Blue Mountains Journal

One the highway at Falconbridge there is an unusual pond at the side of the road. Unusual in that it doesn't seem to be water storage for the old steam trains and is filled with water lilies which flower at this time of year. I've often meant to stop and take a photo and did so this weekend. It is impossible to think of Waterlilies and the Blue Mountains without thinking of Kate Llewellyn's Blue Mountains Journal titled The Waterlily . This journal, which I read soon after arriving here, delighted me as it captures life here so well and many years later inspired me to create this photo journal. Words to Walk with: From The Waterlily by Kate Llewellyn. "When I came to live in the mountains I was determined to be happy. Sparrows were pecking the pale green and white shoots of the tree outside the kitchen as I made the first cup of tea for the day. I looked at them, watching them pull up their feathers and decided to write a journal."

The railway station is an important hub in every mountain town. Every day commuters gather there to be whisked away for a day's toil in the big smoke. It's not just Lawson that is in transition, I am too. Will I keep my room with a view , live back here full time or rejoin the weekday throng on the train? I'm waiting not very patiently for certain things to transpire. Words to walk with: From Transition by Dorothy Parker "What if I know, before the Summer goes Where dwelt this bitter frenzy shall be rest? What is it now, that June shall surely bring New promise, with the swallow and the rose? My heart is water, that I first must breast The terrible, slow loveliness of Spring."

Photo: Bumper of the 3526 Steam Train Words to walk with: Writing of the end of the ride made me think of this old hymn which was recorded by Johnny Cash , Louis Armstrong and others. "There's a land that is fairer than day, And by faith we can see it afar; For the Father waits over the way To prepare us a dwelling place there. In the sweet by and by, We shall meet on that beautiful shore; In the sweet by and by, We shall meet on that beautiful shore. We shall sing on that beautiful shore The melodious songs of the blessed; And our spirits shall sorrow no more, Not a sigh for the blessing of rest."

We got seats in the buffet car -- very comfortable. Words to walk with: The word 'buffet' makes me think of the artist Guy Buffet more than poetry. I've enjoy one of his Hawaiian prints in my home. Check out his work here -- as it happens he is most famous for his culinary paintings, which come to think of it is a really good fit with the word buffet.

At last! But I was surprised because I was expecting the 3801 . This one reminds me of the ones painted by the French impressionist Claude Monet at La Gare Saint-Lazare Photo: 3526 Steam train, arriving at Mount Victoria Station Words to walk with: Yes, I do know the title of today's post comes from Banjo Paterson's poem The Man From Snowy River and has nothing to do with trains or railway stations. "There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around That the colt from old Regret had got away, And had joined the wild bush horses — he was worth a thousand pound, So all the cracks had gathered to the fray. All the tried and noted riders from the stations near and far Had mustered at the homestead overnight, For the bushmen love hard riding where the wild bush horses are, And the stock-horse snuffs the battle with delight."

It's the great train festival in Mount Victoria this weekend so, being unusually relaxed this weekend, we decided to catch the train instead of chasing it for photos. Lucky we were relaxed, it was an hour late getting into Mt Vic. Words to walk with: Waiting by Emily Dickinson "I sing to use the waiting, My bonnet but to tie, And shut the door unto my house; No more to do have I, Till, his best step approaching, We journey to the day, And tell each other how we sang To keep the dark away."

At the end of the day weary commuters return from the noisy city, glad to count down stations to home as black night begins to swallow the day. Photo: Mural of 3801 train, Springwood Railway Station by Vern Treweeke, 2001 Next week I will show you some more of my favourite murals from around the mountains. Words to walk with: The Night Express by William Hurd Hillyer “There's a light at last in the sable mist, and it hangs like a rising star On the border-line 'twixt earth and sky, where the rails run straight and far; And deeply sounds from hill to hill, in mighty monotone, A distant voice—a hoarse, wild note with savage warning blown. 'Tis the night express, and well 't is named, for behold! from out the night It comes and darkly adown the rails it looms to the startled sight— Larger, nearer, nearer yet—till at last there's a clang and roar, A wave of heat, and a gleam of red from a closing furnace door; Then the crash and shriek of the rushing train—and our hea...

The sun rises red, a pretty sight as the train hurtles towards the city, leaving the beautiful bush a mere memory behind. Photo: Sunrise from train, Falconbridge Words to walk with: From The Australian Sunrise by James Lister Cuthbertson “Then the fiery Scorpion vanished, the magpie’s note was heard, And the wind in the sheoak wavered and the honeysuckles stirred; The airy golden vapour rose from the river breast, The kingfisher came darting out of his crannied nest, And the bulrushes and reed-beds put off their sallow grey And burnt with cloudy crimson at the dawning of the day.”

