Steam Train to Bungendore

Way too gorgeous an autumn day to stay indoors and the local branch of the Railway Historical Society was running its steam train trips to Bungendore so I decided to get some photos on the way to the shops. Where would be the best place? Canberra Station? Likely the most crowded. Bungendore? Too far. The bridge? Could make for a great photo but timing could be tricky. Queanbeyan? Yes! Appropriate olde worlde charm, not too far, and a scheduled stop. So off hubby and I went. The 1880's building was even lovelier than I remembered it, and a small crowd was already gathered there. The train arrived late, and then was further delayed while the train from Sydney came through, providing plenty of opportunities for photographs. After it departed I took a few more photos of the station, and then hubby said... it would be nice to get a photo of it crossing the bridge! That might have worked fine if we had set out promptly but as it was, we missed it by only a minute or two, arriving at the bridge to see it disappearing around the bend and a few people packing up their cameras. Well, since we'd come this far I suggested we continue on to Bungendore. To our surprise we arrived before the train did. While waiting we had a look at the store that now occupies part of the station building. In due course the train arrived and after unloading its passengers, most of whom wandered off to the main street to browse the shops, it shunted back to allow the train to Sydney to come through. Then it returned to the station, giving me another opportunity to photograph its "arrival". I also managed to get a few photos of the interiors of the carriages through the windows, and of the goods siding on the other side of the level crossing. And then we reminded ourselves that we had been going to the mall so, having enjoyed our diversion on an absolutely glorious autumn day, we set off back to Canberra.