Those damned XPT's...Christmas day at Tottenham Loop noted an almost ontime
XPT not quite arrived in Melbourne. Noticed Ex
Melbourne Hump Loco H2 at West Footscray, on the SG waiting a path towards
Totty.
It appears that V/Line Pass crews were sent to rescue the failed XPT in a
V/Line Freight Loco. I am reliably informed that the East end Power car had
failed and that the Driver could not maintain air pressure for braking!
This meant that the XPT was totaly disabled only 5 km's from its
destination. After a lot of trouble getting the air through the train it
was hauled by the H into Spencer Street two hours late!
When it departed Melbourne later on that night ,it did so less the East end
Power Car! The problem could not be fixed, before the train departed, and
as regulations prohibit a trailing vehicle running in service without
brakes, it was left behind. MY Question is this....How did they return the
Power Car to Sydney, and what did Sydney do with this set when it arrived
the next day, it was to run on to Brisbane???
Anyway I guess it was still a case of H2 humping the SLUG !! :-)
Rod Young