Phil! Thank you for a lovely video. Wonderful to be able to have a free train ride into rural NSW especially on board an XPT. Great to see the NSW countryside, an area I will never get to see. Keep up with the excellent videos.
Hi Phil, you went on a free trip to Orange??? Wow!!! Absolutely awesome. Good on you. Sydney to Orange was my first ever overnight distant train trip, which was back in early 1966. My dad and traveled to Orange on the Saturday and returned to Sydney on the Sunday. We stayed at the Downtown Motel in Summer Street, Orange, which I think still exists there. Across the road from the motel back then, there was the Rosemarie Cafe, where we visited for most of our meals, while in Orange. Unfortunately, the Rosemarie Cafe has since closed down, which is a pity, as the food was excellent there. We also traveled up Mount Canobolas while there. Thanks for sharing this video, as it brings up some fond memories. I visited Orange quite a number of times, with my last visit being in 1979. Anyway, take care. Rob in Melbourne Australia.
Hi Phil 👋 you had the best seat on the train. Car C is the buffet car and also the car for the disabled and those with mobility issues. The only car with a reasonable ride and virtually no squeaking and air-conditioning that works. You had the best window view with no seat in front to obstruct your view. The replacement trains have much smaller windows than the XPT which is a disadvantage for those who want to enjoy the amazing countryside views. I have always been amused by the fact that Orange is well known for its apples. Great video, well done 👏 👍
Geez takes a bloke back to his old haunts, could not believe the changes to the Wallerwang power station, who would know some 50yrs ago as you ride past it in the dark all lit up then.Now just a mere shell of itself..The green rolling hills, a great time of the year. When the XPT first ran the guard would announce when the train reached 100mph =160 ks over the intercom between penrith and the bottom of the hills. Then once again from spring Hill to Orange. Great times, and the new Interurbans sitting there in Lithgow. When first brought out the XPT'S had engines designated to towns, sadly no longer sad really. Orange, greatest City west of the divide, and Blayney another great little town,live in Adelaide now.Miss it a lot.😢😢
This is a better XPT video trip compared to the other XPT videos Sydney trains Vlogs I would like to see more videos like this even if you go on the Indian Pacific train to Perth Western Australia or Adelaide South Australia
Lots of great memories on that line when we used to take a trip on the old mail trains, lots of different people and their stories made the trips fantastic
That is so cool! I should have done that with my friend. We just paid to go on the L1 to the rather disappointing tramsheds and then to the fish market. Next time there is a situation like this I will have to do this !
Thanks, Phil. Hasve always loved Orange. My Grandma and Uncle, Aunt and Cousins were there for years. Old Grandma's house is now a bunch of terrace villas. Would love to do this trip but alas not possible except by courtesy of yourself and other videoers.
Ah the memories, i used to be a pss and spent a few years working the dubbo run. Alot of different staff there now though. Regarding the seats, car C actually has a few economy style and priced seats in it
The train taking 4 hours 50min from Sydney to Orange is insane, obviously the Blue Mountains section is what it is but there is no reason Lithgow-Bathurst-Orange shouldnt be all 140-160kmh and the same for most of Emu Plains to Parramatta really.
Lithgow to Orange is similar terrain to the top of the Blue Mountains (think without the trees and with the gorges filled in). The line would need to be completely rebuilt like the highway was.
@@peejay1981 its nowhere near as bad, thats not a serious comment. For a start its rural not National Park and conservation; the elevation changes are much more manageable; you dont need this serve a bunch of isolated villages you can just express it from the Major centres; as you said there is a useful right of way in place already with the highway. Much easier.
Hope you enjoyed the free trip - something we pensioners get 365 days a year! Actually we usually pay the small supplement to book first class for the extra space and proximity to the buffet car on the Grafton XPT between Sydney and Wauchope.
I'd been told that the free travel was just up to stations that had Opal tap on/off points. If I'd known I probably would have gone to at least Bathurst. Oh well...
Ah Tarana my nearest station. As much as we have the Bullet, the Endeavours, with the commuter style seating, are quite uncomfortable for a 3+ hour trip, especially for a tall person like myself. I much prefer the Central West XPT for the trip to, and from, Sydney. Yes it costs more, the Bullet being an Opal service, but the comfort and cafe make the price worth it :) I've booked seat B19, also first class, for my upcoming trip.
