ELs and repossessed steam locos

[Peter Donaghy <PeterDo@als.com.au>]

Aus loco discussion mailing list

Good morning, all.

With the advice from Pete Kilburn yesterday re an EL to Parkes, I
decided to use a couple of free hours to look for it.  After my morning
work commitments, I set off about 10am.

Manildra at 1040 had MM01 and 7340 in the yard.

Parkes yard held no locos whatsoever.

Parkes depot had NR107, 48s33, 48s37 / 48s35; 8157, 8164 / 8165; 8257 /
8153 in the yard; 442s3, 48s36, 48s31; 4514 around the table, and 442s6,
48s32, 48s30 and 442s2 in the roundhouse at 1115.  A crew arrived as I
did, uncoupled 48s37 and drove it to the turntable, parking it at the
southern edge of the roundhouse around 1145.  Of note was NO freightcorp
48s present: there's always been at least one or two every time I've
been through.

I loitered for a while, but by 1210, had to depart for Orange, so I have
yet to see an EL!  A trip to Sydney or Junee might have to be
considered.

Yeaterday evening, WL3 The Ghan passed through Orange at 1924, as NR41
with a motorail (looked to be empty as it flashed past) and 12
carriages, all in the capable hands of fellow Ausloco correspondent, one
G Marshall (that was me giving the big wave at the Woodward Rd level
crossing, mate!).  One aspect of the train order was a cross with train
8476 (loco 8207) at Manildra; this train passed through Orange at 2054.

This morning, two Silverton 48s and two ex-WOAX (ex-WA open wagons) have
run to Orange, removed partially-restored steam loco 5112 from the yard
and shunted it adjacent to the Hills Transport shed, beside Piesley St.
As of 1030, consist was 5112 (tender first) / 48s30 / 48s37 (back to
back) / 2x WOAX (or whatever they're coded now).  A couple of large road
cranes are parked at the roadside in preparation for lifting 5112 onto a
road transporter.  This unit has been reclaimed by the Bathurst City
Council from the Central West Railway Preservation Society (if that's
what they still call themselves), a move that has been mooted for
several years.  Some conjecture exists as to whether it is returning to
Bathurst, or onto the preservation group in Lithgow.

Regards,

Peter Donaghy
Manager, Orange laboratory
ALS CHEMEX
ph. (02) 6363 1722
fax (02) 6363 1189
e-mail: peterdo@als.com.au


______________________________________________________________________
To unsubscribe, write to Ausloco-unsubscribe@listbot.com
______________________________________________________________________
Start Your Own FREE Email List at http://www.listbot.com