The Trackside Videos’ presentation ‘Botany Line & the Veterans’ was produced originally in VHS form and covered the period 1993-1996 when Freight Rail and its predecessor State Rail Authority (SRA) operated on the Botany Line predominantly with 422, 442, 48, 49, and 80 Class. When converted to DVD-R a 2009 review was added which included operators Patrick PortLink, Silverton/Engenco/Green Trains, Southern Shorthaul and Independent Rail utilising GM, MZ, VL, 830 and 80 Class.
‘Botany Line Review’, also originally issued in VHS format, covered the FreightCorp and National Rail (NR) operations in the late 1990s where the motive power was predominantly 48, 80, 81 and NR Class with 442 demoted to heavy shunting duties. Lachlan Valley Railway (LVR) first appeared in this era, reintroducing the 47 Class to service. When converted to DVD-R a 2011 review was added which included P&O Trans Australia (POTA), QUBE, Pacific National (PacNat) and Independent Rail (IR) operations featuring 44, GL, MZ, RL and VL Classes.
In this presentation, ‘Botany Line 2017’ we view the latest changes that have occurred on the Botany Line, with Qube now dominating intermodal train movements at the expense of PacNat, with other operators Fletchers, Crawfords and Aurizon having entered the intermodal field, with the line now duplicated between Marrickville and Robey St Mascot and with the sale of the Port Botany southern yard to Violia for garbage transfer trains. Within the allowed security restriction, we view the changes that have occurred to the Port Botany facilities. Locomotive classes seen include CF, CM, FIE, G, LDP, MZ, PHC, QBX, RL, VL, 11, 44 and 81. We also have a brief collage of short clips from the two previous above mentioned presentations on the Botany Line that include 442, 48, 49, 80, 81, 830, GL and NR Class.
Approximate run time: 105 minutes.