Re: [VIC] 21/4 Parallel Run

[James Brook <ajmbrook@ozemail.com.au>]

The day train departed Spencer Street a few minutes late just before 0720. I forgot to
record the departure time as well as the time at Seymour but the train arrived at
Riggs Creek Loop at 0922 (scheduled 0915). It departed at 0926 (scheduled 0923) after
crossing the 8312 up Albury pass. The watering stop at Benalla took less time than the
scheduled 35 minutes and the train arrived in Wodonga at 1114. The consist from
Melbourne was R711 - S313 (No 2 end leading) - BK700 - BK711 - BRS14 - BK703 - AK500 -
BKL600 - BK702 - CP291.

The 38's arrived at Wodonga just before 1250. They proceeded to Wodonga loop where
they waited for the BG train. The consist of this train was 3801 - 3830 - VHO1816 -
HN2197 - RFN2187 - CN1747 - LAN2377 - NAM2338 - NAM2375 - BCS2356 - RMS2359 - FAM2391
- NAM2373 - LAN2352 - PHA2394.

The consist for the broad gauge train was R761 - R711 - CP291 - BRS229 - BK714 - BK702
- BKL600 - AK500 - BK703 - BRS14 - BK711 - BK700 - WAL951.

The Broad gauge train left Wodonga at about 1335 (This is an estimate) after being
held up by a late running down Albury pass. After this late departure the tour never
made up the lost time. The organisation at the Euroa photostop was pathetic and this
didn't help at all. Many people were saying that this was one of the worst organised
photostops they had ever seen. At first the photoline was formed in the weeds near a
bridge. Then some organisers were telling the passengers to go back to the front of
the platform while others were telling passengers to form the photoline where they
were. Whatever happened to using a megaphone? Eventually a new photoline was formed in
front of the platform and the Victorian train set back. It then took several minutes
before the NSW train set back to where the Victorian train was. Finally when the
photostop was run the Victorian train held back and it wrecked any chance of getting a
good photo of the two trains parallel to each other. After this the 38's had to take
water and the Victorian train continued on to Seymour. Here the two R's were serviced
and they were swapped around so R711 was leading R761. The NSW train had to wait at
Seymour loop to let the up XPT and an up NR freight through. When they finally turned
up they had to take water again as they only took on enough at Euroa to get to
Seymour. Eventually both trains departed over an hour late at 1837 (scheduled 1735).
We again had some parallel running until a problem occured with a bearing on 3830.
Both trains stopped at Kilmore East. We were then told the problem was a bearing on
one of the BG carriages. The bearings were checked on the BG train and the 38's left
at 1933. They couldn't find anything wrong so the BG train left at 1936. We then
passed the SG train near Heathcote Junction and it was travelling fairly slow. The BG
train departed Broadmeadows at 2013 and we then waited for the SG train at Jacana
loop. Eventually the organisers gave up and we departed at 2044. After stopping at
Sunshine and Footscray the BG train arrived at Spencer Street at 2120. 3830 was left
at Somerton Loop and 3801 hauled the train to Spencer Street. It arrived just before
2200.

Overall the tour was good but the organisation was a bit below Steamrail's usual
standard, especially at the photostop. The train also looked like a circus and the
windows were terrible. You couldn't see anything when someone was leaning out, which
was most of the time during the parallel runs! I would hate to have been stuck on the
wrong side of the BK cars during this trip. The N cars at the front of the SG train
were much better as they had huge windows in comparison to the K cars and they opened
from the bottom so you didn't block off the entire window by leaning out. Steamrail
really needs to find a way of either modifying these carriages so they have proper
windows or running the wooden cars at 100kph for special events like this. While the K
cars may be ok for normal day trips, they are useless for parallel runs like this.

James Brook wrote:

> Here are a few video captures of today's trip:
>
> R711 and S313 at Benalla with the down day train:
> http://www.railpage.org.au/vr/pics/vidcaps/millennium_aurora/r711_s313_benalla.jpg
>
> The two 38's arrive at Wodonga:
> http://www.railpage.org.au/vr/pics/vidcaps/millennium_aurora/3801_3830_wodonga.jpg
>
> The two 38's during the parallel run (shot from BG train):
> http://www.railpage.org.au/vr/pics/vidcaps/millennium_aurora/3801_3830_1.jpg
>
> The two 38's during the parallel run (shot from BG train):
> http://www.railpage.org.au/vr/pics/vidcaps/millennium_aurora/3801_3830_2.jpg
>
> The photostop at Euroa:
> http://www.railpage.org.au/vr/pics/vidcaps/millennium_aurora/euroa.jpg
>
> R711 and R761 at Seymour:
> http://www.railpage.org.au/vr/pics/vidcaps/millennium_aurora/seymour_r711_r761.jpg
>
> The two 38's arrive at Seymour
> http://www.railpage.org.au/vr/pics/vidcaps/millennium_aurora/3801_3830_seymour.jpg
>
> R761 at Spencer Street.
> http://www.railpage.org.au/vr/pics/vidcaps/millennium_aurora/r761_spencer_st.jpg
>
> Note: These images are copyright and may not be used for anything other
> than personal non-profit use without my permission.



--
- James Brook -

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