A85 on Up B/M Pass

[steam4me@enternet.com.au (Yuri J Sos)]

It would appear that the division of V/Line's loco fleet into
passenger and freight locos may not be totally inflexible or "written
in stone".

Mon morning 08/12/97, I noted A79 and A85 in the Pass Yard at Spencer
Street:  these are supposed to be freight engines, so I thought they
might be parked there for Maryvale workings.

However, this morning's 8124 up Bacchus Marsh pass was hauled through
Sunshine at 1028 by A85.

Is there just a practical rotation to better utilise As on weekends or
have more As been assigned to the pass division (I've been told it's
the freight division that is hungry for motive power, hence S310's
repair, so I wouldn't have thought freight would be giving away
engines).

Regards

Yuri