Gunzelgram April 98

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

April 1998 Gunzelgram 

Note 07:46 SOG pass is N loco - FSH set, 11:55 SOG pass is N loco - FN
set, 16:25 up GEX pass is N loco - FLH set, 17:00 up is N loco - FN set
unless otherwise noted.

Sunday 5/4/98, return from annual leave, run 8237 MSS-GEX with S302,
BS205, BS201, BRS229, BZ270, ACZ257, PCP292.  Very busy night (just
what’s needed after 2 weeks off!), departed MSS on time, but waited acc
sigs at the end of platform 7 till 18:59, hence arr GEX 5 late at 19:54

Monday 6/4/98, run 8207 MSS-GEX with B76, BS212, BRS224, BZ269, ACZ255,
PCP294.  Dep MSS 1 late (late passengers), arr GEX 2 late.  Noted GEX
loco G523+G527, H4, S310.  Up Waurn Ponds through GEX at 12:21 behind
G511.

Tuesday 7/4/98, run 8207 MSS-GEX with S302, BS201, BRS229, BZ270,
ACZ257, PCP292.  Dep MSS 1 late acc. sigs, arr GEX on time.  Noted GEX
loco G526, S306, P22, S301+S307, G525, X52.  Return home on 16:25 up, N
loco - FLH set, noted GEX loco T379, T409, T390, X47, P22.  Up goods at
NOG ‘A’ box G521+X52

Wednesday 8/4/98, run 8207 MSS-GEX with B76, BS212, BRS224, BZ269,
ACZ252, PCP294.  Dep MSS 1 late acc sigs, stop the up side of NPT acc
sigs, then slow running to WRB, so arrive GEX 6 late.  Noted GEX loco
S310, S307, S301, S31, T408, T390, T409.  X39 through GEX nose leading
to Waurn Ponds at 11:00, returned at 12:40.

“Black Thursday” 9/4/98, run 8207 MSS-GEX with B61, BS201, BRS229,
BZ270, ACZ257, PCP292.  Dep MSS 1 late acc sigs, then stop at the end of
Platform 7 8:51-2 acc sigs, arrive GEX 2 late.  Noted GEX loco
G526+G525, X42+S306, G514, S301, S307, T409+T390+T379.  Assist to
Melbourne on 8232, preparing 8237, which had B76, BS206, BS207, BS201,
BRS229, BZ270, ACZ257, PCP292 and was very full.  The 18:15 Shepparton
had N loco - BZ-BS-3N set.  The Sale (18:21?) departed Platform 8, the
Overland docked at 18:52, from the east end J104, PCO4, Allambi,
Tawarri, 2AJ, CDF9246, 6BJ, AG373, 3RBJ, 7BJ, 8BJ, HM959-NR91
“Chullora”.  Earlier in the day, N460 caught fire at Sth Geelong when
the HEP alternator burnt out while forming the 15:35 ex SOG (15:40 ex
GEX) up pass.  It was cancelled, passengers had to wait for the 16:20 ex
SOG (16:25 ex GEX).

“Good Friday” 10/4/98, run 8207 MSS-GEX with S302, BRS221, BS212,
BRS224, BZ269, ACZ252, PCP294.  Very busy, near enough to a full house
for my liking, dep MSS 1 late at 9:44 acc sigs, arrive GEX after a
sterling run at 9:32.  Noted GEX loco T408, G515, G523, A85, H5+X43

“Easter Saturday” 11/4/98, run 8207 MSS-GEX with B76, BS207, BS201,
BRS229, ACZ257, PCP292.  On time running.

“Easter Sunday” 12/4/98, run 8237 MSS-GEX with B61, BS212, BRS224,
BZ269, ACZ252, PCP294.  Another on-time run.  On the 20:30 up Sprinter,
x NR+NR+NR on a long down superfreighter at North Shore (20:36) - every
slot filled.

