Over dinner last night we changed our plans for today so instead of looking around the Old Port Area of Echuca (which we will now do tomorrow), we decided to go to Melbourne for the day, by train. We had no particular reason to go to Melbourne other than for the train trip itself and at the fares on offer, why not?
Continue reading “A side trip to Melbourne – Day 318”
A Walk Around Murray Bridge – Day 299 (Pt 2.)
The city of Murray Bridge is situated on the lower reaches of the Murray River – the third longest navigable river in the world, after the Amazon and the Nile. It is about 80 kms from the South Australian state capital of Adelaide. Surprise, surprise its name derives from a bridge built across the River Murray in 1879. The city is a typical rural hub surrounded by a major agricultural area focusing on the dairy industry, chicken raising, pig breeding and vegetable growing. From a tourist perspective the main attractions are paddle steamer trips along the river and a visit to the nearby Monarto Safari Park.
Continue reading “A Walk Around Murray Bridge – Day 299 (Pt 2.)”
The Kumgangsan Chongnyon Railway Line – North Korea
Having left Wonsan our next stop was Mt Kumgang, three hours drive to the south, and to get there we drove along the (mainly) coastal National Highway 7 (AH6). For much of the way the highway runs in close proximity to the Kumgangsan Chongnyon railway line. Being a bit of a railway buff I enjoyed a bit of train station spotting en route to Mt Kumgang though sadly did not see any trains. In this post I share a few details on the line together with a few pictures of the stations I passed as well as a few other railway related snaps.
Continue reading “The Kumgangsan Chongnyon Railway Line – North Korea”
Driving from Hamhung to Pujon County, North Korea – Part B
This is Part B of my review on my bus trip from Hamhung to Pujon County, through some of the most scenic parts of North Korea, affording us glimpses of this scenery and of everyday life in this rarely visited part of the country. If you have not read Part A then I suggest you do so, particularly as it includes a commentary on why I have chosen to publish a number of photographs which are possibly in contravention of North Korean rules on photography.
Continue reading “Driving from Hamhung to Pujon County, North Korea – Part B”
Goulburn Rail Heritage Centre
Based on a quick look at my main picture above you could be forgiven if you thought this review might be about a sports arena of some sort. What we actually see here is a Railway Roundhouse, in fact the largest one in New South Wales. Continue reading “Goulburn Rail Heritage Centre”
Goulburn Train Station – Building and History
For a number of years before the station was finally opened in 1869, Goulburn had been agitating for a railway link with Sydney. The Sydney Railway Company had been formed in 1849 and the first steam railway in Australia was conceived, designed and built to run between Sydney and Goulburn and so it did, in 1869. Four of the company’s six founding directors were from Goulburn and all had vested interests in getting a train (freight service) to Goulburn up and running. Continue reading “Goulburn Train Station – Building and History”
The Railway and north Goulburn
Anyone who has been to Goulburn and up the Rocky Hill War Memorial will immediately recognise the viaduct in my main picture above. When you come down into town it is nowhere to be seen and unless you know exactly where you are going it’s actually hard to find it. Big though it is, you will not stumble across it. Continue reading “The Railway and north Goulburn”
Pyongyang Railway Museum
Being a fan of all things railway I greatly looked forward to visiting this museum and, being in North Korea, I knew it would have that something extra. It did not disappoint. Continue reading “Pyongyang Railway Museum”
Train Travel in North Korea – For No One and for the Leaders
On 30 November 2018 a South Korean train crossed the border into North Korea. ‘So what’ – I hear you say – ‘trains cross international borders every day of the week’. Continue reading “Train Travel in North Korea – For No One and for the Leaders”
Train Travel in North Korea – Trains for the People
On both of my visits to North Korea (2014 and 2018) trains and the railway system more generally, within the country and beyond, were only mentioned by guides in terms of the Leaders, the very few on which tourists are permitted to travel and the non-existent service to Seoul in South Korea. The overall quality and reliability of the network and, in particular, the domestic service available to locals was not discussed. Continue reading “Train Travel in North Korea – Trains for the People”
The Rambling Wombat 