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Re: Daylight Overland [V/SA]
One thing I forgot to point out
On the night of 4/7 (Monday)up on arrival at Spencer street RTS's J104
hauled one coach class carriage about to add on to Adelaide bond Overland,
the consists that night would be longer then the one I took for sure!
Cheers
James
James C. <james_ccj@my-deja.com> wrote in message
8jssqr$fiq$1@nnrp1.deja.com">news:8jssqr$fiq$1@nnrp1.deja.com...
>
>
> 4 days later returned on daylight Overland service.
> While at Keswick terminal saw NR 94 shunting Indian Pacific carriages
> as well as helping out Overland’s motorail wagon. Left Keswick on
time
> and
> Slowly climb up Adelaide Hill. The train manager did complimentary on
> the scenic spot as well as the history of the line and nearby township.
>
> The Overland cosists:
> "˛Melbourne
>
> BL 33 (steel link) again did the honor
> Motorail wagon+Indian Pacific Baggage car with smoking
> compartment+Coach (Nankuri)+Coach (purpawi)+coach (Mururi)+coach
> (chalaki)+Kookaburra Club +Kookaburra club+Roomatte (Allambi)+Twinette
> (Yankai)+Twinette (Tawarri)+Indian Pacific Twinette with deluxe
> compartment + Power car
>
> This must be the longest consist I ever seen since AN days.
> There were number of speed restrictions on the hill due to sleeper
> replacement program. We were 20 minutes late while pulled in Murray
> Bridge station. In between Murray Bridge and Adelaide there were 5
> tunnels, only one of them was specially high leveled for double stacker
> trains. Most of the stations between Belair and Murray Bridge are still
> there and in good condition. Hopefully one day they will receive
> commuter service from Adelaide. Mt Barker Junction to Victor Harbor
> line still hasn’t receive BG line from Adelaide. We made 2 stops at
> Murray Bridge. After leaving Murray Bridge cross the Murray River and
> off to Melbourne again. It seems to me there was a branch line branched
> away to the left of the mainline, also there are tracks underneath the
> Murray River Bridge right beside the River.
>
> Tailem Bend is the next major township, looked like a major town with
> huge population. The station still in good condition and even has a car
> park. Several Weggman’s carriages store in the yard. But Overland
> chooses to bypass it at 115kph. We got closer to the state border and
> call at weed overgrown station of Bordertown. Picked up a few
> passengers and continue try to catch up with the loss time. Parts of
> the line were receiving upgrade and concrete sleepers. There were track
> workers everywhere along the line. Speed restrictions almost
> everywhere. The train manager announced to everyone there is no clear
> state border sign except when you are in Victoria, the track will be
> worsen and vibration will start. This is due to Ararat-Bordertown
> section still not yet receives welding and concrete sleepers. Indeed
> few minutes after leaving Bordertown the train started vibrate and the
> traditional clicking noise came under the floor.
>
> Wolsey, Kavina, keith and Nhill all looked like major township most
> with stations in good condition but Overland didn’t give a damn and
> whoosh pass those stations. Interesting enough, those station on the
> Victorian side has got orange station plate, whereas on SA side mostly
> still use AN symbol station sign. Finally we stopped at Dimboola for
> driver exchange. Dimboola town folks weren’t really interested with
the
> train (not surprisingly how the timetable was set up). We didn’t
pick
> up any passenger at all. G530 was in the yard along with several grain
> hoppers. Dimboola has got a few giant silos near the station. After
> leaving Dimboola, the train manager told us a little bit history about
> Wimmera River and the Grampians, which can be seen halfway between
> Horsham and Dimboola. Even more grain silos at Horsham with RT shunting
> in the yard. We picked up about 2 passengers before heading off. Murtoa
> and Stawell looked like major centers with substantial population and
> certainly are money trees for FA as giant silos are everywhere. Stawell
> looked like a beautiful town with lovely church, townhall and beautiful
> structures. However Overland preferred to earn its living elsewhere and
> pass by these two towns at high speed. I must say Dimboola-Ararat
> stretch must be the 2nd most scenic spot on this route right after
> Adelaide Hill, with green wheat field, mountains, river and vineyard.
>
> The train swing around a small lake near Ararat before entering the
> station. Ararat looked bigger then any other towns on this route
> (except Geelong of course). The station building is also the local
> tourist information center. GNR”s GM 22 and 27 hauled a ballast
train
> stabled at Ararat yard. 2 railfans were taking photo of us.(they looked
> like Chris Gordon and Michael Kurkowski to me!!!) Other then these 2
> fans, nobody gives a damn to Overland in Ararat, we didn’t pick up
> anyone here and quickly left the town.
>
> Train left Ararat on time, BG line to Ballarat looked over grown, we
> took a sharp left turn to Cressy line at Maroona, left the Portland-
> Ararat SG line and off to Geelong. Interesting thing about Cressy line
> is there are gum tress along both side of the track.
>
> We finally pulled in to SSS, before that we were actually held at
> Tottenham
> For 10 minutes because of after Geelong, we were 20 minutes ahead of
> the time.
>
>
> Overall I enjoyed the trip, despite it took more then 10 hours, it’s
> less tiresome then XPT. Staffs are heaps more friendly then XPT.
> The scenery along the route is much better then between Sydney and
> Melbourne and Sydney and Brisbane I must say. There is more variety on
> this route. The train doesn’t run very fast at all, cars on the
highway
> easily over took us. Maybe a faster schedule is needed to stay
> competitive. On top of that GSR ignored major towns along the route,
> these towns can be a money tree for GSR if carefully marketed and
> timetabled.
>
>
> --
> Cheers
>
> James
>
>
> Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> Before you buy.