Found myself armed with a camera yesterday down at Victor Harbor taking photos of nothing in particular when I heard a steam engine whistle in the distance. And just happened to be in the exact spot for a great photo. Some days just want to turn out well!
The train concerned is the Cockle Train, run by the Steamranger Historical Society here in South Australia. It operates a number of services on the now isolated section of the former Mt Barker to Victor Harbor broad gauge line. The Cockle Train runs from Goolwa to Victor Harbor, along the edge of the Southern Ocean, about 12 miles apart. Cockles, a local shellfish prolific near the mouth of the Murray River, provide the name for this service that runs regularly on weekends and school holidays. A number of different rolling stock units are used to operate the service, including some heritage rail cars. I struck lucky, as the Duke of Edinburgh, the largest of the Steamranger locos currently in service was pulling the Cockle Train.
Enough of the intro, onto the photos. All shot with a K-x with Tammy 17-50 mounted, with UV filter and Hoya CPL on the front to combat the extremely strong sun (we'd hit 45C (113F) two days earlier in Adelaide).
First, the obligatory parental advisory...
I just happened to be photographing this bridge when I heard the train whistle, and immediately abandoned my intended return to Adelaide, figuring I had a hour or so I could juggle.
Crossing the Hindmarsh River, coming into Victor Harbor.
Detached from the train, running back to the turntable.
Time to turn. Electric powered turntable controlled from the yellow hut on the right. Apologies for the unintended product placement!
Turning, turning...
Almost there...
Exiting the turntable
Running back to rejoin the carriages
The old style level crossing gates remain at Victor Harbor. Hand operated.
The nicely maintained Victor Harbor station building
Boggies of the older carriage. Pretty simple stuff.
More of the passenger cars
Ready to head back to Goolwa
Passing Boomer Beach, heading up the rise towards Port Elliott. Yes, the sea close to shore was that intense aqua/turquoise colour you see. It was deeper greeny blue after about a mile out. I suspect the mixing of fresh water coming out of the mouth of the Murray River at Goolwa with the sea water was responsible for the unusual colour of the water close to shore. Once upon a time, many moons ago, I used to race a catamaran out in that bay.
And lucky last, and I then had to head back to Adelaide rather than keep chasing across to Goolwa.
