More loco's on the Warrnambool

[Craig Haber <albatross@harnessnet.com.au>]

G'day,

further to a post a while back, I dug out some time logs with A, N, and
X loco's on WCR passes.  Some are presented below for perusal....

Firstly on down trains.......note all trains included a CP or PCP in
addition to the number of cars shown, the 16/2/93 was A73-D van-3N
set..  Note also the P class loco's are restricted to 100 km/h.  The
return 'up' run on N452 was double-headed with a B, so we can't include
it.

Date		15/4/97		25/4/97		16/2/93		29/7/97		5/7/97	
Loco (Cars)	A73 (5)		N452(5)		A73 (3N)	X42(4)		X48(4)

GEX-WIA		stop SOG	27		28		28		26
WIA-XCO		stop BGU	26		25		stop BGU	24
XCO-CDN		28		28		26		26		26
CDN-TEG		14		14		15		14		14
TEG-WMB		33		32		35		29		28

Date		19/10/97	29/5/97		30/5/97		4/6/97		8/8/97
Loco (Cars)	P23+P19 (5)	S300 (4)	S311 (4)	S302 (4)	B76 (4)
GEX-WIA		31		27		26		29		26
WIA-XCO		stop BGU	stop BGU	stop BGU	stop BGU	stop BGU
XCO-CDN		29		30		26		27		26
CDN-TEG		15		14		15		14		14
TEG-WMB		32		30		30		29		30

On Up trains

Date		20/10/97	30/7/97		5/7/97		15/4/97		16/2/93
Loco (Cars)	P19+P23 (4)	X42 (4)		X48 (4)		A81 (4)		A73 (3N)

WMB-TEG		31		31		30		34		29
TEG-CDN		16		15		13		14		13
CDN-XCO		28		26		26		27		25
XCO-WIA		stop BGU	stop BGU	25		25		25
WIA-GEX		28		27		27		26		26

Date		15/4/97		8/8/97		14/8/97		15/8/97		4/12/97
Loco (Cars)	A81 (4)		B76 (4)		S302 (4)	B76 (4)		B61 (4)

WMB-TEG		34		30		30		32		32
TEG-CDN		14		15		14		14		14
CDN-XCO		27		26		27		26		28
XCO-WIA		25		24		24		24		26
WIA-GEX		26		26		26		27		27

So you'll note that on performance there's bugger all in it!  A 'big' X
should be the best
performer - at 2200hp it's more than a B/S, only marginally less than an
A/N, but is not
turbocharged, hence represents the best of both worlds.  Even so, from
the logs I found
there's still nothing in it.  A lot of the variation can be put down to
outside factors, such as
speed restrictions, and crews - both cause major variation.  Between
Melbourne and Geelong
I've had many sub- 50 minute runs behind a variety of loco's - the best
solo effort (although not the fastest time) was S302 on 30/12/97 with 7
cars plus van, 50 mins even.  The best days are when the Met are on
strike - you get uninterrupted running, 46 mins with a single loco not
unusual.  The best run I've had Melbourne-Geelong was 45 mins behind
S311+S300 on 7 cars plus van on 8237 Friday 6/3/98.  We got away late
due to problems on the 17:40 Sth Geelong (which departs plat 7 in front
of us), which in turn delayed docking of our loco's, so we got away at
18:23, through Werribee 18:45, arrive Geelong 1908.  Prior to docking, I
mentioned to our driver, "Two horses tonight driver".  "Righto," said
he, "I'll shut one down then for a bit of a challenge" :)

The pair of P's on 8220 20/10 made GEX-MSS in 47 mins.  A colleage
claims to have made
this journey in 45 mins behind a single T on a special.

Interesting stuff 'eh?  Can't wait to see what sort of times R711 can do
:)

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/