The Brit From Oz 8T5

21/03/2026

In Auld Lang Syne, V sets still ruled the Blue Mountains. In this film recorded in the closing days of last year, they still did.
My newest release is really one for people who enjoy watching trains go by, featuring V sets, Mariyungs and a small selection of diesel trains in the NSW Blue Mountains between 21st and 31st December 2025.
Across sixteen minutes, we visit Dargan (twice), Bell, Zig Zag and Soldier's Bank amongst other places, with the well-achieved aim of getting plenty of the soon-to-be-gone (at the time) V sets plus whatever else came along.

Enjoy!
- Duck

V sets, Mariyungs and a small selection of diesel-operated trains in the NSW Upper Blue Mountains during the closing days of December 2025, including my fina...

16/03/2026

“Extra Endeavours”
On Sunday 15th March 2026, Sydney Trains began laying on two extra trains between Mount Victoria/ Lithgow and Bathurst in both directions daily. Operating under the headcodes WN31-34, these new services provide extra transport whilst the Great Western Highway is closed at Victoria Pass, alongside new road coach services between Bathurst and Katoomba.

In these scenes, Endeavour N12 is operating the new services on their first day (15/03/26), captured at Wambool as WN31 and Tarana as WN33. The patronage on the latter train appeared respectable if not overly high.

More information and historical tidbits in individual captions.
Enjoy!
- Duck

13/03/2026

"Contrasts", and not just in colour.
Friday 13th March 2026 was not an unlucky day, for it marked the first time a New Regional Fleet "Civity" set has operated through the NSW Central West under its own power. The trains have done so in Sydney itself and on a few tests around Dubbo, but this is the first time one has made the Dubbo - Sydney journey without being towed by a locomotive.

"Civity" set R4 had the honours of the run, captured by me as it passed through the site of Tarana Quarry Station (closed 1974), west of Tarana itself, at 11:32. These trains will be replacing some (but not all) of the XPT, XPLorer and Endeavour fleets currently in service with NSW Trainlink and Sydney Trains.

At the other end of the day, I also captured WT28 "Central West XPT" at Athol (not shown) and Georges Plains, with XP2012 and XP2003 in charge. First entering service in April 1982, these now forty-four-year-old trains (well, nearly for the first ones, which XP2003 is amongst) are the first to go when the Civitys enter service. That time has not yet arrived though, so it's very much a case of "capture them whilst you still can".

Enjoy!
- Duck

05/03/2026

The NSW Great Western Railway has seen some uncommon visitors over the past couple of weeks, with QUBE's Cobar ore train diverted via Bathurst and One Rail Australia making a rare appearance on ballast workings. Amongst the regular trains, these made for fun sights!

These photos show the 1RA and QUBE workings, plus one from SSR, at a few locations around Bathurst during the date range 20/02 - 06/03/2026. More information on the individual workings is available in the captions and, as always, they will be making appearances in upcoming videos too.

Enjoy!
- Duck

01/03/2026

My latest production shows a selection of trains at the M1 entry/ exit overpass between Berowra and Cowan.
Across 16th & 24th January 2024, there's a fair few freighters to see, including NR109 leading Pacific National's 3MB4, as well as number of passenger trains including Journey Beyond Rail's Great Southern and several V sets, the latter a sight not possible on the Main North anymore.

Enjoy!
- Duck

A selection of trains at the M1 entry/ exit overpass between Berowra and Cowan over two days in January 2024, including 2TA8 "Great Southern", Ghan-livery NR...

21/02/2026

On Saturday 8th November 2025, CLF3 “Jason Ferguson” lead SSR’s 1841 empty grain along the NSW Great Western Railway, accompanied by then-recently acquired MRL002 and photographer favourite 8049.
With such a colourful consist lead by an engine which had, until this point, yet to run in this region since receiving its name and new paint, a chase was definitely in order!

In my newest film, we see the colourful consist at six locations from Locksley to Spring Hill as it heads westwards. Five other trains, both passenger and freight, appear too, including a heritage operation from three dats prior.

Enjoy!
- Duck

On Sunday 8th November 2025, CLF3 "Jason Ferguson" lead SSR's Train 1841 empty grain from Enfield to loading points at Nevertire and Trangie, in the company ...

