Illawarra Mountain Railway Line, Unanderra to Moss Vale trains in June 2020.

The Unanderra to Moss Vale railway line in New South Wales links the coastal City of Wollongong to the Southern Highlands rural town of Moss Vale (elevation 678m). This picturesque line known as the Illawarra Mountain Line, climbs 714 meters (2342ft) from Unanderra, a suburb of Wollongong, to the town of Robertson 40 kilometres (24.8 miles) up the coastal escarpment and includes 20km of continuous 1 in 30, or 3.3% gradient.

The main rail traffic on this line is bulk commodities such as coal, limestone, steel, and wheat going to and from Port Kembla and near by industries. It is also used occasionally as an alternative route for through trains to/from Sydney as it links the Main South line and the Illawarra line. There is currently no passenger service on the line although a tourist train “The Cockatoo Run” does operate intermittently and is sometime steam hauled in the cooler months. https://eastcoastheritagerail.com.au/...

During June 2020 Aurizon and Pacific National were the main operators between Unanderra and Moss Vale, although Qube and Southern Shorthaul Railroad also use the route from time to time.

Enjoy the video.

Timeline:

00:05 - Pacific National quad EMDs on train # 9138 to Sydney via the main South, passing Sheepwash Rd
03:10 - Pacific National 8158 on train # 8932 Ore Concentrate to Port Kembla, leaving Moss Vale
06:25 - Pacific National 8158 on train 8932 descending the 1 in 60 grade (1.7%) between Robertson and Mt Murray
07:30 - The new kid on the block, Aurizon, train TM85 empty coal train to Tahmoor, at the beginning of the 1 in 30 (3.3%) climb from Unanderra
09:00 - Aurizon TM85 approaching Robertson
11:00 - Aurizon TM85 at Iona Rd
12:20 - Pacific National TM72 loaded Tahmoor coal train on the last upgrade climb to Robertson before the long downhill run to Wollongong
16:10 - Pacific National limestone train # 2928 drifting downhill east of Robertson
18:43 - Pacific National empty Tahmoor coal train TM81 west of Robertson
21:25 - Aurizon empty coal TM85 approaching Moss Vale

end.