On the King's Birthday weekend 2023, these two locomotives hauled shuttles between Bathurst and Wimbledon, and a quick tour to Orange. In each case it meant climbing the famous Tumulla Bank south of Bathurst.
I grew up listening to the sounds of Tumulla through records like 'Power on the Move' and 'Helper Service', yet never once in my life have I seen the bank, or steam tackling it. What a wonderful thing it was to witness these two well seasoned locos create the same sounds of energy and grit as they hauled their cars over the summit. I am enlightened - I have stood upon sacred ground.
I will be posting as many clips as I can make, including a day at the recently re-opened Lithgow Zig Zag Railway.