early 2000s.
Thanks for that. It's always good to hear from people that live locally and/or remember this line from the past. I was aware that the Botany Line was never electrified, so the gantry at 23:51 was unexpected! Let me know if you know anything about this one too?
@@TransportVlog I don't think anyone has ever answered that question. It's quite the mystery!
My dad worked at the botany industrial site for decades.
Nice! I'm sure he has some fond memories of working in this area.
Great video ( as usual) . So good I am going to watch it again.
Thanks! - Definitely one to watch again for sure!
Hi Paul excellent vid
Thanks!
I built the containment walls around the Vopak fuel storage tanks in 2010. Ward Civil was the builder.
Wow! That's interesting! Hope you saw some of your work in this video!
23:54 The botany line was never electrified. That gantry has a height sensor to check that departing trains fit under the overhead.
Thanks very much for that. I knew that the line was never electrified, so that gantry did surprise me! Now I know what its purpose is! I've added this to my pinned comment.
Joyce Drive at Mascot was NOT named after Allan Joyce, but after Frank B. Joyce - Botany Alderman (1949-61), Mayor 1949-53. Former President of Sydney County Council.
Albos chum bum buddy
@@ACDZ123 WRONG Joyce!!!!
@ettaxi1082 the street named after yes, but the little leapurachaun is albos bum chum 💯
Yes thats right @ettaxi1082, and I'm pleased that its named after Frank and not Alan!
Wow that was awesome, very informative. I’ve always wondered where does train tracks went and what they were. Thank you for sharing. I’d love to go on that train trip
Hi Vivian, glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for your feedback. Yes, hopefully they'll run it again next year!
Great video. Very interesting perspective and one very few people have seen. The history of the rail freight corridors in Sydney is interesting. It wasn’t that long ago that Sydney harbour hosted the big container ships and bulk cargo carriers. I remember as a teenager when the Rozelle rail yards were operational. I think the planning decisions to move those operations out of Sydney harbour have been positive, but it’s nice to reminisce about the old days. BTW I have some recent aerial photo's that cover Rozelle interchange, trains facility south and Sydney Gateway if you are interested.
Hi Mark, glad you enjoyed it! The history is similar to other cities (like London), where containerisation required larger and deeper ports, which had to be built further out. It would have been fascinating to have been in Sydney when the Rozelle yards were operational. Yes I'd love to see these aerial photos. You can send them to paul@transportvlog.com. Thanks Paul
Great video,very informative & enjoyable to watch.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
Nice 👍 Paul from chad transport vlogs
Thanks!
Hey Paul Awesome video you've uploaded on the Port Botany Line.
Thanks - glad you enjoyed it!
I am 76 YO and my first memories are looking at this line from our house in Brown Avenue when I was about 4 YO. I guess this line's original purpose was to haul coal for Bunnerong Power Station??
Thanks for a great video. Very interesting and enjoyable. I missed out on getting tickets for this year's journeys but hopefully the same run will be offered next year.
Glad you enjoyed it! Yes hopefully! - the CPH Rail Motor trips seem to be a regular part of the Heritage Expo, and it would be wonderful if they do the Botany Line again next year, as the duplication work will all be pretty much finished by then.
Great video Paul
Thanks Luke
16:24 use to be a Level Crossing before Wentworth rd overpass got built
Thanks for that Chris
Changed a bit since I was on freight x Enfield, transferred to Sydney ( inter city ) in 1998.
Yes it certainly has!
Paul, can we put in an order for, say, the Southern Freight Line from Chullora to Macarthur. Or the new entry and exit for the Moorebank Qube Terminal. I travelled the Moorebank/Holsworthy/Anzac Rifle Range line by steam in my Army Cadet days but there still seems to be a connection from the Holsworthy-Glenfield line near Moorebank Avenue.
You can! but for front of train footage, I'm going to be relying on further CPH Rail Motor tours, unless I can find a way o get in the cab of a freight loco! Nothing's impossible, and as the channel gets larger, then it gets easier to arrange this and other behind the scenes type activities.
