We rode the flyer to Sydney
MY father was a builder who worked at the power station in Newcastle. He rode his bicycle to work and we never had a car. In the holidays Dad received a free family rail pass, so we used trains extensively.
The four kids, Mum and Dad would often set out in the early flyer from Newcastle. Wideeyed we would disembark at Central Station, board a waiting tram in the colonnade, then stare in amazement as we traversed Sydney’s streets, excited by the promise of sights of a massive bridge structure between the buildings.
At Circular Quay we boarded the South Steyne, Barrenjoey, or any of the other wonderfully named ferries for Manly. The excitement grew if there was a swell at the Heads.
All the way Dad gave us the same travel talk about features on the harbour. At Manly Wharf we marvelled at kids diving for money and we thought that harbour pool, with all of its slippery dips, roly-polies, islands and fun floats was absolute magic. The fun parlour was a delight, too.
Then it was the trip back to Central in time to catch the flyer, arriving home after 9.30pm. Tired but happy.
My family frequently travelled on the “38”. Rail enthusiasts will know that this was a C class locomotive made in Australia. There were two types of 38s, both painted green in their heyday. The 3801 was a magnificent streamlined engine made in Sydney in 1943.
Other similar locos were made in Sydney and apparently there were difficulties in cleaning, so the streamlined parts were removed. The new locos were still 38s but had a smokestack and other excrescences. Some were made at Cardiff Workshops in Newcastle. Both were used on the Sydney to Newcastle express known as “The Flyer”.
We loved these locomotives and always checked to see which one was pulling the train before we set off on our journeys.
For my ninth birthday Dad, a carpenter, made me a toy replica of the 38. I recently found it in his shed after he passed away and I was happy to restore it to its original glory.