Well the Rogers headed out to the Southern Highlands for a weekend (or at least one night) away from home. We can hugely recommend the Pirouette Cafe which was not booked out busy like some other places in Robertson but deserves to be busier: food and service was great, prices and quantity reasonable too.
The weather was a carbon copy of the same time last year, granted it was raining but one of the nearby towns is named "Moss Vale" => valley of moss anyone, lots of rain and dampness? Raincoats were packed so we were not too uncomfortable.
The Fountaindale Grand Manor was as nice as it sounds without costing as much as you would expect, buffet breakfast on Sunday morning was a nice addition too.
Off to the Railway fair at the Robertson Heritage Railway Station. Whilst there were stalls selling hot food & drinks, local produce, toys, scented soaps, candles, flowers, the main event for the day is the arrival of the Cockatoo Run train from Sydney. This year 3265 was on loan to 3801 limited from the Powerhouse museum who had recently finished restoring the 100 something year old loco to running service. And don't forget "vintage" ALCO diesel 4501 on the back as help in times of trouble. The Rogers had purchased a family ticket from Robertson down to Mossvale and return; it was to be my daughter's first steam train ride. Quick photo shoot at Robertson station and off the 6 carriage train went. Much steam, smoke and ash in the eye as we sat in the beautiful wood panelled carriages owned by 3801 limited, ah the goodness
Lunched at Mossvale and again we can recommend the New Astor Cafe, really we only needed one fish and chips and then we would have got through it. Icing sugar on your pineapple fritters? Yes please! Not everywhere does that. Salt on the fish and chips? No thanks :-)
Then back to the Mossvale train station for the designated time of departure, which was not to be. But this gave all the train fans a chance to take in a through freight that changed crews and a CityRail voyager/explorer. Oh, and did I mention 3265 having her water gin filled and the coal moved forward in her tender? And 4501 posing with her sides open for whatever reason that made for some interesting photos that prominently display her ALCO heritage. In our cabin we had the pleasure of sitting with a gentleman who was a living tome of history on railways in NSW, good for me and my son who hail from QLD, and my wife who hails from WA learnt some stuff too! I never got his name but I am sure many who were on the Cockatoo Run would have had the opportunity to hear some great stories.
The run back to Robertson saw us sharing the same cabin with the gentleman mentioned earlier and another family. One of the great things about the weekend was how approachable most people were, striking up conversations with people who shared at least one common interest (trains) allows you to go on and find more common interests and meet some great people. Off the train at Robertson and 3265 gathers steam for the home run. The crossing 100m up the track meant for great opportunities to capture the train's departure.
All in all despite rain and cool, a great weekend, especially for us living in Canberra were the track mileage is, shall we say, somewhat limited :-(
See you there for Cockatoo Run 2010!
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