Just another day

[Craig Haber <albatross@harnessnet.com.au>]

Aus loco discussion mailing list

Just another day at the office.....

1550, B61 on 8232 is disabled at Nth Geelong 'A' box.  After a little
while it can move, but not very well (it has only a reasonably minor
electrical problem), and limps on to North Shore platform.  Passengers
are detained to get the following pass....8234.  Alas, it's a single
Sprinter, so they won't all fit.  Many do, those left over continue on
8236.

So what am I going to do here??  Fortunately, a few things fall into
place...Corio is open (so trains can be worked around), and a crew is
summoned to take pass pilot Y163 out to the scene to effect a rescue.
It does just that, hauling the cars and B61 back to Geelong.  So now we
need a loco to run 8237 from Geelong (with busses from Melbourne).
Freight Victoria have nothing, 4 locos have failed in the last half
hour.  Bugger.  The fitters can't attend, they're trying to get X46
moving.  Oh hang on, FV A73 is available at Dynon.  That'll do just
fine.....no it won't - FV need it back in the morning.  Bugger.  FV
again have nothing....but S301. It too is at Dynon.  It can't lead.
Things are not improving.

Time to thing laterally.  OK, how about we summon the pass crew
(rostered for 8237, a Melbourne crew), they bring A73+S301 light engines
to Geelong, and they can place B61 in front and drive from it, with S301
doing the powering?  A73 will be left at Geelong for FV.  S301 is needed
for wheaties out of Geelong tomorrow, so we'll leave it there in the
morning.  That'll work, so the light locos follow 8235 (which is late
due to signal failure at Sth Kensington).  Bewdy, turn B61 and wait for
S301, couple them on, wait for the busses to arrive, and away they go,
B61+S301.  They will return on 8220 Wednesday morning (B61 to lead),
S311 will go on 9138 to Geelong (ex-Ballarat East, where repairs to
level crossing accident damage from Australia Day are complete), and
replace B61+S301 at Geelong.  B61 will go to Ballarat on 9137 Wed 2/2
for repairs.

All the above was achieved with about a dozen phonecalls and
co-operation between ourselves, Freight Victoria and National Express.
Although S301 looks pretty sad, it sounds as good as ever.

Regards,
Craig.
--
Craig Haber
albatross@harnessnet.com.au
http://www.harnessnet.com.au/ch/
Proofread carefully to see if you any words out


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