In the early morning dark, bleary-eyed daily commuters, heavily scarfed against the biting cold, huddle on the railway platforms waiting to board the fast express to the city. Photo: A painted station whistling by Words to walk with: From a Railway Carriage by Robert Louis Stevenson “Faster than fairies, faster than witches, Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches; And charging along like troops in a battle All through the meadows the horses and cattle: All of the sights of the hill and the plain Fly as thick as driving rain; And ever again, in the wink of an eye, Painted stations whistle by.”

Back in the steam era, traveling the line was an experience. Even today the Blue Mountains carriages, being furnished for longer distances, are more comfortable than those that cover the regular suburban circuits. Photo: Historic rail carriages, Mount Victoria Words to walk with: From Skimbleshanks: The Railway C at by T.S. Eliot “Oh it's very pleasant when you have found your little den With your name written up on the door. And the berth is very neat with a newly folded sheet And there's not a speck of dust on the floor. There is every sort of light - you can make it dark or bright; There's a button that you turn to make a breeze. There's a funny little basin you're supposed to wash your face in And a crank to shut the window if you sneeze. Then the guard looks in politely and will ask you very brightly' Do you like your morning tea weak or strong?' But Skimble's just behind him and was ready to remind him, For Skimble won't let anything go wron...

The 3801 is a historic steam locomotive that has been lovingly restored to enable young and old to enjoy the romance of billowing white steam, the clack-clack of wheels on the rails and the smell of burning coal in the air. Diesel trains began to replace steam from the 1950s with the very last steam trains removed from active service on New South Wales rail lines in the 1970s. Words to walk with: From Night Ride by Kenneth Slessor “The dark train shakes and plunges; bells cry out, the night-ride starts again. Soon I shall look out into nothing but blackness, pale, windy fields, the old roar and knock of the rails melts in dull fury. Pull down the blind. Sleep. Sleep Nothing but grey, rushing rivers of bush outside. Gaslight and milk-cans. Of Rapptown I recall nothing else.”

In July 1867 a railway line was opened running from Penrith (at the foot of the Blue Mountains) and terminated at Wentworth Falls (then called Weatherboard) about half way up. The first railway stations were near popular inns and quickly became the places where mountain townships grew. With the railway being so central to our towns and their history, it seems a perfect time warp when the 3801 steam train takes a tour along the line. The toot of the steam whistle in the distance is sure to draw us out of our houses to watch and wave as it passes through or to join the photographers chasing it up the line. Photo: 3801 steam train at Blackheath Words to walk with: From the lyrics of the song 3801 written in 1987 by Ray King and Ron Russell You can listen to the song at the unionsong.com website. “In the golden age of steam There lived a beauty queen Roamin' around the countryside She was a driver's dream. Workin' days and workin' nights Up before the sun They all tried ...

The name Scenic Railway suggests to me, and most people I know, a gentle steam train ride through pretty rainforest. It comes as a shock to the unwary to find it hurtles down an unbelievably steep incline – more like a roller coaster than something suited to your geriatric aunt. It does travel through some rainforest but most people are too busy gasping and gaping towards the light at the end of the tunnel to care. Photo: From Scenic Railway, Katoomba However, gentle steam trains do have a big part to play in Blue Mountains history as do the fast electric trains on our life today. I will start the story of the passenger railway tomorrow.

The Scenic Railway is said to be the steepest railway in the world with a 52 degree incline. Take a close look at the photo below. You will see the very steep rail lines and the car near the top. Photo: Scenic Railway, Katoomba The railway was constructed in the late 1800s to carry coal and shale out of the valley. It became a tourist attraction as early as the 1930s. The historic photograph from 1900 at infobluemountains.net.au shows the railway as it was when used for coal mining and without the vegetation around it, so gives a great view of how steep it really is. Words to walk with: From the Scenic World website “Ride the steepest incline Railway in the world down to a lush and hidden valley. The 415m descent will lead you through a cliff side tunnel into ancient rainforest.”

This week I did a walk in the lower mountains. The road climbs steeply from Emu Plains at the foot of the mountains up Lapstone Hill. In the 1860s when the first railway line was built the ascent was too much for the steam trains to take in a single burst and a tunnel was too expensive so a zig-zag (switch back) was constructed. There is an old zig-zag on each side of the mountains. The Lapstone climb began with an impressive 5 span viaduct across Knapsack Gully. This was originally built for a single railway track and was used until it was bypassed in the early 1890s when Glenbrook Tunnel was built. Photo: Knapsack Viaduct, Lapstone Following that the top was widened to carry 2 lanes of road traffic and was part of the Great Western Highway up the mountains until it was replaced in more recent years by the motorway. Today it is closed to regular vehicular traffic and is used as a walking track. I enjoyed the easy walk on a warm sunny afternoon to view this interesting historic struct...