21:55 - indeed given the weeds all over the place.
Thanks for this interesting old freight line. You sort of threw out a hint as to where this is all gonna be a part of Metro eventually. Hope I got that right. I am updating my Metro Preparation at St Marys files if interested. The number 1 revision is done already.
Glad you enjoyed it Geoff. Yes I continued the journey to Dulwich Hill partly to talk about the Metro conversion work. Yes I'll check out your St Marys video.
Thanks, Paul. Just looked at Treseleg's bus ride on old Coogee tram route.
@Tressteleg I got his name wrong about Coogee etc.
Paul. That was very helpful. I've never seen that part before. How long before the metro trains be running to Bankstown
Glad you enjoyed it James. Likely to be late 2025.
should make it a suburban line too
it would be good to have service to the port aswell
28:30 I think that if a goods train derailed on the freight line adjacent to the new "Metro" line, the freight wagons would crumple the fence like paper. Not much of a barrier.
Also, at 15:30 the new Bridge over Wentworth Drive replaced the old level crossing located at about 16:23 next to the large Park and Fly building.
I was lucky enough to travel on the Botany line as far as the by then defunct Bunnerong Powerhouse sidings behind 53 Class loco 5461 in the early 1990s. It must have been a surprise to traffic on busy Botany Road to see a steam train pass overhead!
Thanks very much for that. I've added your points about Wentworth Avenue (and the rail bridge over it), replacing the Wentworth Drive level crossing to my pinned comment. That must have been great fun travelling on the Botany Line behind a steam loco!
@@TransportVlog Yes, a level crossing in the Eastern Suburbs was definitely an oddity and a rarity by then. I did use it a couple of times in its last weeks of operation.
I live in Campsie and have always wondered why the train station has no platform facing the rear. Now I understand it's the main freight line behind the station.
It's a good idea to replace trucks with trains as trains emit way less carbon, pollutants and dust per ton of goods. Would be even greater if the trains were electric driven.
Yes, its one of two platform zeros, the other being Lidcombe. Yes absolutely!
Loved this video as always! Wondering why the metro conversion will only reach Bankstown and not Regents park or Sefton?
Looking on google maps, they could even build a new interchange station between Regents park and Sefton in the 'sefton trinagle' and have new elevated track from just north of Birrong Station, over the freight railway and Auburn road to the new interchange station with terminating metro platforms.
There is a somewhat future plan to continue more directly West to Liverpool with new I suspect mostly tunneled track.
Bankstown was the main goal, being a large population centre, and as Mark says, it also allows for a future extension to Liverpool. Regents Park and Sefton will still have direct trains to the CBD following conversion of the Bankstown Line to Metro.
Loved this thanks Paul. Any idea if the concept of using the line for commuters was/has ever been mooted?
Glad you enjoyed it. I think' its always been considered as a freight line, and the T8 covers the airport area. Also, there are no junctions or connecting tracks to take this line onto the Illawarra Lines at Sydenham without reversing, so that would be an issue. Good question though!
Hi Paul, I have always wanted to see this line. Many times, I saw goods trains passing behind Marrickville Railway Station in years gone by. I would love to see light rail running on this line some day. Would you happen to know what the building is on the right, (27:14) behind Marrickville Station? It seems to have replaced the former Marrickville RSL Club building. you are correct about the goods line previously being electrified. I remember back many years ago seeing electric parcel vans using it passing Marrickville Station. i notice that they have even fenced off the back of Marrickville Station, which used to have an open view when I was there years ago. Anyway, thanks for sharing another truly incredible video. All the very best from Rob in Melbourne Australia.
Hi Rob, that's an apartment building now. Yes that fencing at Marrickville has gone up very recently, as I remember that open view well! Glad you enjoyed seeing this line.
Interesting. The entire building there has completely changed even since I was there back in early 2000 for a short visit to Marrickville. On checking further, using Google Maps, that new building seems to include shops as well. The address of the Marrickville RSL Club is also listed as being there, though when looking at a street photo view, I could not see any mention of it at all. Hence, they may be behind the building or moved to a new location. I remember, when they first built the former RSL Club building, I was rather disappointed, as I thought it was originally going to be something new for the trains.
