A Trip to Chakola

Sunday April 1st 2007: The scheduled 2pm service to Chakola is joined by a bus load of Probus Club members, requiring two motor cars to be utilised. The weather is perfect and those of you who are familiar with the prevailing colour of the Monaro can be assured that the following photos have not been re-coloured as an April Fools Day joke. Following recent significant rain, Cooma and the surrounding countryside is as green as anyone can remember seeing it!

These photos and videos (a first for the CMR website) were taken by member Jenny O'Regan. Thanks Jenny. (Note however that because of the four videos, this page will take somewhat longer to load than other pages).

So off we go, up the hill out of Cooma yard and past the two level crossings before the edge of town. The next five photos were taken from the back of the train on the outward journey, so the second one shows our flagman returning to his vehicle after flagging the train across the Polo Flat crossing.

In the first photo below the train has just crossed our 'big bridge' across the Cooma Creek. It then proceeds through a couple of small cuttings before crossing the open spaces of the valley floor.

Nearing Chakola, we look back at what, in glacial times was the floor of a lake. Arriving at Chakola the passengers alight for a look around and to learn something of the station's past.

A short video of the view over the Numeralla River from Chakola Station.

At Chakola Station the passengers take in the view and hear the story of the station shed.

At the start of the return journey, Jenny captures part of the driver and front passenger's views forward.

A short video showing one reason why the CPH railmotor is such a good tourist vehicle - a great view out forward.

Another video at the level crossing closest to the station. (Can you see the flashing light on top of the pole that tells the CPH driver that the bells and flashing lights are working)?

Back at Cooma, a smile from our crewman as he completes uncoupling the motors prior to returning them to the shed.

Finally, video of the return to the shed, including a crewman bringing in the weed trolley which is parked in front of the railmotors on that side.

Refer to our Group Tours page if you have an upcoming function that would benefit from the unique CMR experience.