13/02/2026

On Saturday 6th December 2025, Journey Beyond Rail's "Great Southern", the first of the 2025/6 season, was diverted via Forbes and Bathurst, in order to avoid a Main South trackwork possession.
This resulted in a rare sight of the orange and silver train between Parkes and Polona and the first ever sight of it passing through Bathurst.

In the company of A -To- Z Photography and, briefly, Bathurst Trainspotting, I gave chase, netting six sights of the train between Molong and Brewongle, as well as a few other passenger and freight services along the way. This film also finds time to look at the history of the Great Southern, possibly the newest train to ever appear on TheBritFromOz.

Enjoy!
- Duck

Any unauthorised reuploading of this film, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.

Not quite the famous ICEHOUSE lyric, but then, it doesn't need to be!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Brit-From-Oz-8T5-290475251465865/X: https://twitt...

07/02/2026

A new series has premiered on TheBritFromOz!
Great Western Chronicles continues the story of NSW Central West Railway Operations from where the Bathurst Volumes and Wild West Chases left off last year.

In this first instalment, there are twenty-one trains at various locations from Rydal to Gresham across October and November 2024, including the last of the Pacific National Manildra trains, the first couple of SSR Manildras, grains, intermodals and passenger services.
A new era both for TheBritFromOz and Central West operations (a point I raised in Manildra Regenerating in 2024), plus, with twenty-one trains of nearly all types typical of the region, is the perfect way to start a new series.

Enjoy!
- Duck

The official launch of Great Western Chronicles!A bevy of trains, twenty-one in all, from no fewer than nine operators across an even greater number of locat...

03/02/2026

“The Final Encore”
As has been documented by what seems like half of NSW, the final revenue service V set ran on 30/01/2026, closing an era in Australian electric rail commuter transportation lasting nearly fifty-six years.

Sets V10 & V25 had the honour of running that final service, for which they (or one cab) were painted into the class’ original “Blue Goose” livery from 1970.
These photos show that final run at Mount Victoria on 30/01/26, as well as a few shots of the train on its way up to Lithgow on 29/01/26 as W591.

My video of the train on both runs is already out and it will be appearing in my V set Farewell film coming in a couple of weeks.

Bye bye V sets, bye bye…
- Duck

30/01/2026

“This is, as they say, it”.
On 30/01/2026 (earlier today), the final Intercity V set ran in regular service, bringing to a close a fifty-six year (+/- a few months) era of these much-loved trains ferrying commuters between Sydney and the Central Coast, Blue Mountains and South Coast.

To mark the occasion, V10 & V25 were painted into the class’ original livery from 1970, dubbed “Blue Goose” by virtually everyone, to operate the service: W524 from Lithgow to Sydney.

In this short film, W524 appears at Mount Victoria earlier today (30/01/26), preceded by three views of V10 & V25 on their way up the Blue Mountains on 29/01.
No doubt the Blue Geese will appear in my big V set Farewell video in a few weeks, but in the meantime, you can enjoy them now!
- Duck

Bye bye V sets, bye bye...Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Brit-From-Oz-8T5-290475251465865/X: https://twitter.com/TheBritFromOzBlogger: https://thebri...

27/01/2026

Eeek, a South Coast Line film from me! That never happens…
In my newest video, we venture to Minnamurra, Bombo, Kiama and Oatley on Sunday 28/12/25. Across the day, there’s Manildra freights, OSCARs, an Endeavour and, the jewel in the crown, InterCity V3 on The Picnic Train Charter duties.
Vs have not run to Kiama regularly since 2012 and will soon be gone altogether, so this is quite special.

There’s also plenty of history too: The line to Bombo, Kiama and Bomaderry has quite the tale to tell, both in what happened and what could have.

Enjoy!
- Duck

Eeek, a South Coast Line film from me! That never happens...Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Brit-From-Oz-8T5-290475251465865/X: https://twitter.com/Th...

25/01/2026

A few more trains on the southern part of the NSW South Coast Railway on Sunday 28/12/2025, ranging from freights at Minnamurra to diesel railcars at Omega and suburbans at Como!

As well as V3 operating The Picnic Train's round trip charter to Kiama, there were plenty of other, more regular trains to be seen at the lovely spots this part of the South Coast has to offer.

More details in individual captions.
Enjoy!
- Duck