October Gunzelgram
Note: Werribee's correct abbreviation is WRB, not WBE as previously
published.
WCR weekday trains numbers are 8207 (8:49 MSS-WMB), 8217 (12:35
MSS-WMB), 8237 (18:00 MSS-WMB), 8220 (6:35 WMB-MSS), 8232 (12:20
WMB-MSS), 8246 (17:35 WMB-MSS).
Weekends are 8207 (8:43 MSS-WMB), 8237 (18:35 MSS-WMB), 8220 (7:00
WMB-MSS), 8232 (13:05 WMB-MSS) on Saturdays, with 8237 (18:55 MSS-WMB)
and 8246 (17:05 WMB-MSS) on Sundays.
Explanations of other abbreviations/normal travel patterns can be found
in earlier gunzelgrams.
Friday 3/10 - per 11:55, run 8217/46, with
S302,BS206,BRS223,BZ270,ACZ255,PCP292
On the 11:55, noted X32 shunting sleeper wagons at the Spotswood depot
GEX loco A79+S30(1 or 7), B76 and B61 (going to, and coming from BXT,
respectively.)
On time running with 8217, cross S311 on 8232 at WIA, arr WMB 1 early.
A85 at WMB.
8246 made up time everywhere, wait at TEG (18:05-7), CDN (18:21-3), XCO
(18:49-52), cross 8237 at WIA, GEX 19:54-20:00, and MSS arr 1 early at
21:03.
Sat 4/10 - run 8207 MSS-GEX with B61-cars as above, ret per 12:35 up
Sprinter (x 2)
Unremarkable run on 8207, on time, the usual stop to wait outside GEX
loco, arr GEX 9:40.
Sun 5/10 - run 8237 MSS-GEX with
S311,BRS221,BS201,BRS224,BZ269,ACZ252,PCP294, ret per 20:30 up Sprinter
Another unremarkable run, on-tm departure from MSS and WRB, arr GEX 2
early at 19:47
Mon 6/10 - HO. Drove this day, noted the following
A+S301+G at GEX loco Fuel Pt, 6:54 pass ex MSS arr GEX about 20 mins
late with A73-PCJ-FN12
Tues 7/10 - per 11:55, run 8217/46 with
S302,BS206,BRS223,BZ270,ACZ255,PCP292, with BS201 added to 8246
Noted some MSS platform clocks not working - Plat 1 stuck on 10:14:02,
Plat 2 10:31:05, Plat 3/4 were OK. A60 on a pass at Plat 1, A62 and A??
in pass yard, A81 sitting on flyover.
GEX loco - G527+A79+S30(1 or 7), P21, G528, T408, S30(1 or 7), X47
On time running with 8217. Wait time XCO (14:32-4) and CDN (15:00-02),
arr WMB 3 early (15:47). A85 at WMB (again), with S311. Again, no
problems on the up, arr MSS on time 21:04.
Wed 8/10, same again with B61,BRS224,BZ269,ACZ252,PCP294
Noted the rail greaser on the down through Rosanna at 11:45
NR+BL (NR colours) up steel and vans at Nth Shore at 12:47
GEX loco G527+B76, T408, T390, T400, X41, G512, H5, X39, X??, A??
On 8217, dep GEX 6 late at 13:35, held at the WIA home stick 14:01-7
while 8232 was put in the loop, hence made up some time going through
the platform only (usually we use the loop), lost a min at CDN acc. crew
verifying new train order, arr WMB 1 late 15:51. A81 and S302 at WMB.
No such problems on the up, on/ahead of time everywhere, arr MSS 21:02.
Surprisingly, the XPT was still there, it departed around 21:20. A
goods headed for Gippsland with X33+T388 at 21:20.
Fri 10/10 - same again with B76,BS201,BRS224,BZ269,ACZ252,PCP294, swap
B76 for S311 on the up
GEX loco G534, H5, X39, X41, S30(1 or 7), A78
8217 found trouble in the Met area - signal failures caused delays,
hence we got away from GEX 9 late at 13:38, stop at WIA home stick
14:05-10 while 8232 was put away. B76 was having a few problems
accelerating the train, but no problems when at speed, so we made WMB 9
late at 15:59. B76's problems were diagnosed by the guys at WMB, so it
came off for S311, which had no problems on the up, arr MSS 21:03.
During our stop at WRB the down SCT came through with G+G on one of the
longest trains I've ever seen....it just kept coming!
Mon 13/10 - run 8207 MSS-GEX with B61,BS201,BRS224, BZ269,ACZ252,PCP294
On time departure, a brief stop at Hoppers Crossing, arr GEX 9:44.
