glasshouse mountains

the day i visited glasshouse mountains station began like so many others; at dinmore. the decision to visit glasshouse mountains was not a deliberate one i made that morning when traveling from dinmore to central. after the customary cup of tea at central with karen, i bid her farewell for the day and thought i might catch a train for fun before heading home. when i got to the platforms at central, platforms 1, 2, 3 and 4 were all out of action for the morning and all trains heading south were running through platform 5, and all northbound through platform 6. while this doesnt happen all that often, i have seen it happen a few times before, simply because platform 5 is the one we use for the ipswich line. we can tell immediately as we head down the steps to the platforms because of the vastly increased number of commuters waiting on our platform. this particular day was no different.

while i was waiting on platform 5 at central, i could have had my choice of any train heading in any direction: all i would need to do was cross the platform to platform 6 for a northbound train. i watched the screens and saw that a gold coast train was due about 6 minutes before a nambour train. i had a decision to make: platform 5 to go south on the gold coast line to varsity lakes for the first time, or north to somewhere north of caboolture for the first time. the gold coast train arrived right in front of me on platform 5, and i seriously considered it for a good while (it was a train equipped with wifi, which made it even more enticing, and all the more difficult to turn down). in the end i decided against the gold coast, i will save that one for another day; after all i have caught gold coast trains many times to park road and once to coopers plains. in the end, i decided that a nambour train was just too good an opportunity to pass up, and when it arrived on platform 6, it too was a wifi enabled train. i made my decision and jumped aboard the nambour train and settled in for the ride, still not entirely sure which station i would choose. this is half the fun of writing my blog, i can jump on any train heading in any direction and disembark at whichever random station i so choose. on this particular day, i chose the glasshouse mountains station.

the nambour train stopped at the city stations as far as northgate, before running express to petrie. from petrie the train then ran express to caboolture. it seemed we were in caboolture in no time. i had been to the caboolture station once before by train during the last set of university holidays before i started my blog. in 2013 for new years eve we went to the famous australia zoo by car and stayed in a small motel near the caboolture station. it was a total fluke i swear that the caboolture line was visible from the motel, and that the station itself was a short walk from our room. (the sad thing about this though, was that i didnt have enough charge in my camera to get many shots of the caboolture station on that particular visit. an omen that photos of train stations should only be taken when i have caught the train to them!)

the glasshouse mountains station is on the sunshine coast line, which is an extension of the caboolture line, however it doesnt stop at all stations like the caboolture, and also doesnt run quite as frequently. glasshouse mountains is the third station from caboolture, located between beerburrum and beerwah. the beerburrum station is the next station from glasshouse mountains heading inbound towards caboolture, and beerwah is the next station from glasshouse mountains heading outbound towards nambour. the glasshouse mountains were so named by captain cook in the 1700s.

as the nambour train headed north from caboolture, i was officially traveling the farthermost north i had ever been on a train. when we had visited caboolture before heading to the zoo, i did a little walk to the caboolture station to get a few photos before my camera ran out. as i stood on the northern end of the platform looking north along the line, i was standing at the most northern point i had been on a train line. that point was eclipsed in one foul swoop as the nambour train sped away from caboolture on its way to the next stop 7 minutes along the line: elimbah. after elimbah and beerburrum, came my stop of glasshouse mountains, where i disembarked and proceeded to get a few photos of the station. the train ride itself was quite relaxing, lots of forestry to look at, really quite different to the inner city train lines i am used to where there was always so much to look at. this really was a pleasant change to be able to look at nature in all her glory. the glasshouse mountains themselves were visible along the line when looking out to the left while heading north. i had hoped they would be visible from the station, and while one of the mountains was partially visible from the footbridge on platform 1, they are best viewed from the journey itself. 