I never through free travel on regional services would even be a thing. I wished I could do it but I'm busy with having an extended break from the trains. And besides I already did plenty of regional travel two years ago, so I don't need to do them now, at least until the new regional fleet begins service.
The new regional trains that will replace the XPT are bi-mode multiple units, so they’ll have engines in each car (a bit like the Xplorer DMUs) … that’s likely to mean they’re louder for passengers when running on diesel (because of the under-floor engines) compared to XPTs but should be quiet when running on electric sections. 🤔
Phil! Thank you for a lovely video. Wonderful to be able to have a free train ride into rural NSW especially on board an XPT. Great to see the NSW countryside, an area I will never get to see. Keep up with the excellent videos.
Thank you mate!
I’m happy to be able to show you these trips, more to come :)
This was such a relaxing video! What a way to travel without all the driver fatigue. Thanks Phil!!! 🎉
Very nice to travelling on a Xpt i hope you had a wonderful trip last Sunday
It was a great day out :)
Hi Phil, you went on a free trip to Orange??? Wow!!! Absolutely awesome. Good on you. Sydney to Orange was my first ever overnight distant train trip, which was back in early 1966. My dad and traveled to Orange on the Saturday and returned to Sydney on the Sunday. We stayed at the Downtown Motel in Summer Street, Orange, which I think still exists there. Across the road from the motel back then, there was the Rosemarie Cafe, where we visited for most of our meals, while in Orange. Unfortunately, the Rosemarie Cafe has since closed down, which is a pity, as the food was excellent there. We also traveled up Mount Canobolas while there. Thanks for sharing this video, as it brings up some fond memories. I visited Orange quite a number of times, with my last visit being in 1979. Anyway, take care. Rob in Melbourne Australia.
Hi Phil 👋 you had the best seat on the train. Car C is the buffet car and also the car for the disabled and those with mobility issues. The only car with a reasonable ride and virtually no squeaking and air-conditioning that works. You had the best window view with no seat in front to obstruct your view. The replacement trains have much smaller windows than the XPT which is a disadvantage for those who want to enjoy the amazing countryside views. I have always been amused by the fact that Orange is well known for its apples. Great video, well done 👏 👍
How do you get that silver set on your channel name?
@@MrAnsairDude You have to pay a membership/Patreon fee.
@@aussiejohn5835 how much also is the picture of a s set or what is it
@MrAnsairDude it's a Tset and there are different levels of membership. Press on the channel "JOIN " button and it will show you the charges.
i went on it free from taree to grafton to see the cement train leave grafton yard and it was cool and took it back from 9 am
That’s cool!
You saved a good amount of money :)
Geez takes a bloke back to his old haunts, could not believe the changes to the Wallerwang power station, who would know some 50yrs ago as you ride past it in the dark all lit up then.Now just a mere shell of itself..The green rolling hills, a great time of the year. When the XPT first ran the guard would announce when the train reached 100mph =160 ks over the intercom between penrith and the bottom of the hills. Then once again from spring Hill to Orange. Great times, and the new Interurbans sitting there in Lithgow. When first brought out the XPT'S had engines designated to towns, sadly no longer sad really. Orange, greatest City west of the divide, and Blayney another great little town,live in Adelaide now.Miss it a lot.😢😢
This is a better XPT video trip compared to the other XPT videos Sydney trains Vlogs I would like to see more videos like this even if you go on the Indian Pacific train to
Perth Western Australia or
Adelaide South Australia
Lots of great memories on that line when we used to take a trip on the old mail trains, lots of different people and their stories made the trips fantastic
I took advantage of the free rides last Saturday by checking out the new Metro stations between Crows Nest and Gadigal. Great video Phil as always.
That is so cool! I should have done that with my friend. We just paid to go on the L1 to the rather disappointing tramsheds and then to the fish market. Next time there is a situation like this I will have to do this !
Great video!🎉😊
Thank you! :)
Wow Phil, that’s amazing! I shall also travel on the Xpt.
