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For 41 years, the New South Wales XPT sets (short for Express Passenger Trains) have been providing long distance regional train services within the state and across two state borders into Victoria and Queensland. Introduced in 1982, the Comeng/ABB Transportation built XPT trains are based on the British Rail Intercity 125 HST, with passenger cars based on a design by Budd. The power cars are actually 50 cm (19.7 in) shorter than their UK cousins, but the XPTs were initially powered by the same Paxman Valenta engines, albeit downrated from 2,250 bhp to 2,000 bhp (1,680 to 1,490 kW) and with their gearing lowered for a top operating speed of 160 km/h (99 mph). These engines have since been replaced by Paxman VP185 engines. The XPT suspension was also modified to operate on inferior track, and there were changes to both air filters and cooling systems to cater for hotter and dustier Australian conditions. Just one train a day reaches the Queensland capital of Brisbane, leaving Sydney at 14:41 and travelling overnight to arrive in Brisbane at 04:53 the following morning. After a short layover, during which the compartments in Coach A are converted from two berth sleepers to three seat 'daysitters', the train returns south. The journey to Sydney is booked to take 14 hours and 17 minutes, with 23 intermediate stops, and it provides a vital transport service to regional areas, with multiple bus connections from places such as Tweed Heads and Byron Bay feeding the long distance trains. Given that the flight between Brisbane and Sydney takes a mere 95 minutes, we were probably the only people travelling the entire distance on this train. But what a fantastic experience it was! In this second video, we leave the Scenic Rim behind and travel across the lush pastoral lands of the Northern Rivers Region. A 90 minute sprint brings us to the important regional centre of Grafton where we cross the extremely impressive, two-tier, bridge that carries both Bent Street (formerly Summerland Way) and the North Coast railway line across the Clarence River. Opened in 1932, the heritage-listed structure is the only two tier, bascule truss bridge in NSW. The opening bascule span was operational from 1932 until 1969 when, with the decline in river traffic, it was welded shut to allow for the installation of a new water main across the bridge. Following a brief stop at Grafton, where the leading power car is fuelled and the crew changed, we continue on our way towards Coffs Harbour. As the train clings to the densely vegetated valley sides, we catch glimpses of the banana plantations for which this region is famed. Eventually, the vista opens up and we are a afforded a brief view of the ocean as we cross Coffs Creek before running into the station at Coffs Harbour. The train now makes several stops as it passes through the Nabucca Valley Region. The stations at Urunga and Nambucca Heads act as gateways to the coastal delights this region has to offer. Unfortunately, little of these treasures can be seen from the train, as the line passes through dense bush, with occasional rivers and creeks that flash by in an instant. At midday, and just over six hours into our epic journey, we arrive at the small riverside town of Macksville. Please feel free to share your thoughts on this video and on the XPTs in general. And watch out for part 3 where we will continue our journey south here @kartwheelkarl
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