i can remember when i was little my grandparents would drive us up to caloundra (the back way) along the esk kilcoy road which follows somerset dam, then proceed along the daguilar highway to the beerwah turn off and follow the kilcoy beerwah road which eventually met up with what is now called steve irwin way in honor of the great zookeeper himself (steve was also an essendon fan which i think is worthy of note because i have supported the bombers my whole life). the journey took most of the day as we would stop at every small town for a cup of tea, homemade biscuits baked by nanna, and if we were lucky we would be allowed an iceblock from a small corner store. we always got to play on swings at the little parks in these small roadside towns. we used to love going on this journey with our grandparents, and despite loving the winding road and playing inertia (also known as corners, where we deliberately cannoned into one another in the back seat amongst much laughter) the main highlight was always when we could see the glasshouse mountains themselves. we each had our favorite mountain: mount ngungun and mount coonowrin, or as we called them: the cake and the icy pole. from a distance, ngungun looked so much like a freshly iced cake with a lovely peak of icing, and coonowrin looked like an icy pole iceblock after taking one descent bite out of the top. if you have never been on that drive, i highly recommend it, not just because it is fun and bendy (inertia!!) but because of the beautiful views. the cake and the icy pole are both visible from the train ride as you approach the glasshouse mountains station, and as i looked out the window of the wifi enabled train, i had amazing memories of those fun caloundra trips with my grandparents. 

the view on platform 2 of glasshouse mountains station of the nambour train as i disembarked. this shot is looking north towards beerwah, which is the next station on the sunshine coast line. i had been hoping for an overcast day on the day i finally got to visit the glasshouse mountains station, and the weather didnt disappoint! i had always thought that the mountains themselves looked so much more mysterious and powerful in overcast weather. sadly though, they were not visible from the station. 

the nambour train departs glasshouse mountains bound for beerwah. this is a shot of the nambour train as it is leaving platform 2. look at the sky! how amazingly lucky that it was an overcast day, just like how it was years ago when i was a young child enjoying the drive with my grandparents. 

this is one of the glasshouse mountains station signs on platform 2 of the station. i got a shot of this one because of the artwork around it. the white tiled structure is actually an elevator shaft which links up with the footbridge over the tracks to join the platforms.

this is the same elevator shaft as in the previous shot, but just from a different angle. this time i have included the staircase which leads up to the footbridge. the alphabetical artwork above the elevator is part of the queensland rail positive partnerships project with the glasshouse mountains state school.

looking along platform 2 of glasshouse mountains station back towards beerburrum station. platform 1 is visible on the right of the shot. the station office is in the foreground of the shot on platform 2. there is even a toilet facility (i didnt need to use, but it looked very presentable). if i had had a bit more time at this station i would have tried walking down to the vehicle overpass visible past the end of the platform and getting a shot of the glasshouse mountains station from there. alas, maybe it will have to wait for next time. i am sure i will manage to visit this station again in the future. one thing of note about this shot, is the color of the stones surrounding the tracks. compare them to all the tracks featured in all of the stations i have visited so far. now, geology is not really my thing (i hear the geologists saying that geology rocks, but im afraid i havent had much to do with geology since that rock specimen test in year 9 science that i forgot we were having and hadnt studied for... sorry mrs dalton!) the reason i point this out is because these are clearly a different rock to what is used at all the other stations i have photographed so far. just another reason that glasshouse mountains really does rock!

this is a slightly better shot of the rocks, looking across at platform 1 of glasshouse mountains station from platform 2. this is towards the beerburrum end of the station. beerburrum is towards the left, beerwah to the right.

further along platform 2 of glasshouse mountains station, i got this shot looking across at platform 1. no, it was not intended to capture the mitre 10 sign, a happy accident for them i guess, but i was mainly trying to capture the glasshouse mountains station sign on platform 1. also: the rocks! i still cant get over how unbelievably different they are!

this glasshouse mountains station sign is on platform 2 at the beerburrum end of the platform. i love how there are trees in the background. the sun was trying very hard to poke through, but thankfully for these photos, the clouds persisted just long enough to capture the essence of my childhood memories of the journeys to caloundra.

