About a week ago a freight train going east on the Blue Mountains line partially derailed when one of the carriages came off the track. Unfortunately the train driver was unaware of the incident and so continued on for at least 10 kilometres, the dislodged wheel tearing up sleepers as it went. I am surprised that trains don't have sensors that can alert drivers when such a thing occurs, though maybe they do.

We have had a year of disruptions on the rail network, from strikes to landslides to flooding. The new Mariyung trains, which have been sitting idle for two years now, are due to come into service soon to replace the sturdy and reliable v-sets that have plied the inter-city lines for almost 40 years. I doubt that they'll last the same length of time.

The year is winding down, with Ann and JJ leaving for Europe on Wednesday, leaving Tom and I to our own devices. Maybe I will do a couple of extra shifts at 2RPH to fill in the time.

1. The damaged track looking west from Hazelbrook Station (repair crews in the distance)

2. Closeup of the offending carriage.