Nice Video! ❤❤❤
Thanks, Phil. Hasve always loved Orange. My Grandma and Uncle, Aunt and Cousins were there for years. Old Grandma's house is now a bunch of terrace villas. Would love to do this trip but alas not possible except by courtesy of yourself and other videoers.
Nice vlog, phill!
You know what would help regional towns. Actually providing options for roll on/roll off bikes.
Agreed!
Ah the memories, i used to be a pss and spent a few years working the dubbo run. Alot of different staff there now though. Regarding the seats, car C actually has a few economy style and priced seats in it
The train taking 4 hours 50min from Sydney to Orange is insane, obviously the Blue Mountains section is what it is but there is no reason Lithgow-Bathurst-Orange shouldnt be all 140-160kmh and the same for most of Emu Plains to Parramatta really.
That's the time through to Dubbo. (6hr 30min.)
Lithgow to Orange is similar terrain to the top of the Blue Mountains (think without the trees and with the gorges filled in). The line would need to be completely rebuilt like the highway was.
@@aussiejohn5835 you're right, its 4 hours 50 min and I have changed my comment to reflect this
@@peejay1981 its nowhere near as bad, thats not a serious comment. For a start its rural not National Park and conservation; the elevation changes are much more manageable; you dont need this serve a bunch of isolated villages you can just express it from the Major centres; as you said there is a useful right of way in place already with the highway. Much easier.
@BigBlueMan118 The Blue Mountains does restrict the speed, and the entire trip is full of curves except between Wellington and Dubbo.
Nice video
Thank you :)
@@sydneytrainsvlogs welcome
Hope you enjoyed the free trip - something we pensioners get 365 days a year! Actually we usually pay the small supplement to book first class for the extra space and proximity to the buffet car on the Grafton XPT between Sydney and Wauchope.
Nice!
Thank you :)
Wow🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
😊
Hey Phil! Today I’m going to Canberra!
I was on the way back to Violet Town, and I saw the XPT from Sydney to Melbourne.
That’s awesome!
I haven’t been to Violet Town before
@@sydneytrainsvlogsye it’s in victoria
What a good trip. Never been to orage.
Sucks you didn't have more time. Could've travelled right out to Dubbo to see the new trains.
Yeah i could have gone to Dubbo but i’d only have half an hour there haha
I'd been told that the free travel was just up to stations that had Opal tap on/off points. If I'd known I probably would have gone to at least Bathurst. Oh well...
It was all trains including TrainLink to Melbourne, Brisbane, Dubbo and everywhere else they go :)
Ah Tarana my nearest station. As much as we have the Bullet, the Endeavours, with the commuter style seating, are quite uncomfortable for a 3+ hour trip, especially for a tall person like myself. I much prefer the Central West XPT for the trip to, and from, Sydney. Yes it costs more, the Bullet being an Opal service, but the comfort and cafe make the price worth it :) I've booked seat B19, also first class, for my upcoming trip.
i wanted to this, free travel on the xpt. it was booked out on friday, wanted to go to melbourne in a sleeper
I was actually on this service in carrige D on the same day
That’s so cool!!
Small world :)
I never through free travel on regional services would even be a thing. I wished I could do it but I'm busy with having an extended break from the trains.
And besides I already did plenty of regional travel two years ago, so I don't need to do them now, at least until the new regional fleet begins service.
Wow nice
Thank you :)
Your welcome
Why a set and tangara in middle is ot because is not in service
Free travel on state wide rail services? Can’t imagine that happening on my side of the world!
I've always wondered once the XPT will be like replaced with an Electric Motor Unit it would be much quieter
The new regional trains that will replace the XPT are bi-mode multiple units, so they’ll have engines in each car (a bit like the Xplorer DMUs) … that’s likely to mean they’re louder for passengers when running on diesel (because of the under-floor engines) compared to XPTs but should be quiet when running on electric sections. 🤔
looks like im not the only one to exploit the fare free weekend😂
Hahaha! It was a great idea to take advantage of it :)
@@sydneytrainsvlogs i went to good ol' katoomba, not orange though😅
That’s still a nice trip :)
How did you enjoy Orange because that’s where I live?
Orange was great :)
I once went all the way to Perth
That trip is on my bucket list! :)
you should tap on and tap off anyway.
Not required