the sunshine coast line as it is approaching glasshouse mountains from beerburrum. i am standing on platform 2, and the end of platform 1 is just visible on the extreme right of the shot. the rocks look particularly light in this photo in the foreground. further along the rocks revert back to the way i am used to seeing them presented.

the extreme end of platform 2 of glasshouse mountains station in the direction of beerburrum station. i zoomed in as far as my little camera would let me (not a half bad effort). the rocks in this shot are a mix of the standard rocks as well as the lighter ones. it appears that the closer towards glasshouse mountains station you get, the lighter the rocks.

looking back at glasshouse mountains station on the extreme southern end of platform 2. the footbridge joining the two platforms is visible. check out the sky. very impressed with my luck with the weather. i have even managed to capture a very distant looking station sign on platform 1.

the rocks are looking particularly light in this shot. having not been any further north than glasshouse mountains, i cant be certain that the rocks will continue in this form for the rest of the line, but i will eventually be able to answer my own question when i get back up here again. i am still on platform 2 in this photo, and have tried to capture platform 1 and the footbridge in this shot. the sky is starting to break up a bit in the shot, but for the most part, there is a nice high octa of cloud cover. this shot is looking along the platforms towards the beerwah end of the station.

how lucky was this!? no matter where i go, i seem to be pretty lucky with capturing diesels in my photos (clayfield is an exception, obviously) this southbound diesel casually chugged through glasshouse mountains along platform 1 while i was on platform 2. what do you think happened next? (no brainer really, hold on for a plethora of diesel at glasshouse mountains station photos!) note again, the lovely pale stones are visible.

the diesel rolls on past glasshouse mountains on platform 1, i like that this shot shows the cargo carriages deep into the distance. this shot is looking towards the beerwah end of station.

looking in the direction of beerburrum, the diesel rolls on past glasshouse mountains on its way south.

taken from the staircase on platform 2, looking south in the direction of beerburrum, i have captured the diesel as it rolls past glasshouse mountains station.

this time looking north towards beerwah form the staircase on platform 2 in order to capture the diesel cargo carriages as they pass glasshouse mountains station.

this time i have scurried along the footbridge towards platform 1 and got a shot as the diesel passes beneath me. this shot is looking north towards beerwah. platform 1 is on the left, platform 2 on the right. check out that sky!

probably not my best photography, but this is looking south towards beerburrum from the staircase on platform 1 of glasshouse mountains as the diesel passes through the station. you can see in the distance the points are set to allow the diesel to transfer from the track on platform 1 to the main track which runs through platform 2.

it was while i was on the staircase of platform 1 at glasshouse mountains that i noticed you can see one of the mountains in the distance. while it isnt all that visible in the photo, i assure you it is quite easy to see when here in person. i could be wrong, but this may be mount beerwah (correct me if i am wrong please!!)

looking north towards beerwah from the footbridge linking the platforms, this time sans diesel and cargo. platfrom 1 is on the left and platform 2 on the right. look at the surroundings on platform 2. glasshouse mountains is a truly beautiful area, and a lovely station. i am so glad i got to visit it so early in my train adventure.

looking along platform 1 after descending the staircase, this shot is looking north towards beerwah. the footbridge is visible at the top of the shot. the elevator tower is in the foreground. yes, i am still afraid of elevators, so no, i didnt ride in them. platform 2 is visible on the right of the shot. 

this glasshouse mountains station sign is on the side of the elevator tower on platform 1. im loving the artwork on the station walls.

this shot of the glasshouse mountains station sign is on platform 1 towards the beerwah end of the station.

this is the most northern point i have been on a train at this point in time. this shot is taken from platform 1 of glasshouse mountains station at the beerwah end of the platform. the very end, as far as you can go. looking in the direction of beerwah. hopefully i get to pass this point by train some time soon, when i eventually get to visit the station i am most eager to see: traveston.