Hi Paul . Another good video
Do you know when this " rail tour" will take place again.
It will probably happen again for the next Transport Heritage Expo which is normally on the long weekend in early October. The route might change, but the CPH Rail Motor trips always incorporate some freight only lines.
Page St, Banksia St and maybe Bay St, had level crossings till about 1980
I lived in Bay St in the early 1950's and it did not have a level crossing. I remember racing down as a kid to watch a goods , usually a coal train for Bunnerong power station or oil to the refinery, mostly hauled by standard goods but my favourite was the new kid on the block, the 41 class diesel in their green livery. The smells in the area were notorious, we had a tannery 2 houses away next to the railway and when the wind was blowing, the strong pong from Kelloggs. I also think there was a siding on the Botany side of Bay St, although it was rarely used. Paul, another exceptional video bringing back wonderful memories as a 6 year old .
Thanks for that Robin, I've added this as a pinned comment! That explains why Banksia Street is now split by the rail corridor.
Hi @traindude1949. Thanks for confirming that Bay St didn't have a level crossing, and your sharing your childhood memories of this line, and the local industrial smells! Thanks also for your lovely feedback on this video, and glad it bought back those wonderful childhood memories!
I thought the whole of Sydney is the arse end!
Of course not 😁
When heading to Sydney it is referred to as the Up direction and when heading away it is the Down direction irrespective of where you actually are and all trains and platforms are even numbered on the up and odd numbered on the down direction
Great question! Yes that's right, but as the Down Botany Line (going north), goes into the Down Mains Goods Line at Marrickville Jcn (which is going away from Sydney), it's referred to as the Down Line. I got this information from two sources, which I've linked to below. ARTC - www.artc.com.au/uploads/ARTCS3120002_SFN.pdf, and Railsafe - railsafe.org.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/54329/Botany-Line-Botany-Interface-to-Marrickville-Jct-M50.pdf
@@TransportVlog From what I understand on single line working the same applies with the signalling a signal that is on the left facing to wards Sydney is an up signal and a signal on the left facing away is a down signal
This has been the case for upwards of two hundred years and is world wide
It's possible they have a system specific to the botany line but that would be unusual probably once the duplication is finished they will go back to the old system
At 6:09 those grey containers to the left are called techtainer I think... They carry putrescible waste. The rail line to the immediate left of the 3 power engines goes I think into the large grey white shed in the background which is the waste transfer station run by Veolia. Nicely narrated. I'm enjoying your video... Do you remember or are you old enough to remember the two single deck red rattler carriages that were parked up on that line ? They were faded and had spoked wheels and were there from at least 1977 by themselves until they were joined up with other decommissioned single deck fleet ? The two would of been parked on the centre line at about the 20:13 min mark clearly visible from the road. I've got photos somewhere from inside of them and all angles around them as in 1989 as a teen I went to see them. At least one of them had a coat of arms logo thing displayed on the outside.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Yes someone else mentioned that Old Botany Yard is now a Veolia waste station. I've only lived in Sydney since 2010, and I hadn't been on this line (or even close to it), prior to making this video, so sadly haven't seen the single deck red rattlers. If you can find the photos, and can scan them, feel I'd love to see them. My email is paul@transportvlog.com.
@@TransportVlog be my pleasure. I need no credit tho if I can obtain them again and I think a mate has them on computer as well.. feel free to share them where ever ☺️👍
That fence that separates the metro line is only meant to exclude people. It wouldn't stop a derailed good train. I half expected to see a concrete wall here.
Yes that's right. I clarified the purpose of the segregation fencing when I spoke with Hugh Lawson at Sydenham Station. You can see that part of the video here - czcams.com/video/fFd8WZowJ2M/video.htmlsi=Ts1K-1ESeo1S3lD4&t=792
(24:49) 4 Illawarra lines... & 3 going to Marrickville
key part you missed out here is the XPT Service/maintenance in the middle of this junction
Hi Paul, that will get included in a future CPH Rail Motor video, which started at Central, went via Sydenham and right past the XPT centre. It wasn't visible on this CPH rail motor tour (well not from the front anyway) which is partly why I didn't mention it.
