Christmas Drinks & Train Crawl Sydney to Canberra [Sat. 14 December]

[UP4014]

I am now safely at home in Melbourne, and after a quick nanna nap I am ready for another week of work and travel.

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What a fantastic event! I would have to rate this as one of the best dos of the year. I had a great time. Although the train trip was ~13 hours, the whole day went by very quickly.

I spent most of the trip in BAM1741, so it sounds like I missed out on some interesting train geek talk in BAM1748.

A massive vote of thanks to BAM1748 (Matt), Elyce, Charlie, Bruce and the numerous others whose generosity and skill made this event possible. I feel privileged to have had this opportunity. I know that Matt and co invested a lot of time and money to make this event run so smoothly, so a very big thank you from me. It was fantastic!

Special mentions to drewbles for the "ice run" at Thirroul that ensured everyone had cold beverages for the duration of the trip; and also to tuapekastar who picked me up and dropped me back home in Melbourne; and to Hyatt, who gave both SQ421 and penegal rather comfortable 240sqm (metre not feet) Diplomatic Suites. Having two of the largest rooms in the hotel was of course a little "wasted" given our late arrival meant we only used the rooms for a few hours, however the Hyatt crowd did enjoy a small bottle of 2008 Noble One as a nightcap to finish off what was an amazing day.

And finally thankyou for everyone who attended. The experience was enhanced by having such a diverse and experienced group of frequent travellers aboard the train. I apologise that I didn't get to speak to everyone at length, but I trust that you all enjoyed the experience as much as I did. Thanks also for your generosity with the donations to the Salvos at this important time of year.

Thanks for the kind words.

Matt

 

[samh004]

So long as they're of anyone but me, yes

I'll find some of you

 

[SFSC]

Before I post pics, are most people on AFF comfortable with me posting pics showing faces?

No problem here and a few tags might help too if everyone else is OK with it because my memory normally struggles to align names and faces anyway. When it needs to align name, AFF handle and face it sort-of just gives up. Oh well

 

[drewbles]

I'll find some of you

Yeah you would (just cause I took one of you asleep ).

 

[Major]

Before I post pics, are most people on AFF comfortable with me posting pics showing faces?

As long as it's not one of me reclining on you

 

[erkpod]

The whole thing of permission for photos is an interesting one.


Earlier this year, I was in Mexico City. The main street was taken over by pedestrians & cyclists as usually happens on Sunday mornings. So I was taking heaps of photos.

Only one guy had a sookylala. A group of about a dozen cyclists were waiting for the lights to change. So I took a fairly obvious group shot of them waiting to take off. One guy yelled at me in Spanish & then when he worked out that I wasn't from around there, he yelled at me in English. He thought that he was the main subject of the photo & that I should have asked him & the dozen or so people around him for permission before I took the photo, if not afterwards. His girlfriend was giving him the "shut up, you're making a scene" signals. I'd say she'd be used to that.

 

[MartinMemo]

To finish on a light-hearted note, I think the "call of the year" was made in BAM1741 shortly before we arrived at Queanbeyan. Needless to say - what happens on the train stays on the train... But I will publicly report that I have a very different opinion on Airport Security measures than that individual.

Sadly I forget the call of the year, happily for me what happens on the train stays on the train!

 

[drewbles]

Sadly I forget the call of the year, happily for me what happens on the train stays on the train!

There's always a leak though

 

[UP4014]

Sadly I forget the call of the year, happily for me what happens on the train stays on the train!

Yes, I missed that one, oh well hope it was good.

 

[Hvr]

Yes, I missed that one, oh well hope it was good.

It was ummmm, interesting.

 

[drewbles]

Yes, I missed that one, oh well hope it was good.

It was ummmm, interesting.

That's one way of putting it!

Someone needs to let Matt know, the people in BAM1748 missed out (and after all, it was the same train!).

 

[Hvr]

That's one way of putting it!

Someone needs to let Matt know, the people in BAM1748 missed out (and after all, it was the same train!).

I doubt I could retell it with the gravitas that it deserves.

 

[drewbles]

I doubt I could retell it with the gravitas that it deserves.

I have a solution... just do another train trip =)

 

[bass_ke]

It caused me an actual fit of laughter!

 

[bass_ke]

As long as it's not one of me reclining on you

Unfortunately pictures of the event don't exist!

You guys and gwilli should of sat in the "F" seats with serfty, Erk and I, we could of had a domino effect recline session!

 

[erkpod]

Unfortunately pictures of the event don't exist!

You guys and gwilli should of sat in the "F" seats with serfty, Erk and I, we could of had a domino effect recline session!

I was a little on the squashed size by my seat buddy on the ATR.

 

[medhead]

Yes, I missed that one, oh well hope it was good.

You were in economy, not j. It is definitely the quote of the trip, as per my earlier post.

I was disappointed that we didn't find out if the same trick stopped the police from pulling over taxis.

 

[MartinMemo]

You were in economy, not j. It is definitely the quote of the trip, as per my earlier post.

I was disappointed that we didn't find out if the same trick stopped the police from pulling over taxis.

I was surprised to see the scores of drunks from the historical train getting in their cars and driving home. No wonder the taxi company didn't take my call saying there were 200 people to be collected from Canberra station seriously.

 

[bass_ke]

I was surprised to see the scores of drunks from the historical train getting in their cars and driving home. No wonder the taxi company didn't take my call saying there were 200 people to be collected from Canberra station seriously.

Apple crumble made them better maybe?

I don't think the CP expected so many of us either!

 

[medhead]

I was surprised to see the scores of drunks from the historical train getting in their cars and driving home. No wonder the taxi company didn't take my call saying there were 200 people to be collected from Canberra station seriously.

Maybe they had a little something, or should that be a big something, packed in their trunk.