looking back at glasshouse mountains station from the beerwah end of the station towards the beerburrum end. this was taken from the extreme end of platform 1. the rocks are mostly the beautiful lighter color unlike any of the other stations i have visited before. i have even captured a station sign on platform 1 in this shot.

looking across form platform 1 at the station sign on platform 2. beerwah station is to the right, beerburrum to the left.

this is platform 1 looking along the platform from the beerwah end towards the south in the direction of beerburrum. the footbridge is shown linking the two platforms. from the tower on platform 1 you can see one of the glasshouse mountains in the distance. platform 1 was not used by a commuter train while i was at the station, though a diesel carrying a lot of cargo carriages rolled through the station past platform 1.

this shot is from the tower on platform 2 looking in the northerly direction of beerwah station. it gives a great perspective of the lightness of the rocks that run though the glasshouse mountains station.

from the staircase on platform 2 looking at the entrance to the station. the car park is visible in the background the station office (including toilet) are towards the right of the shot just out of picture. the little yellow box in the center of the shot is the translink go card machine where commuters touch their card upon arrival at the station to either commence or terminate their journey once arriving at the station. in my case, i tagged off to end my journey from central, then took my photos before tagging back on to start a new journey: glasshouse mountains to dinmore.

here is the station office on platform 2 of glasshouse mountains. there is a translink box here as well. most stations are equipped with multiple machines to keep people moving.

from the station office looking at the staircase on platform 2. there is a wheelchair access path to help accommodate people who may require assistance.

the view as you enter the glasshouse mountains station from the car park, coming up the steps to platform 2. the sky was starting to fine up as i was nearing the end of my time at the station.

taken from platform 2 of glasshouse mountains looking across at the shelter on platform 1.

ok so this is a shot that you all knew was coming! the rocks! a close up of the rocks just to show the different colors of the stone that is used at this station. just another reason that glasshouse mountains is a really col station to visit.

the city bound train had been announced, and so i got one last photo of the station before it arrived on platform 2 to take me back to brisbane. look at the sky, how lucky was i to be able to arrive and get so many photos of the glasshouse mountains station with the lovely overcast sky i remember from my childhood, which added to the mystery of the area.

sadly i missed getting a shot of the train as it was approaching because a human walked across my view, meaning i couldnt use the shot. i quickly tried to get another shot, and this was the result. i proceeded to ride this train to caboolture, where i then changed to an ipswich train which stopped all stations so i could stay on the same train all the way to dinmore. one of the best parts of the journey from glasshouse mountains to dinmore was the price: the entire trip was free due to it being a continuation journey!

springfield central

in december the richlands line was extended by a further 2 stations, springfield and springfield central, which both opened on december 2 2013 forming the springfield line. while i wasnt on the very first train to depart springfield central, i was able to catch a springfield train on the opening day so i could visit the station in all its glory and be amongst the first to get to see and use the new station

springfield central is the terminating station on the springfield line, the next station inbound is springfield. there is a suggestion the line may some day be extended to redbank plains, though if this does happen, it will be many years away since the line has just been completed and the 2 new stations opened. the car park at springfield central is still under construction, so i presume that the car park would be more of a priority than extending the line at this stage.

the day the new line opened, like most, began at dinmore station, where i rode an inbound train as far as darra before changing trains for the springfield line. my friend who lives fairly close to darra was keen to join me on the journey, so i waited for him at darra before we took the springfield train together. we had been on a journey together before to richlands station as he swore richlands was one of the most amazing stations ever built and promised it looked even better at night (something i am actually inclined to agree with, and when i visit again with my camera i will gather pictorial evidence to support this claim)

we had decided that we would visit the new springfield central station before walking to the nearby orion shopping center to have lunch. he had been telling me how amazing springfield was as a suburb since he had done his placement in springfield and had nothing but positive things to say about the area. as someone who doesnt get out much, other than for work or to catch the train, i was keen to see this new suburb, since i am always hearing that is is going to be a boom housing area with so many new families forecast to be settling there in the future. the station at springfield central certainly caters for the future, and i hope my photos support that statement. i kept thinking the station itself was like an airport terminal. 

