Did a trip from Central to Lilyfield and return yesterday, in order to
view/photograph the altered terminal working at Lilyfield.

After depositing the remaining passengers at the current Lilyfield terminus
- now the only island platform on the SLR since the second platform was
brought into use recently, empty cars now proceed through a facing
crossover onto the up track before the driver changes ends and the car
returns to the up platform to load for the return journey. For those
residing outside Sydney, the operational down track used to join on to the
up track about 100 metres or so before the terminus, to come to a stand in
the up platform.

A very lengthy (apparently) dead-end siding is in the final stages of
construction, located just beyond the new crossing Down to Up, where
obvious any SLR vehicles being short-worked after the Dulwich Hill extension
is opened, will be able to stand over, clear of the main lines.

On passing the SLR depot at Darling Harbour, "new" trams 2108, 2109, 2110 &
2111 were basking in the sun on an external storage track, easily visible to
passers-by. Once they enter service, their bright red livery will be a
little different to the pale blue (plus any advertising) of the original
cars.

Incidentally, SLR vehicles that I travelled on appeared to be carrying two
conductors - at least on the first sections out of Central, and even three
on my return trip. Whilst loadings were quite heavy on the journey as far
as the Fish Markets, no excessive overcrowding was noted on either trip.
That is not to say that for some reason, many passengers seem to prefer to
stand, even though seats are available. From what I overheard, at least
one conductor appears to be a tramway enthusiast, discussing with a
passenger (not me!) as to what Sydney tramway was available at the ARHS
Bookshop at Rail Heritage Central.

Hunslet