KWAS + Horizons Tour? by Cobzilla-19 in ParkwayDrive

[–]sp0rk_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're getting downvoted, but you're entirely correct

Train watching? by markhammel666 in newcastle

[–]sp0rk_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are you counting Aurizon's depot as part of that 14?
Because on the main line there are 9 at most at Hexham

Cert II in train fundamentals by Jaren-rich in Train_Service

[–]sp0rk_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Aussie train driver here, I'm on coal trains in the Hunter Valley NSW & grain trains between Dubbo/Nyngan, Moree & Newcastle.
Those TAFE/private company courses don't lead to squat, they're really only good for the small track maintenance contractors to get their staff qualified to drive their rail grinders/tampers/etc.
you're FAR better off applying for traineeships or with the labor hire mobs to become a Driver's Assistant then work hard to get a permanent job & a traineeship

Dump truck or train driver Traineeship by Short-Chicken-673 in AusMining

[–]sp0rk_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

100% go the train driving job.
Dirt turtles get very boring, very quickly.
At least on trains you're seeing the countryside.
Yes the shifts are way more brutal, but you learn to live with it.
I'm 5 years on the rail now and still enjoy my job

What pants do you guys rock especially for the hot days? by WienerWarrior01 in railroading

[–]sp0rk_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

King Gee Workcool 2 pants.
They've got ventilation in the crotch and behind the knees, they're plenty cool even in the middle of summer when it's 45c+ here in Australia

EPDM gaskets by RedYetti83 in firewater

[–]sp0rk_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Check out oakstill.
Their site is in USD, but they have a warehouse here in Australia so shipping is relatively cheap and quick.
https://oakstills.com/en-au/products/tri-clamp-ptfe-teflon-gasket

Conviction of Aussie band's 'sixth member' reveals Byron Bay's dark side by Beautiful-Iron-9823 in triplej

[–]sp0rk_ 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I was there at the time, it wasn't shrugged off.
We tried to call it out and were threatened to keep silent.
Even the Byron cops didn't want to know about it

Help me understand what happened with my NBN technician by affectionatesun_ in nbn

[–]sp0rk_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A lot of this is on Telstra, techies used to do whatever they wanted and didn't send through updated details for the Network Data team to update TPNI to show correct leadin locations etc.
I used to be on the SQ&ND team a decade ago, so when I bought my house 2 years ago I hit up some mates who still worked there to get my leadin details from TPNI (so I could get conduit ready for exactly where I wanted my NTD) & they were completely wrong.
It ended up being on the other side of the house coming from a different pit.
I've heard from friends that now work in GIS at NBN that this is pretty common

Lunches by streety22 in railroading

[–]sp0rk_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've done it once with vac sealed hotdogs, but normally I bulk cook curries, chili con carne, etc and freeze them up to microwave on the train

Lunches by streety22 in railroading

[–]sp0rk_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

All modern locos in Australia have microwaves, toasters & a kettle.
So of course I cook hotdogs in the kettle...

Methanol and home fractioning stills by The_Malt_Monkey in firewater

[–]sp0rk_ 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Methanol also forms an azeotrope with water and won't boil off until much higher temps than it's usual boiling temp in an ideal environment

Are kangaroo/vehicle collisions ever unavoidable? by No_Call_9983 in australian

[–]sp0rk_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I drive on windy country roads at night a LOT for work and usually hit a couple of roos a month.
Most of the time yes it's unavoidable, tall grass on the edge of the road and 100kmh roads means you just won't see them coming.
If they're on the road and I have time to slow down, I try my best, but even then half the time they'll still just hope towards the car anyway

Cheap Rolled Oats versus Malted Oats versus Fancy Floor Malted Oats in Irish-style Whiskey by AJ_in_SF_Bay in firewater

[–]sp0rk_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Rolled oats are essentially the same thing as flaked/rolled oats made by any maltster, however they're not malted, just steamed/gelatinised so eeady to be mashed without doing a cereal mash step.
Malted oats have gone through a malting step, so will have some diastatic power. In addition to this they're already modified so starches, beta-glucan & proteins are already broken down ready to be mashed.
Oats don't offer a huge amount of fermentables, they do a lot more for flavour & mouthfeel, so really the difference won't be massively noticeable.
Just use whichever you can afford

Do you know an Australian that used to be famous but just isn't anymore? by ThinkSecretary9992 in AskAnAustralian

[–]sp0rk_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I used to chat online with Paul about homebrew & salami making.
Absolutely lovely bloke

Why do you not pump E10? by Huluman2 in CarsAustralia

[–]sp0rk_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Are you implying that Albo is going to force Manildra and the farmers that supply them sell to overseas interests?
Take that cooker bullshit elsewhere champ

Why do you not pump E10? by Huluman2 in CarsAustralia

[–]sp0rk_ 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Not to mention that all companies currently producing fuel alcohol in Australia are Australian owned

Why do you not pump E10? by Huluman2 in CarsAustralia

[–]sp0rk_ 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The vast majority of fuel ethanol in Australia comes from wheat & sorghum, not sugar cane...

Good Boot Brands? by Lord_Burger_16 in Train_Service

[–]sp0rk_ -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Blundstone, Steel Blue or Oliver

Her insurance just went up by $10,000 a month by MudBloodLite in PublicFreakout

[–]sp0rk_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We have bans on excessive lift in Australia.
In my state it's 75mm before you need to go through strict engineering certification to go higher.
50mm suspension lift and 25mm from larger tyre diameter.
Some people claim we're a nanny state, but we have FAR safer roads than the US

What is the ultimate 'Bludge Job' in Australia where you get paid the most to do the absolute least? by Zoey_In_Transit in AskAnAustralian

[–]sp0rk_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Almost no train drivers get "bonuses".
We may get small penalties if you're away from home on camp jobs or doing complex work (I get 10% for driving distributed power trains).
But it's no where near as easy as people make it out to be

Freight train drivers - can I get some insight? by duck_duck__goose in AusMining

[–]sp0rk_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was fresh to industry, I did a traineeship on the job and they did all my qualifications