after my poor friend had to endure a marathon of my rabid photography of the station and the train, we walked to the orion and spent some time there before walking back to the springfield central station to catch an inbound train to darra. it was a wonderful day filled with laughter and food since he and his family were travelling to vietnam in the next few days and wouldnt be home again until after the new year. it was our last official catch up of 2013 and we spent it well.

this photo very nearly missed the cut, but made it on two grounds: 1 it is my first photo i took of springfield central station, and 2: it shows i wasnt the only one who was at the station to get photos, since there is actually another person on the platform photographing the train! (i have deliberately tried to avoid including photos with humans in them, which has been difficult, so if this is you, i apologize, but since you are like me and obviously enjoyed the station as much as i did, i hope your photos turned out brilliantly!) i got this shot as we disembarked the train, and excitedly clicked before looking fully along the platform. this is looking from about halfway along the platform towards the springfield end. we were both very impressed with the station, and commend queensland rail, it looks amazing!

the springfield central station sign. station signs are a must include for each blog. this one surprised me in that it was affixed instead of a free standing one like the others i have included so far, but this is a futuristic station, and i am not going to complain! it looks great in a bold font that occupies the area so much more nicely than the sign at dinmore, which is very much a let down when compared to this gem at springfield central. i would love to see the station at night, since there appears to be an abundance of lighting, and if it is anything like richlands at night, it will look spectacular.

my fellow trainspotting human has moved on by the time i got this photo of the platform looking towards springfield station. everything is so new and clean, you can tell it has been built for the future to cater for a large number of commuters each day. having the two new stations at springfield and springfield central will hopefully take the strain off richlands and darra. of a morning when our inbound train headed for caboolture arrives at darra, there is always a huge influx of passengers who board the train since it runs express from darra to indooropilly then express from indooropilly to milton then all stations from milton. my friend was saying that if he arrives at richlands too late of a morning its car park is essentially full, and it has a massive car park. he had said that people from springfield and surrounding suburbs were using richlands, so it is hoped that these new stations ease the burden on richlands a bit.

these steps lead down from the platform. there are also elevators and escalators. this station seriously has everything! the highway is visible in the background with a truck cruising along, oblivious that i have captured them in my blog.

i didnt want any traffic to photo bomb my shot of orion, since this is the view from the springfield central station. we walked the short distance to the shopping complex and had a lovely lunch together. well, it was an amusing lunch, since my friend ordered an asian dish complete with vegetables he proceeded to remove from his meal venting his disgust for vegetables ruining his dish.

this is a shot of the back of the springfield train on platform 2, the train we had just arrived on at springfield central. this shot is looking towards the next station inbound, springfield. even the train itself looks clean and fresh for the journey from springfield central. the train will then head back inbound as a bowen hills train, stopping at all stations. the site for the new car park at springfield central is behind the green light and 50 sign.

the car park at springfield central is not yet built, but is proposed for this site and will be massive once it is completed. i hope it doesnt take the workers too long and they dont have any delays set them back because that would be frustrating. i wish them well in completing the job that way the station is fully finished and can service the entire area to ease the burden at richlands even further. once the car park is finished, i intend to make another journey out to springfield central to get some photos of it to complete this blog entry. for the mean time, shots of the train and the station itself will have to do. still, i am all up for another trip out to this station, it was spectacular and definitely worth visiting on the opening day!

looking towards springfield from springfield central. the construction is still well underway for the new car parking facility, i am not sure when it is due for completion, but i am sure it wont take too long and will be amazing once finished. the track on the left heads to platform 2 of springfield central, the track on the right, platform 1.