Wed 15/10 - per 11:55, run 8217/46 with B61,BRS223,BZ270,ACZ255,PCP292
on the down, home with B61 leading
S311,PCP292,ACZ255,BZ270,BRS221,BRS229,BZ267. B61 removed at GEX (to
BXT), the last 2 cars were locked and empty, being worked to wheel
lathe.
Noted N468+N462 inbound on the flyover, with N459 close behind them.
12:24 x CLF+CLF (back to back) on up Patricks at WRB
12:43 note T class shunting open wagons at Elders Sdg. Apparently the
log traffic is now shunted out here, and it's rumoured a chipping plant
will be built here.
8217 got away from GEX 2 late, X8232 (S302) at WIA, lost a little time
en-route with parcels, wheelchair, arr WMB 1 late. X39 at WMB.
On 8246, 2 'horses' and 5 cars had no worries holding time, arr GEX
19:54, B61 detached and shunting to Sdg A/B, holding up our departure,
hence arr MSS 21:05 (1 late).
Thurs 16/10 - same again, with S302,BRS224,BZ269,ACZ252,PCP294 (super,
more 3 car trains)
Noted A66+A70-PH-FSH in P1 11:56
12:27 x G533+G??? - up SCT at Manor Loop crossing down steel train of
NR96+BL35
GEX loco G526+527, G516+X42, T392+T388+T379, G528, A??+S???
8217 dep GEX on time, lost time at WIA (loop dep 6 late at 14:11) acc.
late arrival S300 on 8232, but made up the time to arrive WMB 1 early
15:49.
Had an interesting run on 8246. Made time TEG (18:05-7), CDN
(18:21-23), XCO (18:49-52) - while at XCO the crew notified we were
getting a new train order, and there'd be no cross at WIA tonight.
Reason was that the freeway builders managed to take out the North
Melbourne group of signalling (severed cables adjacent to the Moonee
Ponds Creek), so country trains weren't moving! So we stopped at WIA
19:17-18 and headed straight for GEX, arriving very early - 19:44. Gave
us some time to speculate on how close we'd get to Melbourne - we
expected no problems to Werribee, but a long night from there on. 8237
still hadn't left Melbourne - it was looking like we might get to see
both WCR sets side-by-side at Spencer St. We made Werribee okay, and it
was green lights as far as the eye could see (no complaints about
that). We'd 'crossed' an SG SF at Lara (20:15), a V/Line pass at 20:21
(between Lara and Little River), then crossed our down train 8237 at
Newport (!) at 20:44. It had to cross the up goods at XCO, and made WMB
some time just before midnight. Two more V/Line passes came hot on it's
hammer. T409 was shunting at Spotswood glass sdg. We made MSS 2 early
at 21:02.
Fri 17/10 - same again with S300,BS205,BRS221,BZ270,ACZ255,PCP292
Noted A73 on the flyover, the Greaser went through on the down at 11:30
(towards Nth Melb), saw it again at Nth Melb at 12:09 - it'd been turned
in this time, and had heavy graffiti on one side.
The 11:55 stopped Nth Melb Platform 2 12:00-12:15 acc. signalling
problems.
12:26 CLF+GM on up Patricks at Newport
13:02 NR+BL up steel Nth Shore
G526 sitting in NOG up platform.
GEX loco G514, T379, A79+S301, X47, X36, G513, A77, T390, A71
Not a great run on 8217, dep GEX 3 late, lose time at WIA (loop dep 10
mins late) acc. late arrival of 8232 (S311), arr WMB 9 late at 15:59.
A81 and S302 at WMB.
No problems on 8246, on time, cross 8237 (S311 - on time) at WIA, arr
MSS 1 late at 21:05.
Sat 18/10 - run 8207 MSS-GEX (consist as above), ret per 12:35 up
Sprinter (x2)
8207 included a large group from the Chartered Institute of Transport
(including some high-profile railfans) on their way to XCO, returning
via BXT. Got away 1 late acc late pax (they're always running late
Saturday mornings!), stop Laverton Jcn 9:06-7, arr GEX 9:40.
Sun 19/10 - run 8237 MSS-GEX with P23+P19 (both
orange/grey),BRS225,BS201,BRS224,BZ269,ACZ252,PCP294. The P's were the
only loco's available, as S311 was defective at Dynon awaiting repairs.
Got away on time, dep WRB 1 late, arr GEX 3 late. Not sure what time
they made WMB - would have been pretty close to time - despite the
100km/h speed limit, with 2 loco's you get up the hills as fast as you
get down 'em. The P's returned on 8220 the next morning, arr MSS on
time! A bit deceptive - a B or S will usually arrive at GEX up to 7
early (the P's were into GEX on schedule), but still a good job from the
small loco's and their crew.