“Easter Monday” 13/4/98, run 8207 MSS-GEX with B76, BS207, BS201,
BRS229, ACZ257, PCP292.  Dep MSS 1 late acc. late passengers, arrive GEX
1 early.  Noted GEX loco S301, T408, G515, G523, S307, A85, N452, H5,
Y121, Y110, Y129, X43.  The 12:35 up service formed by 2 x Sprinter was
severely overcrowded, it departed at 12:44, and was relieved by 2
busses.

Tuesday 14/4/98, run 8207 MSS-GEX with B61, BRS221, BS212, BRS224,
BZ269, ACZ252, PCP294.  Dep MSS 7 late acc. sigs, arrive GEX 7 late. 
Return on 16:25 up, noting GEX loco X43, H5, T379, T388, S310, S512

Wednesday 15/4/98, run 8207 MSS-GEX with S302, BS207, BS201, BRS229,
ACZ257, PCP292.  Dep MSS on time at 8:49, arr GEX exactly 50 mins
later.  G514 through GEX on up Waurn Ponds at 11:49.  Return home on
15:40 up, noted GEX loco X39, G511, X48+H4, with Y110 in NOG yard.

Thursday 16/4/98, run 8207 MSS-GEX with S300, BS212, BRS224, BZ269,
ACZ252, PCP294.  Dep MSS on time, stop at WRB 09:20-09:21 to set down a
passenger without a ticket (and unable to purchase one), arrive GEX
09:45, 4 late.  H5 shunting at Elders Sdg.  Return on 16:25 up, noting
GEX loco H5, X43, T379+T390+T392, G5(2?)4.  T409 ran light engine
through Footscray going towards Sunshine at ~17:35

Friday 17/4/98, run 8207 MSS-GEX with B61, BS206, BS207, BS201, BRS229,
ACZ255, PCP292.  Dep MSS on time, but stop at end of Plat 7 8:50-51 acc.
sigs, arrive GEX 1 late.  Noted GEX loco G525, S301, T396, H4, X48,
T390, T379, S301, T396.  X42 ran the Waurn Ponds, nose facing
Melbourne.  

Saturday 18/4/98, run 8207 MSS-GEX with S302, BS212, BRS224, BZ269,
ACZ252, PCP294.  Dep MSS 3 late acc. late crew (didn’t have much luck on
this train in the previous 2 weeks!), arrive GEX on time.  Noted GEX
loco G526, N457, X31, S301, A85.  Return on the 12:35 up, an N loco - N
set acc. football traffic (usually 2 x Sprinter).  GEX loco noted G526,
G513, S301, A85, G512, X31, H5, with X43 shunting at Shell Corio at
12:43.  At Manor Loop as NR82- up steely at 12:59, it was there to cross
a down steely, we passed NR+NR-down steely at Galvin 13:09.

Monday 20/4 - to GEX on 11:55 SOG pass, run 8217/46 with B61, BS206,
BS201, BRS229, ACZ255, PCP292.  On the 11:55, noted the water train at
the North Melbourne stabling sidings, 12:15 x NR+NR+NR up steely on up
side of Laverton, and 12:46 x NR+NR-up superfreighter coming off the
North Shore loop.  GEX loco G514, X31, T390, X43, T379, T396, H5, G527,
G512.  8217 dep GEX 3 late, WIA platform 6 late, cross 8232 (S300), dep
XCO 7 late, CDN 9 late, TEG 11 late, arr WMB 9 late at 15:59.  X37 and
S302 at WMB.  8246 ran on time to WIA, delayed waiting to cross 8237
(S300), dep WIA no. 2 11 late, GEX 8 late, then slow running from
Laverton caused arrival at MSS to be 11 late.

Tuesday 21/4/98, to GEX on 11:55 SOG pass, run 8217/46 with S300, BS205,
BRS224, BZ269, ACZ252, PCP294, swapping the BRS and BZ for BRS223 and
BZ270 on the up.  On the 11:55, noted BZ267 (ex NPT wheel lathe) and DT
314 (ex overhaul at Steamrail NPT) in the MSS pass yard.  12:45 x A-up
wheatie at North Shore, noted G+G at NOG ‘C’ on a down wheatie, and GEX
loco G524, X45, T390, T379, T396, G511, X50, A77, S306.  8217 dep GEX 2
late, on time cross at WIA with 8232 (S302), then arrive WMB 2 early. 
B61 and A73 at WMB.  8246 ran to time, cross 8237 at WIA (S302), wait
time 7 mins at GEX, then cross to East line at Laverton Jcn (20:43),
then back to Up line at NPT South at 20:50 (acc. trackwork in west
line), arrive MSS 3 late.