this is the back of the train we caught to springfield central, however it had been sitting at the springfield central station for a few minutes by the time i got this shot, and the train in picture would soon become the front of the bowen hills train as it was due to depart springfield central. the new car park is being constructed to the right of this shot. the orion shopping complex is behind us as i got this photo. the train is on platform 2 of springfield central.

the platforms of springfield central, looking from the springfield end to the terminating end. the train due to depart for bowen hills is on platform 2 on the right, platform 1 is unoccupied. look how clean the platforms are, how modern and new looking. i think this is a great shot of one of the newest stations on the network, complete with a train waiting to depart.

i wanted to get a shot of the train on the platform of springfield central, complete with platform number, and this was the result, as the bowen hills train is waiting on platform 2. i was surprised at how few people were around at the time we were there: the two of us, queensland rail staff, the other die hard trainspotter mentioned earlier and we also saw translink staff handing out timetables. we both took a copy. hopefully in coming weeks more and more people will start to use the train.

the tracks leading from platform 1, away to springfield station. i am yet to visit springfield, but we both saw it as we embarked on our journey to springfield central. the new carpark is going to the left of this shot, and the orion shopping centre is located to the right. my friend actually offered if we should get off the train at springfield to get some photos of that station as well before proceeding to springfield central on the next one, but i didnt want to put the poor guy through all that pain, there will be plenty of time for me to visit springfield station.

looking across from platform 1 at the bowen hills train on platform 2 of springfield central station. after a trip to orion which involved lunch, we walked back to springfield central to catch another bowen hills train back to darra.  

this is a similar shot to one i got earlier of the platforms, looking from the springfield end towards the terminating end of springfield central, but this time i focused more on platform 1, which is vacant. you can still see the bowen hills train on platform 2.

the bowen hills train as it waits on platform 2 of springfield central. i managed to capture the reflection of the station sign in the window of the train.

the new springfield line timetable. the richlands station was the previous terminus for this line, but with the addition of springfield and springfield central, the line was renamed the springfield line, and the colour changed to blue to reflect that the springfield and ipswich lines are indeed different, with darra their last station in common.

further along the platform towards the terminating end of the springfield central station. the bowen hills train is visible on platform 2. virtually the entire station is undercover to protect passengers from the sun or the rain.

the station signs are all attached like this at the springfield central station. i do like this though, even if it is a bit different to what i was use to or what i was expecting. the station is equipped with lifts, stair cases and elevators to transport the commuters from the ground level to the platforms. the green thing pictured is one of the lifts.

the bowen hills train is still waiting on platform 2 of springfield central station. look how clean and new the platform is! we were making out way along the platform towards the terminus of the springfield line a springfield central station.

this is the back of the bowen hills train as it waits on platform 2 for imminent departure from springfield central. i managed to capture the red signal in the shot as well as the train and a portion of the track.

the bowen hills train on platform 2 of springfield central station. i had hoped to get a shot of the train as it was leaving the station on its way to springfield, from the springfield end of the station, but instead the train decided to depart while we were at the terminus end of the platform. im sure i will make a future visit to this station to get another shot of a train arriving on one of the platforms and a shot of one departing.

the terminus at springfield central. it looks a bit different to the terminus at ferny grove, which i have a few photos of. according to wiki, there is talk that in future this line may be extended to the suburb of redbank plains, which may explain why the terminus appears slightly unfinished compared to the appearance of ferny grove stations terminus.

looking up at the awning of the springfield central station from the terminus end to try to get a shot of the massive station sign that faces orion. the station is insanely modern looking, and i have a photo coming up which shows this perfectly.

the steps are brand new, there wouldnt have been many people to walk up and down these before us, and so i thought i should get a photo to commemorate our journey from the platform of springfield central to the ground entrance.

from the halfway point on the staircase, i turned back around to get a shot of the view from the steps back up to the springfield central platforms. the main reason i got this shot was because the view from the opposite direction is so spectacular, i wanted to make it wait just that little bit longer.

