Re: [VIC] Robinvale tour - Day 1

["Peter Berrett" <pberrett@optushome.com.au>]

James these are good photos

What equipment did you use?

cheers Peter

James Brook <ajmbrook@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
3A02F48E.54CD60BD@ozemail.com.au">news:3A02F48E.54CD60BD@ozemail.com.au...
> I motorcaded this train from Melton to Maryborough today (I would have
> rather been on it :-) ). Locos and consist from Melbourne were K190 -
> D3_639 - VOAF9 - Goulburn - Coliban - Inman - BKL600 - BRS14 - Werribee
> - Indi - LAN - Nomuldi - PCJ492.
>
> I first photographed the special on the Melton Weir bridge at around
> 0910. We then went to the armco at the top of the horse shoe curve. Both
> locos were working hard and put on a fine show as it passed us at 1038.
> However, the train gradually got slower and slower and it didn't reach
> the Dog Trap Gully road bridge until 1053. At about 1110, it came to a
> complete stop as it emerged from the cutting near Bank Box Loop. By this
> time, the up pass had arrived at the loop and was waiting for the
> special. The train didn't move until 1128 and it took until 1133 for it
> to enter the loop. Although this show was paradise for all the gunzels,
> I don't think National Express would be too happy.
>
> After this, we moved to the level crossing just around the corner from
> the loop. Then we found out that the special had to wait in the loop for
> over an hour to allow a down and an up pass through. Shortly after
> departing, it reached the level crossing at 1250. I then photographed it
> at Ballan at 1315 and it arrived in Ballarat sometime around 1400 (I
> didn't record the time). At 1527 it passed the site of the Australasia
> mine just out of Creswick and it arrived in Maryborough at about 1650.
> By the time it left Maryborough at around 1740 it was running well over
> 2 hours late. I photographed it just outside the town at 1748 and
> decided to quit for the day.
>
> I would really like to say thank you to Steamrail for removing the
> headboards. It was good to be able to photograph a Steamrail train
> without them. However, they also removed the smoke deflectors from K190,
> which was very dissapointing as it would have been really good to have
> been able to photograph a VR-looking K and D3. If Steamrail begins to
> remove the headboard more often, then maybe in the future I will finally
> be able to see two black VR locos without a headboard. Does anyone know
> when the smoke deflectors will be put back?
>
> I also think the volunteers did an excellent job on Coliban and Inman.
> The standard of restoration of these two carriages shows what Steamrail
> is capable of. It would be good to see their entire fleet of wooden
> non-airconditioned cars painted in the proper red and white livery. All
> they have to do is use white lettering instead of yellow lettering and
> leave off the yellow stripe and their carriages would be in VR
> condition.
>
> As usual, I always prefer to travel on a train rather than motorcade it.
> All I am waiting for is a reasonably priced railfan tour and I will be
> on it. Maybe next year's Tocumwal tour in February could be run with the
> wooden cars?
>
> On another note, was the load of this train close to the maximum goods
> load for a K and D3 on the Ingliston bank, or was there some other sort
> of problem?
>
> Here are two image captures from my MiniDV video:
>
> K190 and D3 639 almost at a standstill near Dog Trap Gully road:
> http://www.railpage.org.au/vr/pics/vidcaps/k190_d3639_ingliston_bank.jpg
>
> K190 and D3 639 pass through Ballan:
> http://www.railpage.org.au/vr/pics/vidcaps/k190_d3639_ballan.jpg
>
> Please note: These images are copyright and must not be used for
> anything other than personal non-profit use without my permission.
>
> --
> - James Brook -
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> e-mail:
> mailto:ajmbrook@ozemail.com.au
> Victorian Railfan Web Site:
> http://www.railpage.org.au/vr/
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