Returning on the 20:30, sprinter 7012.
Mon 20/10 - back on the late shift, per 11:55, then 8217/46 with
B76,BRS224,BZ269,ACZ252,PCP294. X41 hauled 8217 MSS-GEX, B76 replaced
it there (ex BXT).
11:55 SOG departed from the down end of Plat 2, acc guttering works.
P12 shunting BRS229,BZ267,crimson D Van between Plat 2 and 3. A70
sitting in Plat 1.
12:25 x CLF+GM up Patricks at WRB racecourse
12:28 track recording car EM100 sitting at down end of Manor loop
12:48 G528+G??? heading onto grain loop
12:49 A78 arr NOG with up cement ex-Waurn Ponds, followed closely by
G512 L.E. (12:50).
GEX loco G521, B76 (not for long), T379, T396, G526, G524, X46, S307
With the loco change complete (9 mins total), 8217 dep GEX 8 late,
slowed at SOG acc trackwork at the level crossing, then stop at WIA home
stick 14:05 while 8232 was put away. Made up the deficit by WMB, arr
15:47. A77 and S300 at WMB.
8246 ran to time, cross 8237 (S302) at WIA, running late, hence we
arrived GEX on-time 19:57 (usually get in between 19:52-55), and arr MSS
3 early at 21:01.
Tues 21/10 - HO (down on 7:46 SOG, ret 17:00 pass).
GEX loco G523, X36, G511, A79+S301, X42, T392+T379+T396+X45
17:00 up
G513+X40 at NOG 'A' box, G+X at NOG 'C' on a Wheatie facing Maryborough.
Wed 22/10 - back on the late shift, 11:55 then 8217/46 with
S300,BRS224,BZ269,ACZ252,PCP294, swapping BRS224 for BRS225 on 8246.
Noted NR82+BL32 (AN green/gold) at Spencer St Motorail Dock (end of Plat
2). This move was to enable NR crews to learn the road to Spencer St,
before taking up the running of the Overland, and happened regularly for
a short period.
12:50 x NR??+NR83 up steel-vans-steel at Nth Shore
GEX loco X41, A79, H5, X46, S307, G527+G528.
Again dep GEX late at 13:31, noted work being done on WIA no. 3 road
(new gravel ballast) while crossing 8232 (S302), eventually arr WMB
15:56.
Quiet run on the up. On time everywhere, cross 8237 (B76) at WIA, arr
MSS 2 early.
Thurs 30/10 - late shift again, with B61,BRS225,BS201,ACZ252,PCP294
ETU strike on this day - no suburban trains.
NR+BL in motorail dock at MSS at around 10:50 - gone by 11:50
12:27 x NR+BL (green) up steel
Y110 and Y129 shunting (separately) in NOG yd, and T???+T379 in NOG P1
GEX loco X33, X46, T409, G513, H4, X47
8217 had a great run (no sparks in the way), arr GEX 13:23 (48 mins
running ex MSS), wait till departure 13:29, wait at SOG 13:32 acc. sigs,
then cross 8232 (B76) at WIA, dep the loop 5 late, and arr WMB 3 late at
15:53.
On time running for 8246, cross 8237 (B76) at WIA on time, clear run to
MSS, arr 21:02.
Noted 3, 3 car Comeng sets in WRB plat 1, 2 of which were being
prepared. Some sparks were running through MSS.
Fri 31/10, same again with S302,BS205,BRS221,BS206,ACZ255,PCP292
saw the Greaser on the up through Nth Melb around 12:00, noted several
sheds had been demolished in the SCT terminal, much of which was fenced
off.
12:44 x NR+NR+DL(? - in NR colours) up steel at Nth Shore
12:47 X47+H5 up Waurn Ponds into NOG yd
GEX loco T409, A73+A77, X41, X40(?)
8217 dep GEX 2 late, 5 late out of WIA loop after crossing 8232, but arr
WMB 15:48
8246 was one of the best runs I've been part of. S302 with 4 cars
departed WMB 12 late (acc. wiring problems with BS205), TEG 11 late, CDN
10 late, XCO 7 late, arr WIA 6 late, shunt into the loop (8237 was as
late as we were, acc following the late running 17:40 V/Line pass out of
MSS) - hence we didn't make up time by cheating and not doing the shunt,
dep WIA loop 19:34, arr GEX 2 late, dep 1 late, and arr MSS 1 early -
recovered a total of 13 mins, including a slow approach to WRB (acc. use
platform 1, which the first 3 cars scraped on departure - but that's
another story), and a brief stop at Nth Melbourne at 20:59.
Cheers,
Craig (a.k.a. Computagunzel)
-- 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/