earlier i said springfield central was like an airport terminal. i said it was very new very modern and caters for the future. i presume that by now you believe me. this is the view of the escalators from the staircase. i thought it was just too spectacular to not get a shot of this; and even my friend got a few shots of this as well because he was equally as amazed as i was. springfield central is very swish and new indeed. this is probably one of my favourite photos of the station, and it doesnt even include a train, a platform or a station sign; but it really captures the essence of the station.

still from the staircase, this shot of the escalators is looking more towards the direction of orion. platform 1 is directly above this side of the escalators.

for completeness, i got a shot looking more towards the back of the station, platform 2 is above this side of the station. there are plenty of seats in the waiting area for the buses that service the springfield central station, visible in the shot to the left.

this is one of the exits from the springfield central station, that comes out facing the orion.

i wanted to include the escalators in the shot once more, the springfield central station really does have an airport feel to it.

it this doesnt remind you of an airport terminal, not much will! there is so much space, this futuristic springfield central  station is brilliant, and i am so glad i got to visit it on its opening day with one of my best friends. the platforms and tracks are above this main terminal. the word atmospheric comes to mind when i look at this photo. 

as we made our way towards the exit, i got this shot to include the exit gates and staircases. translink people were distributing timetables for the springfield line and the buses, we grabbed one each. hopefully some day soon i will return to springfield central again and walk to the shops, because i really enjoyed this outing.

my last shot from inside the springfield central station before we exited. i turned back as we approached the gates to get this shot. the elevator to the platforms is in perfect view. i am still afraid of riding in elevators, i have a terrible fear of being trapped inside one.

from outside the station i got this shot of the tracks as they terminate at the springfield central station. having a car in the shot wasnt initially planned, but it is great for perspective to show how elevated the trains are at this station.

i got this shot of the station name from the outside since it is such a massive sign and the architecture looks so modern compared to any station i have seen so far. springfield central is currently one of the newest stations on the network. with stations proposed from petrie to kipparing, it will be interesting to see what they look like once completed. in this shot you can actually see the electrical wires which power the trains.

looking along the new springfield central station from the road as we walked to the orion together. this shot was aimed at showing the sheer size of the station, how large and imposing it is. it is difficult to capture its size in a photo. this station really has to be seen in person to be truly appreciated for its size and beauty.

this shot could have only been improved if a train were visible in the shot. sadly, no luck, as i got this one last shot before we went to do some shopping and have lunch together. in a way this shot captures the vertical size of the springfield central station, while the previous shot seems to capture its horizontal vastness. springfield central is truly massive.

after a wonderful day of shopping, lunch and laughter, we returned to springfield central to catch the train back to darra. since the new stations opened, the inner city stations colors changed to grey since the springfield line is blue (the richlands line used to be green). for future blogs, any stations which have multiple lines running through them will be represented as grey to avoid confusion. as you can see from the screen, we didnt have long to wait for our inbound train to depart from platform 2. this meant i had very little time for more photos!

i wanted to get a few last shots of the train on the platform before we boarded. here is the bowen hills train waiting on platform 2, taken from about halfway along the springfield central platform looking towards the springfield end.

looking along the platform at springfield central at the bowen hills train. the end of the platform in shot is the terminus of the springfield line. we rode the bowen hills train as far as darra. since my friend is very tech savvy, i asked him for help on my new ipad since i had no idea how to set it up. we constantly have debates about which is better, apple or windows; with both of us arguing in favor of our favorite operating systems. he was shocked that i had an ipad in my possession (so was i to be honest). we spent the journey to darra going through initiation settings, since he was going to be leaving the country in the next few days and he was the only person i knew who had any degree of patience with apple products. after a little bit of tinkering at darra, he got it working for me. and thanks to him, the ipad is fully functional and while he has been out of the country, it has been employed on many train rides since to play spider solitaire. no, i have not yet been converted to apple, i am still on team windows!