[Ausloco] Looking Back September 1975 (cont)

["noel m forster" <noelmel@wantree.com.au>]

Tuesday October 1 1975

44209 came off at South Grafton and was replaced by 4408. Arrived Murwillumbah at 1110. After a slow bus trip arrived in Brisbane.

Wednesday October 2 1975

Central-Ipswich return 2355 and a set of ancient red cars which pitched and swayed everywhere. 2355 is possibly now operating in Tasmania, I am not sure of its new number. The loco was turned on the turntable using the air from the loco.
Unfortunately the rest of the day was spent travelling behind 1720s ( all noise and go nowhere quickly!).

1750 Roma St-Toowoomba on the Dirranbandi Mail
1556 QLX QLX QLX QLX  Carraige 566, JCS, FBS,QLX Van 1147,Van 500, QLX, Van 1166. 3 out of 12 vehicles for passenger accomodation. Not all vehicle classifications were readily discernible.
Dep 1755 
cross 1523 on a gds at Spring Bluff 2056-2108
Arr 2138 an interesting trip, probably like the Adelaide- Victor Harbour rail trip used to be, you could do it by road in a fraction of the time.

Thursday October 3 1975

locos in and around Toowoomba:- 1755 2371 1753 1744 1752 1465
1310 Toowoomba- Roma St
Railmotor 2025 + 2057
Dep 1310 arr Roma St 1635- a scenic trip.

Saturday October 4 1975

ARHS Special to Yarraman

1203 and 5 cars
Dep Roma St 0720
Arr Ipswich 0804 c/o C17 974 Dep 0817

There was a 5 minute delay between Fernvale and Lowood when the train struck some cattle grazing on the track.
We arrived at Esk at 1029 and took water but there was an extra delay when the OIC was caught between the buffers when the loco was coupling back up to the train. He was taken away for medical attention.
This was the start of the trip from hell as the water taken at Esk was dodgy and caused both injectors to play up and after every photostop extra time was taken to clean the fire and raise steam. We limped into Yarraman 2 hours late at 1504. The C17 was then declared a total failure and a replacement loco was requisitioned from Brisbane.
I had a social engagement back in Brisbane that night so I hitch hiked back.
I ascertained from people at the railway Museum the next day that the train arrived back at 0545 that morning!!!!
Apparently being a Saturday night it was difficult to find a crew to bring a 1720 out.

Sunday October 5 1975

After a day riding more suburbans and visiting the Museum I headed to Rockhampton on the Capricornian.

1555 + 1530 MMV MMV MBC MBL MBL MAL MBS MDC/G MBS MAS MAS MAS MPC
Dep 1930

Monday October 6 1975

Arr Rockhampton 0940

After picking up my hire car I headed out to check out the lay of the land and chose a spot at Port Curtis Jn . Noted 2 coalies: 1319+1304+1277 and 1291+1308+!275

Tuesday October 7 1975

I headed to a point on the Gladstone line near Archer for the day and noted the following:
1296+1289+1303 Coal
1557 Capricornian
1279+1298+1295 Coal
1519 Gds
1457 Gds
1520 Gds
1275+ 1308 Coal
1469 Gds
1470 Gds
1506 + 1768 Gds
1504 Gds
1209 Gds
1513 Gds
1317+1305+1332 Coal
1304+1319 Coal

How things have changed in 25 years with most of those locos non existent or at least not in that guise, not to mention eectrification. A low flying magpie made life difficult when taking photos.

Wednesday October 8 1975

Plenty of trains in and around Rockhampton
1150 1302 2109 2111 1335 1616 1317 1313 1653 1634 1306 1278 1326 1282 1304 1642 1464 1494 1287 1290 1301 1201 1285 1307
it was incongruous seeing mainline trains heading down the middle of a busy street with the fireman hanging out the window ringing a bell. ( what did the fireman do in wet weather?).

1600 Capricornian Rockhampton- Roma St
1335 13 Cars
Dep 1600. This was a slow trip including a 27 minute delay at Kilkuna crossing 1550 on the Sunlander. At least the sleeper was comfortable.

Thursday October 9 1975

Arr Roma St 0748

The commuters of Brisbane would never complain about their mode of transport today if they couldn't remember the red sets. 
A case in point is the trip I did to Beenleigh behind 1735 where the walls of my carraige moved independently of each other and I dare not think what was holding it together!

1540 Limited South Brisbane- Sydney

44217 + 4426 12 cars Dep 1540
Yeerongpilly 4305 (!) 4482 4416 4448 44218 4449

44240 was on the Gold Coast Motorail at Casino

Friday October 10 1975

Noted 4631 hauling a 4 car U Boat at Epping
Arr on time at 0738
4488 + 42102 on the Spirit of Progess while the Aurora scored 42205 + 4538 (!)

a very wet day in Sydney. Noted 4602 + 4601 on the IP
while 4448 + 4416 were on the Spirit.
The Limited had 44226 + 44212 while the Gold Coast Motorail scored 4416 + 4427.

2000 Southern Aurora  44205 + 42210 14 cars 1 Motorail Dep 2012 

Saturday October 11 1975 

C/o Albury X38
Arr Spencer St 0904

1240 Spencer St- Ballarat 87RM + 9RM ( off Bacchus Marsh)
The Walkers were the Victorian equivalent of the DEB Sets- at least though if you were quick you could get the front seat to check out the 'road'.
Arr Ballarat 1515 a day early as I was rostered to drive trams at the Ballarat Tramway Museum the next day.

Regards

Noel Forster


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Failed tests, classes skipped, forgotten locker combinations. 
Remember the good 'ol days
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