In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Oops!”

I was looking forward to enter the Blue Mountains by rail on the Indian Pacific of the Great Southern Rail. I paste my face on the window pane with my eyes peeled. At the same time, I supported my camera against the window with my little finger. My forefinger was resting on the shutter button as I stood by to press it should I see anything out of the ordinary.

The speakers boomed on. The voice that crackled through mentioned something about “zig zag.” The voice was fast and accented, so I did not catch the story of “zig zag.” The speech ended, and I noticed that the Indian Pacific slowed down drastically. All of a sudden, I saw this bunch of brown steel scrunched and squinched on the railway tracks beside.

“What (wreck) was that?” I exclaimed.

Someone told me the wreck was of a train known as “Zig Zag.” Now, there it lays, solemn and irreversible.

I felt very sorry to see that in person – as though the misfortune of others was the point of my rail trip. The sadness lingered and I thought about how such wrecks stand in many parts of the world to serve as reminders of the fragilities of life. I have seen a lot of disasters in documentaries but I still feel different with the real remains.

I went on to see the Blue Mountains as the Indian Pacific picked up speed rapidly and climbed through the greenery.

***

I caught other “Oops!” moments on my rail trip.

There was once I desperately wanted to photograph the front of the train from the angle when it turned and the picture ended up like that below.

I found it hard to photograph properly on the train because the cabin windows were all double-glazed and very scratched. The train also shook a lot throughout.

I really have to thank technology and my wonderful camera for its amazing anti-handshake and highspeed functions for giving the sharp shots, such as the one you see of Zig Zag.

*

Then there was another time I alighted at Broken Hill Station and explored the vicinity. I was so happy to capture the early sunset as below.

I could not review my picture on the spot because of the extreme brightness, so I only saw the blue “stain” on my image long after.

One of the inner lens of camera has a slight scratch that only shows up when I shoot direct sunlight. I am not ready to replace my camera at the moment.

Which one of my photos captured the “Oops!” moment for you? Also, feel free to respond with a link to your photo if you have an “Oops!” momment to share.

[Photo 1: Somewhere near Blue Mountains, Australia, 16 December 2015.

Photo 2: Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia, 15 December 2015.]

P.S. The Man in Seat Sixty-One will give you a comprehensive guide on train travel.