Monday 23/6/97
8207 had S302-BRS225-BRS223-BZ269-ACZ252-PCP294
17:00 up pass
GEX loco S307+S301, T396,
Nth Geelong A Box, up goods X46+T392+T379
18:15 Shepparton pass had N loco - D van - ACZ262 (locked) - N set
Tues 24/6/97
8207 - S300-BS205-BRS229-BZ267-ACZ255-PCP292
GEX loco G511, G512, X37, T379, T396, S301, S306, S307, A(71?)
17:00 up
GEX loco G521, G532, G514, T379, S301, S306, S307
Wed 25/6/97
8207 - B76-BRS225-BZ270-BRS223-BZ269-ACZ252-PCP294-DT319.
The lead 3 cars were used by a large (150+) group of school children
returning
from the Somer's Camp to Camperdown, Terang and Warrnambool. The D van
was
conveying
their luggage (the train of a dozen or so brute trolleys was an
impressive sight!)
17:00 up
GEX loco S301+S307, T379, S306
The "Geelong B" sign on the signal box of the same name had been
removed. It had
partially fallen off earlier in the week.
Noted freshly painted (in WCR blue of course!) BRS221 in Nth Geelong
yard.
Up goods at NOG A box with G528+X33+T396+T392+T400
We stopped adjacent to A box for about 10 mins due to signal failure,
arriving at
Spencer St at 18:19 (17 late).
Noted a carpark under construction adjacent to the SG at North Shore -
but there's no
sign of an SG platform being constructed at this stage.
Thurs 26/6
8207 - S302-BS205-BRS229-BZ267-ACZ255-PCP292
We were held at Spencer St for some passengers coming from a late
running Traralgon
service. Departed Spencer St 8:56, arr Geelong 9:45, an unchecked run
of 49 mins.
CLP17 on OL
15:40 up - N loco - N set
GEX loco G515, S307+S301, S306
A71+T379 on up goods at Nth Geelong 'A' box
Frid 27/6/97
8207 S300-BZ270-BRS224-BZ269-ACZ252-PCP294
GEX loco G512, 513, 514, 521, T378, 392, S301+307
15:40 up
x down NR class loco running light engine at Corio at 16:50 The NR was
short end leading.
X41 at Spencer St.
BS201 had been added to the set from 8207 to cater for extra loading -
Victorian school term
2 ended this day.
Y112, 600ZD and WT49 were at the loco all week. S301+S307 don't appear
to have moved,
S306 does not appear to have moved either, it's been on a turntable
run-off road.
Sat 28/6/97
8207 - S311-BS205-BRS229-BZ267-ACZ255-PCP292
We got away at 8:45 (2 late), passengers were still streaming up the
ramp at the correct
departure time of 8:43 (first Saturday of School Holidays)
GEX loco G515, 516, X32+A60, S301+S307, G528, T400, G513.
Sun 29/6/97
Worked 8237 out of Melbourne, with
S300-BS201-BZ270-BRS224-BZ269-ACZ252-PCP294
departed on time at 18:55, arriving at Geelong at 19:51, where I handed
over to a
Warrnambool conny, returning home on the 20:30 up pass, a single
Sprinter. By far the
worst trait of these vehicles is that they are impossible to sleep in,
no matter how tired!
Mond 30/6/97
Back onto 8207 Monday morning, with
S311-BS205-BRS229-BZ267-ACZ255-PCP292, had a
good run, reaching Geelong at 9:40, for 51mins running time
Tues 1/7/97
The new financial year off to a busy start, with the first run of the
"Whales To The Whales",
where passengers travel to Warrnambool, then there's a free roadcoach to
see the Whale's
at Warrnambool's Logan's Beach, and other local attractions. Hence we
had a big load on of
S302-BRS221-BRS225-BS201-BRS224-BZ269-ACZ252-PCP294.
Departed at 8:53 (held for a late passenger in a wheelchair), and S302
put in a steller
performance, an unblocked run resulting in 50 mins Melbourne - Geelong,
arr 9:43.
S306 had finally moved, from one turntable run-off road to another.
Wed 2/7/97
More whales passengers, so another big load of
S300-S302 (getting some help this
morning!)-BRS221-BRS225-BS205-BRS229-BZ267-
ACZ255-PCP292
Didn't get away until 8:55 waiting for sigs - I believe there were
problems caused by an NRC
train derailing somewhere out Dynon way. In any case, there was thick
fog - the further we
went the thicker it got (I initially wondered why the train windows were
getting dirty....they
weren't, it was the thickening fog!). Arrived at Geelong at 9:48. S302
again had the job
ahead of it, with S300 failing at Moriac.
Trains 8220/8217 (6:35 WMB-MSS and 12:35 MSS-WMB) ran to/from Geelong
due to
industrial action. S311 hauled 8220, a B (61?) hauled 8217.
Couldn't help but laugh at Spencer St either Monday or Tuesday
evening...at 18:17 the 18:15
Shepparton had an N set at the end of Platform 1 with no loco....and the
computer voice
announcement "The 6:15 Shepparton train is currently experiencing some
technical
problems...V/Line staff are working to rectify the problem".....you've
got no engine - how
technical's that?? The loco from the 17:00 pass ex Geelong (arrived at
about 18:08, 6 late)
was comandeered and eventually ran the Shepparton.
More laughs a couple of Saturday's ago when returning home from running
8207 on the
12:35 up pass, some Sprinters. It was the Saturday when the Corio 'pit'
was renewed. When
preparing to run over some dets, the driver said very clearly and
deliberately over the P.A.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are about to run over some Audible Warning
Devices....." then
he added "...I like to put me fingers in me ears!" Was enjoying the
ride next to the driver,
who was happy to allow an inspection by a younger passenger. After
witnessing the
workings of all the important functions (particularly the whistle), and
a brief discussion of the
signalling on the line, Master Railfan exclaimed "Gee, driving the train
must be pretty easy!"
Cheers,
Craig.
-- Craig Haber albatross@harnessnet.com.au Manufacturing Systems Engineer (almost) Web Page Designer, Harness Racing, Railways, and Essendon Football Club fanatic http://www.harnessnet.com.au/