What Will Sir Be Gunzelling?

TheLoadedDog · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 6:52 pm Post subject: What Will Sir Be Gunzelling?

So what's yer favourite gunzel, then?

For the purposes of this, try not to say just "steam". Everybody loves steam, so I'm taking it as a given. If it's steam, then try to narrow it down.

For mine, it's not so much electric trains themselves, but early electric trains (up to U boat vintage), And overhead/catenary. Also interesting perway. I can look at photos of overhead and of interesting pointwork, and I don't care if there's no train in it.

And - not very interesting - but I also like the overall "look" of electrified double track winding through mountainous sandstone country - (you can take the boy out of Sydney, but...)

I also must admit I don't mind my goods trains to be big, fuck-off, and modern. I'm happy to gunzel coalies, NRs, etc - stuff that many of you would run a mile from.
_________________
The idiot who, in railway carriages,
Scribbles on window-panes,
We only suffer
To ride on a buffer
In Parliamentary trains

drwaddles · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 7:46 pm Post subject:

I'm very much a railway archaeologist. You could call me an infrastructure gunzel I suppose as I prefer places that trains don't run anymore Laughing

In a rough order:

1. Remains of crossing places of main roads or former main roads (this is where my interest in railway archaeology began)
2. Old tunnels
3. Closed lines, former alignments and their remains
4. Old sidings/platforms/structures
5. Bridges, especially older ones

I'm especially interested in the Newcastle area as it's my spiritual home.

Edited to add in 1. and the last sentence

simont141 · Joined: 07 Apr 2008 Posts: 318 Location: Adelaide

Yer I pretty much have no interest in gunzelling apart from heritage. I'm a history buff, so I find anything of a bygone era to be quite arousing. Can't really be more specific than that I guess.

Although I have to admit that I did walk slowly through Spencer St the other week, checking out all the country trains there. I guess it's unusual for an Adelaidean to see that sort of train Shit-eating grin

_________________
Friends, Cunts, Romanrymen: Lend me your ears!

drwaddles · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 8:19 pm Post subject:

This hobby is a little more amusing than gunzelling:

ninthnotch · Site Admin Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 2340

One would like to gunzel between Wallan Loop and about Goulburn.
One also has a predilection for the Nullarbor, or the Adelaide Hills. One also prefers gunzelling to be indulged in with discerning friends, or solo; riff-raff tends to put one off one's gunzelling - nothing spoils a spiffing day of gallivanting about than encountering some Yahoo's that blabber incessantly about trains whilst dribbling.
_________________
Get a fucken move-on
Have some fucken sense
Learn the fucken art of
Self-de-fucken-fence

TheLoadedDog · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:33 pm Post subject:

More T Class, Vicar?
_________________
The idiot who, in railway carriages,
Scribbles on window-panes,
We only suffer
To ride on a buffer
In Parliamentary trains

ninthnotch · Site Admin Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 2340

What a spiffing idea, old bean.

Might one suggest to the gathered gentry that one has found the Mangalore Hotel (although it pains one to admit venturing into such places of ill-repute, what with the Temperance Society and all) now that the owners have changed and the old ones disposed of all their common banalities of ute-boganry, and enjoy the passing trains from the luxury of a beer garden, which, combined with the ambience of some well-worn plastic chairs and some restorative cordials, makes for a pleasant afternoon.
_________________
Get a fucken move-on
Have some fucken sense
Learn the fucken art of
Self-de-fucken-fence

TheLoadedDog · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:47 pm Post subject:

Indeed. One always finds it such a delight to stumble upon an ale arbour (a beer garden, as they say) with a beautiful and pleasing aspect o'er the railweh.

One must declare one ventures to take the restorative waters in such locales at every opportunity, as it presents itself. It pleases one no end to partake of Bombay and twos just as the consonant and delicate rhythm of an Alceau engine in Eight Nawtch settles upon the ear.

Boy! Another Pimms, if you please.

My pith helmet itches terribly in this climate, but ai find the Pimms quite curative in this regard.
_________________
The idiot who, in railway carriages,
Scribbles on window-panes,
We only suffer
To ride on a buffer
In Parliamentary trains

Skraw · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:02 pm Post subject:

Like the good dr I'm more the rail archaeologist than anything else. My favourites being old stations and yards (turntables, ash pits, signals) and then tunnels etc. I also like having a look at places where rail is but a memory - such as the Roslyn-Taralga line where one is flat out picking where the line went in places.
I do like steam and vintage diesel plus old sparks but don't really care which is which. I also like ultra modern shite but being where I am that means the odd OSCAR. By ultra modern I really mean flash EuroWank stuff.
Favourite of all must be CPH railcars though. Memories of riding these beasts from Coota to Tumut... they'll never be beaten.
_________________
26 March 2011... can't come quick enough.

TheLoadedDog · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:08 pm Post subject:

Well yeah, I do get turned on by shit like an ultra-modern Asian subway, and the like.

I'll have to get back to HK again, as last time I was there, the MTR still didn't have the platform doors - and I'm not entirely convinced I'd like 'em. The Tsuen Wan line used to look wonderfully Bondi Junction.
_________________
The idiot who, in railway carriages,
Scribbles on window-panes,
We only suffer
To ride on a buffer
In Parliamentary trains

TheLoadedDog · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:09 pm Post subject:

And anybody who can tell me the MTR's gauge (sans Googling) wins a free virtual beer.
_________________
The idiot who, in railway carriages,
Scribbles on window-panes,
We only suffer
To ride on a buffer
In Parliamentary trains

Bigged · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:37 pm Post subject:

Personally I love big Kick arse bridges.
Nothing says more about a railway than the size and construction of its bridges!
Look at the Melton weir trestle, Horseshoe bend, Iron bark gully, The Moorabool and Taradale trestles, maribyrnong and Moonee ponds ck . they were kick arse.
VR still the biggest and bestest other than the coat hanger which adding a rail track to it was just an afterthought anyway!
_________________
What you say here stays here!. Rodney Dangerfield

ninthnotch · Site Admin Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 2340

The gringos did some good bridges, especially on the North Coast - but viaducts? Check.
_________________
Get a fucken move-on
Have some fucken sense
Learn the fucken art of
Self-de-fucken-fence

Cobraking/42101 · Fuckwit Crusher Joined: 28 Jul 2007 Posts: 693

Notch you should check out Stanwell park viaduct on the Illawarra line one day its a long curving sucker looks pretty good too also the tall one at Picton is way cool.

Bigged · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:46 pm Post subject:

Notchie I just love iron work Yeah the Malmsbury viaduct is cool but Taradale is much better looking!
_________________
What you say here stays here!. Rodney Dangerfield