The 225 kilometre Sydney to Goulburn stretch of the Main Southern Line has long been known as the Short South. The name goes back to the steam days when intermediate depots to run the Sydney-Albury mainline were located at Goulburn and Junee.
Trains between Sydney and Goulburn were Short South workings, while those travelling beyond were known as Long South jobs. Short South Sojourn captures this exciting railway in the diesel age, and features the diversity of traffic found on its rails in the early 1990s. During this period traditional locomotive-hauled passenger trains were phased out in New South Wales, and the widescale withdrawal of first generation Alco power from the locomotive fleet occurred.
Filmed between 1992 and 1994, highlights include: • Dawn to dusk action on one of State Rail's busiest and most scenic lines.
• The last diesel-hauled passenger services in New South Wales.
• The return of the 44 and 45 Class locos to the southern line.
• 900 Class DEB sets in Southern Highlands service.
• The introduction of Xplorer and Endeavour railcars.
• National Rail freight operations using pooled power from State Rail and V/Line.
• Century-old signalling systems working alongside modern technology.
• The stalwart 422 Class on passenger, limestone and grain workings.
• The end of an era as the last Sydney Express passes the lens.
Short South Sojourn is more than a lineside perspective - it is also a journey back in time. Mastered on Betacam SP with Hi-fi soundtrack, this fully narrated program is a quality production.