Re: [VIC] SRV Tocumwal trip

[Adam <adamdunning@start.com.au>]

In article <O7rh6.22335$65.112554@newsfeeds.bigpond.com>,
  "Paul Nicholson" <pn1@rocketmail.com> wrote:
> The lady in the tourist office at Tocumwal told me that it was a bit
hard
> for the locals to get information from the organisers so the town
could
> prepare for the visitors.
> It did appear that the facilities of the Terminus Hotel [ the one
closest to
> the station] were somewhat taxed.
> A Victorian rail news editor was even spotted drinking beer at the
said
> establishment! Had the red wine dried up?
> The train did look impressive and a credit to everyone involved.
> However, I wonder if it is time for the Steamrail staff to get a more
modern
> "uniform" such as that used by the GSR staff on the Overland. The
current
> style is rather dated and reflects the "railwayman" era now gone.
New uniform?  Watch this space...

> Good work Steamrail!
> Paul
> PS: And another observation-Reggie seems to updated his 1970s safari
suite
> for 1950s style "self supporting" trousers! Is this a recent
development?

He's been like this for the last couple of trips.

Adam

> "James Brook" <ajmbrook@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
> 3A863BF2.235B157@ozemail.com.au">news:3A863BF2.235B157@ozemail.com.au...
> > As most of you probably know, SRV ran their regular diesel trip to
> > Tocumwal yesterday (10/2).
> >
> > The consists were as follows:
> >
> > Spencer Street to Seymour:
> >
> > S313 - T413 - VOAF9 - Avoca - Victoria - BRS14 - 3ABE - 17BE -
25BE -
> > 18CE.
> >
> > Avoca and VOAF9 were removed from the train along with S313 at
Seymour.
> > Avoca was being returned to Seymour after a charter and VOAF9 was
being
> > used to transport some E car bogies and other items back to
Melbourne on
> > the up trip.
> >
> > Seymour to Tocumwal:
> >
> > T320 - T413 - Victoria - ... - 18CE.
> >
> > Tocumwal to Seymour:
> >
> > T413 - T320 - 18CE - ... - Victoria.
> >
> > Seymour to Spencer Street:
> >
> > T413 - S313 - VOAF9 - 18CE - ... - Victoria.
> >
> > T320's short hood was facing Tocumwal while T413's short hood was
facing
> > Melbourne. S313 had it's No 1 end facing Tocumwal for the entire
trip as
> > it wasn't turned at Seymour.
> >
> > We left Spencer Street on time at 0810 but were forced to wait at
> > Broadmeadows and we left at 0849 instead of 0836. The original plan
was
> > to arrive at Seymour at 0940 and have morning tea on the platform.
To
> > save time, the train was left in the loop on the Melbourne end of
the
> > yard while all the shunting took place and morning tea was served on
> > board. Eventually the two T's arrived and we arrived at the
platform at
> > 1040 instead of 0950. After a short 10 minute stop we left at 1050,
> > stopped at Shepparton for about 5 minutes at 1240 and arrived in
> > Tocumwal at 1435.
> >
> > The up tour departed Tocumwal at 1620 and arrived at Shepparton at
1744
> > for a short stop. X53 and A78 (both in FA livery) were shut down in
the
> > yard with a down freight. After stopping at Seymour for about an
hour,
> > the tour departed at approx 2000, passed Dysart at 2005 and departed
> > Essendon 10 minutes late at 2134.
> >
> > In my opinion this was Steamrail's best day tour since 1998 and one
of
> > the best tours in Victoria over the past few years. The motive power
> > combinations and destination were as interesting as I have seen on a
> > tour and the train's general appearance was very good, enhanced by
the
> > fact the hideous Explorer liveried K cars were left at Newport.
> >
> > The tour was also run at a very leisurely and relaxed pace compared
to
> > many recent Steamrail trips where they have been rushing to get to
the
> > destination so all the tourists can go for their paddlesteamer
rides or
> > go to the local winery. I go on these trips to relax while
travelling to
> > and from the destination, not to end up waiting for 7 3/4 hours in
> > Ballarat like the upcoming re-launch of R766.
> >
> > The use of the E cars with their cleaner windows with larger
openings
> > also added to the relaxing atmosphere of this trip. It is much more
> > relaxing to be able to simply lean out of the window when you want
to
> > instead of having to get out of your seat (in the process blocking
the
> > view of other passengers) and twist your neck at a strange angle
like in
> > the K cars.
> >
> > In addition to this, the Steamrail volunteers should be
congratulated
> > for their smooth running of this trip. The ones running this trip
seemed
> > to be much more organised than the parallel run tour last year.
> >
> > Finally, the lack of headboards or obtrusive Steamrail advertising
north
> > of Seymour is what make this trip really one to remember. This tour
> > reminded me of the "Quambatook Pass" tour in 1997 and the Panitya
> > weekender in 1998. Both of these tours were really good and didn't
have
> > excessive Steamrail ads all over them. I think this tour is an
example
> > of the way fan trips in Victoria should be run.
> >
> > Here are some image captures from my MiniDV video:
> >
> > S313 and T413 with the down tour at Spencer Street:
> >
>
http://www.railpage.org.au/vr/pics/vidcaps/tocumwal/s313_t413_spencer_st
reet
> .jpg
> >
> > T320 and T413 cross the Murray River at Tocumwal:
> >
>
http://www.railpage.org.au/vr/pics/vidcaps/tocumwal/t320_t413_murray_riv
er.j
> pg
> >
> > T413 and T320 with the up tour near Katunga:
> >
>
http://www.railpage.org.au/vr/pics/vidcaps/tocumwal/t413_t320_near_katun
ga.j
> pg
> >
> > As usual, these are all copyright and must not be used for anything
> > other than personal non-profit use without the photographer's
> > permission.
> >
> > --
> > - James Brook -
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------
> > e-mail:
> > mailto:ajmbrook@ozemail.com.au
> > Victorian Railfan Web Site:
> > http://www.railpage.org.au/vr/
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------
>
>


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