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Australian Preservation

 

 

 

Preservation

 

When it came about railway preservation, the Australian (like most in the western countries) are really serious about it. They felt that each aspect of railroad operation of the past has a significant history behind it. Even if it just a railway ticket!

And in Western Australia, a group of railway enthusiast and former employee of State Railway had formed a company called 'Hotham Valley Tourist Railway'.

It's aim its not just preserving the old steam and diesel locos or passenger cars. They also making money from it. And by doing that, they're not just fulfiling their hobby, or preserving old rolling stocks, they also helping the tourism industry in Western Australia.

NOTE: I'm sorry if I don't have the picture of their steam locomotive, as I never saw them by myself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The above view of Hotham Valley Excursion train, while stopping at Fremantle station.

This view is reminiscence of the old 'Westlander' train that used to go between Perth and Kalgoorlie. The Westlander was used to bring the interstate passenger on its Western Australian leg of trip, prior to gauge standartization in Australia.

The Westlander was withdrawn when the railway line to Kalgoorlie was converted to standard gauge, and the Indian Pacific train was introduced at around 1960s and 70s.

A further view of the train.

The track in the foreground is standard (1435 mm) gauge, and was once a part of a marshalling yard in Fremantle harbour, whereas the railway line adjacent to the platform is narrow (1067 mm) gauge.

When the freight traffic was declined in 1990s, the yard was closed, and all of its narrow gauge lines were pulled.

Ground level view of the excursion train, while stopping at Fremantle station.

Fremantle station was once a very busy station, serving the passenger from the arriving ship at Fremantle port (it's located just beside the station area) who wants to go to other towns in Western Australia by train.

Nowaday, the traffic are limited to electric suburban train, with occasional excursion Hotham Valley train or standard gauge freight trains.