@@TransportVlog What is the big white building at (24:50) in the middle on the two lines "illawarra" Bankstown Lines
Now I heard you acknowledge the bottle neck and need for duplication but are you aware of the Intermodal yard out at Moorebank which intends to receive a lot of these trains? I worked on its design & construction management for the first 4 years of the project.
Yes I've seen the Moorebank yard (and line veering off towards it) from trains on the T8on the approach from Glenfield. Great to hear that you've worked on that. It would be a fun place to visit sometime!
@@TransportVlog It's quite an operation! Once the train arrives at the IMEX (Import/Export) gates, the driver steps out and automation takes over. Containers scanned as they enter the yard. The overhead and mobile cranes are all automated as well. Containers are either delivered to a truck, warehouse or the adjacent interstate train yard.
the new entrance at central station opened last week and they replaced the signs and do an update on the station
Yes that's right. I've filmed the new Chalmers Street entrance last week and currently putting the video together.
Is that black metro fence really strong enough to deflect a detailed train?
Maybe it would stop ping pong balls if they were being transported.
Unlikely.. but it would stop passengers on a stopped driverless train accidentally wandering onto a live freight corridor.
Possibly not, but it also provides a barrier for track maintenance crews working on a possession on either line. I'll see if I can find out some more about the purposes of these fences.
Think the second line is now in use today
That's good to know. I'll check that out next time I'm in this area.
Is that The Petro port on the intro?
You mean Petro China? - Yes they do have a port in Botany
Is there any info as to why these lines were "de-electrified"? Would surely be better than having the diesels spewing fumes all around. But in the yards where they're loading containers onto wagons they need the space above the tracks for cranes etc. So a limited number of diesels would be required for shunting I suppose.
Hi Robert, National Rail (now Pacific National) decided in the late 90s to use diesel traction for all freight services and that forced the withdrawal of the remaining 86 class electric locos, and the removal of overhead wires on the goods lines. It seems like a crazy decision now, and it will be interesting to see what happens in the future with the strive for zero emissions. Personally I would like to see some bi-modal diesel/ electric locos, as many freight services run under the wires for quite long distances! And that would solve the shunting issue too! Also battery powered locos may become a thing too!
Do you have botany bay to moorebank container terminal for qube
Hi Brian, no I don't unfortunately. I don't have a way to do these types of videos outside of special railtours such as the CPH rail motor ones.
I was saddened particularly where it veers away from the airport and seeing all those changes with the new roads being built and all that soulless new concrete and overpasses under construction.
When I last drove taxis in 2014 non of that was there and I yearned to explore the train line there. The NSW government have ruined it.
Thy only part that looked fascinating and original looking was after the final new overpass going to St Peters interchange. I hate it.
Yes, it not to everyones taste. I'm hoping that the cycleways on some of the new roads will offer some different views of this line.
I don't think that fence will do much to protect the metro line from a derailed freight train! Now that would be quite and incident!
Possibly not! I'll see if I can find some more information on the reasons for this fencing.
Are anglophone countries just bad at building things? I wonder if the T3 would be able to run more services if it’s simply rerouted via this goods line? Or not practical
Capacity isn't really an issue on the T3. I'm sure the line could run trains every 5 minutes if there was enough demand for it. The problem would be capacity closer to Central. It's good to keep passenger and freight trains separate where possible, and that's what the goods line does well.
Paul, love your videos, but please, train tracks do not bend, they curve !
Thanks Graeme, I'll remember that for next time! 😃
“Ass end of sydney” is a bit rude 🤭 lived in the area my whole life. The best part of sydney. 😜
R U a cling-on?
Arse ...Americans say ass
Hi @jpm2035, yes it is a bit - I did consider changing then opening phrase, especially as I wasn't sure if my Dad would approve! Having been on this line has sparked an interest to explore the Botany area further.