Along the Lines: Volume 1 - Mt Lofty Railway Station.
Reviewed by: Chris Harding (Railway Digest)
Draw the curtains, turn up the volume, and enjoy! Tony Gatt has produced a little gem
of a DVD focusing on the historic Mt Lofty railway station nestled in the Adelaide
Hills. Mt Lofty has witnessed heavy trains battling steep grades for over 120 years. The
station saw its last passengers in 1987 and has been converted into a guest house, just
perfect for viewing the action.
The line is now standard gauge, and Tony has put together a composite of scenes
filmed over a three year period. The DVD is divided into segments titled: ‘Passenger
Trains’, ‘Peak Hour 1’, ‘Night Shift’, ‘Trackwork’, ‘Peak Hour 2’, ‘Through the Loop’
and ‘Motive power’.
The chapter ‘Passenger Trains’ includes Bluebird railcars on race specials and NRhauled
Overland services. The ‘Peak Hours’ show an array of ARG, Pacific National
and Freight Australia trains with lash ups such as: NR/NR/DL; NR/AN/DL/DL;
CLP/GM/GM/ALF; and quad G class.
A highlight of the program is its outstanding sound quality, best typified by the ‘Night
Shift’ sequence where the sound of the action comes into its own. You are treated to
such scenes as a CLP/ALF/GM/AL lash up passing a consist of GM/GM/CLP.
‘Trackwork’ shows Transfield track machines and an ARG rail train doing their
important work of keeping the tracks in good condition, while ‘Through the Loop’ has
passing and crossing action as triple CLFs and an ALF cross triple CLFs and CLP.
The one-off Freight Australia V class and even ex-FreightCorp unit 42210 make an
appearance. The final segment of the DVD is ‘Motive Power’ with a photo and
technical description of each class of locomotive appearing on the program.
Film and sound quality are first class. This is one that demands to be played loud.
