K set about to depart Wynyard on an Emu Plains service. Sydney suburban trains still use guards; here a guard waits for the staff member on the platform to raise the white flag, signalling the all clear to depart.

Here we see the main problem with double-deck trains: Having only two doors per side vastly increases station loading time, as seen here on a K set at Wynyard station during the morning peak.

K set at Wynyard during the morning peak.

K set departing Wynyard with a morning service to Emu Plains.

The bloke in the orange vest waits for passengers to board a K set at Wynyard station before giving the guard an 'all clear' with his white flag.

The guard of Lindfield-bound K set stands in the open door while departing Wynyard, checking any passengers on the platform are clear of the train. The blue light above the door indicates which cab the guard is travelling in.

K set departing Wynyard on a service to Lindfield.

S set arriving at Wynyard on a Hornsby service. One thing I found very unusual as a Melbournian: not only do trains not use headlights in suburban Sydney, even at night and underground, many don't even have them fitted!

S set at Wynyard on a service to Hornsby.

Inside the upper deck of an S set between Wynyard and Milsons Point.

Passing a Tangara at Chatswood. The descending lines in the middle are the entrance to the newly opened Epping-Chatswood link.

Passing a terminated K set at Lindfield.

Passing an S set stopped at Pymble.

Oscar (Outer Suburban Car) set at Hornsby. We only saw one of these new generation interurban sets running on the Newcastle & Central coast line this day, though I'm told they run many more services during peak.

Oscar set departing Hornsby.

S set at Hornsby.

S set shunting from the platform at Hornsby. It will run to the stabling yard before reversing direction to return to the city.

V set interurban alongside a Tangara at Hornsby. I was very impressed with the V sets, not only do they look great, but they are fantastic to travel in.

V set arriving at Hornsby on a Newcastle Intercity service.

V set at Hornsby ready to take us north onto the Central Coast.

Looking out of the top deck of our V set back along the Hawkesbury River. This would have to be one of the most scenic sections of electrified railway in Australia.

More than a little blurry, but I had to publish this photo: Wondabyne is the only station in Australia with no road access. Instead it has a small jetty and serves a few remote houses along Mullet Creek, a tributary of the Hawkesbury River. The platform is only long enough to fit one door, so passengers must travel in the rear car.

Our V set shortly after arriving at Woy Woy.

V sets crossing at Woy Woy. The car on the left was at some point fitted with a destination board, resulting in it's headlight being moved further up.

V set departing Woy Woy. This scenic station has very pleasant views of Woy Woy Bay.

Up V set crossing the mouth of Woy Woy Bay, just north of Woy Woy station.

Up V set crossing the mouth of Woy Woy Bay, just north of Woy Woy station.

Up V set crossing the mouth of Woy Woy Bay, just north of Woy Woy station.

Down V set crossing the mouth of Woy Woy Bay, just north of Woy Woy station. The beach-front housing in the background is very typical of this area.

Down V set crossing the mouth of Woy Woy Bay, just north of Woy Woy station.

Down V set crossing the mouth of Woy Woy Bay, just north of Woy Woy station.

Down V set between Woy Woy and Koolewong.

Down Explorer DMU approaching Koolewong.

Up V set skirting the edge of Brisbane Water near Koolewong.

Up six-car V set skirting the edge of Brisbane Water near Koolewong.

Up six-car V set skirting the edge of Brisbane Water near Koolewong.

Up six-car V set skirting the edge of Brisbane Water near Koolewong.

Up six-car V set skirting the edge of Brisbane Water near Koolewong. I took these photos from the shade of a Mangrove tree, and ended up taking on a fair bit of mud through the holes in my shoes.

Now that's what I call luck! Victorian loco B65 and NSW loco 2208 haul part of a ballast cleaning rake alongside Brisbane Water near Koolewong. The B class is painted in a special livery for Auscision Models, a producer of Australian HO scale model trains!

B65-2208 haul part of a ballast cleaning rake alongside Brisbane Water near Koolewong.

B65-2208 haul part of a ballast cleaning rake alongside Brisbane Water near Koolewong.

Down V set running along the edge of Brisbane Water near Koolewong.

Down four-car V set running along the edge of Brisbane Water near Koolewong.

Down V set approaching Koolewong.

Sign at Koolewong station advising of the short platform. Platforms too short to fit whole trains are quite common in NSW.

Level crosssings are quite rare in many parts of the Sydney electrified network, however an exception is seen here at Koolewong with an up V set approaching.

Up V set having just run express through Koolewong.

Up V set having just run express through Koolewong.