Yesterday (Wednesday) myself and Matthew
Smith went on a gunzelling trip to the Maryborough Area. Our day started at
7:30am and we soon found ourselves at Elimbah (first station north of
Caboolture) to watch the passage of Q912 Up Bundaberg Tilt Train at 8:19am.
On our way north a stop was made at Nambour to picture some Suburban and
Interurban stock stabled in the compound. On arrival at Yandina (next north
from Nambour) we found that the down main line starter (YA16) was cleared
and a freight train was iminent. About 15 minutes later C768 Up freight
headed by Electric Locomotive 3929 hauling approximately 30 loaded container
wagons rushed through on the Main Line.
A radio call was made by the geometry car
(plant No. MMY004) at Theebine so we decided to wait for this car at Gympie
North. After about 30 minutes HMY4 showed up and some good pictures and
video were taken. At Gympie Station Steam loco C17 965 was found stabled in
the number 1 platform in a very poor condition with no roof over the cab
etc, also heritage diesels 1639 and 1649 were stabled in the yard. All of
these locomotives belong to the Mary Valley Heritage Railway. The second Up
Tilt Train for the day Q902 ex Rockhampton was sighted at Curra north of
Gympie. A stop was made at Owanyilla to see if we could find the woodchip
train. Electric Locomotive 3910 was stabled in the balloon loop with all
empty wagons includingVAG 42763 as the second vehicle in the consist, the
wagons wern't loaded.
On arrival at Maryborough a trip to the
station found SMU 235 stabled in the static testing road and at Walkers car
8237 (last car of 237 ) was outside in the street. On arrival at
Maryborough West diesels 1700D and 1720D (interestingly these were the class
leaders of both of the 17 series locomotives), brand new deisels 4005 and
4006 were stabled in the cattle loading siding both in full livery and ready
for testing. SMU 234 was also present awaiting its delivery run to Brisbane.
A very good train watching spot was found at 297.8 kilometres on the North
Coast Line, this where Q301 was sighted. The northbound Tilt service Q301
was due shortly so we decided to head north to Wokka (next station north of
Howard) a short wait and then Q301 sped past us at about 140 km/h. A
short drive back to Torbanlea then found signal TB16 cleared and a drive
back to Howard then found C798 headed by Electric Locomotive 3903 heading a
very short container freight.
We then drove back to Maryborough West to
wait for more freights, Freight services C742 and 6V33 were told to be
iminent so we drove to Yengarie to wait for 6V33 we got half way when the
train was sighted in the distance. A quick turn around and drive back
to Maryborough West found us arrive back only about 1 minute before the
train arrived, 6V33 Biloela freight had 2x 2170 class deisels 2180F-2177F
and about 22 wagons loaded with containers, C742 arrived at Maryborough West
at the same time as 6V33 and had Electric Locomotive 3909 with a fairly long
freight train of containers. The driver of this train had a meal break and
we didn't see this train depart, in the meantime deisels 1772D-2122F and
1768D were on a short 8 wagon train and headed from the "angle" at
Maryborough West to Maryborough City.
All in all a very good day of train
watching on the North Coast Line.
and Matthew
Smith