After a slow start, we were noticeably gathering speed at Pendle Hill.
By Blacktown, we weren't exactly motoring.
Still, we were going places fast enough for the Doonside station sign to become an almost unreadable blur.
On the outskirts of Penrith, we were starting to come across patches of scrub, though there was still plenty of urban sprawl in evidence as well.
Crossing the Nepean River and passing Emu Plains a left-hand turn started us onto the climb over the Blue Mountains.
While that reduced the speed, it took the train to heights providing broad backward vistas remarkably quickly. As the ascent continued, the sun cut in and out each time the track twisted or turned through the hills.
Looking out, cliffs that blocked the westward progress of the early settlers were evident.
The railway cheats by using tunnels to get through rather than over, the escarpments.
Around 5:15 a sign indicated the presence of a Grandview Hotel, a reminder of home, but as we hit Katoomba darkness was upon us, and that was it as far as viewing the scenery was concerned.
Since that was the case, I wandered towards the Club Car, passing through the Restaurant Car where the Red Service were onto their entrees.
The Club Car was densely populated when we made our way there for the 6:30 Welcome Reception. We were greeted with a complimentary glass of bubbles.