Wednesday 22/4/98, per 11:55 SOG pass, run 8217/46 with S302, BS206,
BRS229, BZ269, ACZ255, PCP292, adding ACZ257 to the West end for the up
journey.  On the 11:55, noted CLP+CLP14 back to back behind Sth
Kensington, and NR+NR-up steely at Manor Loop 12:30.  GEX loco Y157,
X42, S301, X31, X43, T379, T396, T390, G523, X50, Y129.  8217 dep GEX 3
late, slow running near Waurn Ponds acc. lineside works, cross 8232 at
WIA, arrive WMB 1 late.  A71 and S300 at WMB.  8246 on time to WIA, then
wait for late 8237, dep WIA no. 2 road 8 late, GEX 4 late, WRB 5 late,
then slow running acc. trackwork, so arrive MSS 9 late.

Thursday 23/4/98, per 11:55 SOG pass, run 8217/46 with B61, BRS221,
BS207, BRS223, BZ270, ACZ252, PCP294 on the down, and B61, PCP294,
ACZ252, BZ270, BRS223, BZ269, BRS221 on the up.  On the 11:55, noted
12:00 Albury had X37+N455-D van-FN set, GEX loco T379, G515, S310, H4,
X45, A77, B76.  8217 dep GEX 2 late, delayed 5 mins at WIA crossing late
8232 (S302), arrive WMB 11 late.  A73 and S300 at WMB.  Due to the
shunting and train examination, 8246 docked at 17:36, departed just 3
mins later, cross 8237 at WIA (S302), dep GEX 7 late, arrive MSS 8 late.

Monday 27/4/98, run 8207 MSS-GEX with B76, BRS225, BS206, BRS229, BZ267,
ACZ257, PCP292.  Dep MSS 3 late acc. late passengers, arrive GEX 2
late.  GEX loco S306, S310, P23, H4.  Return on 16:35 up, noted GEX loco
T408, G515, T396, T379, X45, P23, G527.  Crossed a down wheatie at
Werribee Racecourse 16:56

Tuesday 28/4/98, to GEX on 07:46 SOG pass, cross an up goods (ballast?)
south of Manor at 08:22, then cross NR+DL (NR colours) - up
Superfreighter at North Shore 08:38.  GEX loco G526, H5, Y121, Y110,
G524, G514, Y129.  Return on 17:00 up, N loco - FN set, noting GEX loco
G511, G513, X37, T408+T396+T379.  NR86 in MSS Motorail dock at 18:03.

Wednesday 29/4/98, per 11:55 SOG pass, run 8217/46 with B76, BS201,
BZ269, BRS223, BZ270, ACZ252, PCP294, leaving BS201 at WMB.  On the
11:55, noted N474 in the shed at Nth Melbourne Stabling Sdg’s, Y150+Y151
shunting elephant style in SCT terminal.  12:46 x up NR(?)+NR+BL (NR
colours)- up steel at NOS.  GEX loco Y157, A77, S310, T379, T396, T408,
S30(6?).  8217 dep GEX 2 late, cross 8232 (B61) at WIA, overshot
Birregurra by the length of the train (and had set go back acc.
passengers on the platform!) arrive WMB 3 late.  S300 and A73 at WMB. 
8246 ran to time, we were supposed to stop at NPT, then go via Brooklyn
acc. total occupation near Footscray, but due to a CTC failure at
Tottenham Loop, we went up the pass lines.  Slow running from Aircraft
meant we were still 7 late by arrival at MSS.  Heard on the local radio
that the following up GEX service 8248 was to go via Brooklyn.

Cheers,
Craig (aka 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/