Re: Proposed itinerary for 38s to Victoria

["Notagunzel" <notagunzel@bigfoot.com>]

Chris Stratton <stratton.chris.cp@nospam.bhp.com.au> wrote in message
7rnluo$fuc17@atbhp.corpmel.bhp.com.au">news:7rnluo$fuc17@atbhp.corpmel.bhp.com.au...

> The brochure arrived from the RTM today, below is the proposed itinerary.

> Thu April 20  Grand evening departure from Sydney Terminal
> Fri April21     Parallel run with Victorian steam train from Albury to
>                        Melbourne, then overnight to Melbourne hotels

Victorian Train will be R761 & R766, ex Melb about 0630ish??

> Sat April 22  First class steam train to Castlemaine for Central
>                       highlands sightseeing, then steam through Bendigo,
>                       overnight to Mildura.

J515 methinks

> Sun April 23 Murray River cruise and winery luncheon, return by
>                       steam overnight to Ballarat, Geelong and
Warrnambool.
> Mon April 24 Sightseeing along the Great Ocean Road to Queenscliff
>                        for dinner; rejoin the 'Southern Aurora' at North
> Shore,
>                        travel overnight to Portland.

On Monday morning, AFAIK the 2 x 38's will head out of Melbourne with the
Sitting Cars, B74 trailing, with a Day Trip to Ararat.  Opon arrival at
Ararat, the 2 x 38's are detached, and B74 takes the Day Trip back to Melb.
B74 then returns ety cars (entire set) to GEX to pick up the RTM mob.

> Tue April 25  Steam from Portland to Stawell for sightseeing and
>                        luncheon in the Grampians, then travel the branch
> line
>                        to Hopetoun, overnight journey through Dimboola to
>                        Yaapeet.

When the train gets to Ararat, the 2 x 38's run TF to Portland, then FF to
Dimboola.  B74 is still tagging along somewhere. When the Train gets to
Dimboola, the 38's are dumped for servicing, and the B takes the train onto
Yaapeet & Hopetoun.

> Wed April 26 Return to Dimboola, steam to Melbourne for a dinner
>                         tour aboard vintage trams, then overnight to
> Melbourne
>                         hotels.
> Thu April 27   Steam from Melbourne to Albury for tastings and dinner
>                         in the Rutherglen wineries, overnight Albury to
>                        Cootamundra.
> Fri Apr 28      Steam from Cootamundra to Sydney Terminal.

Reggie will be most disappointed, no triple parallel, 2 x 38 + 2 x R + 2 x
R. :o)

> All inclusive fares from $3500 per person. Residents in southern NSW,
> Melbourne and western Victoria will be offered travel ob special day
trips
> the visiting locos.

I am lead to beleive that the Diesel on the Yaapeet & Hopetoun branches is
for the full package RTM mob only  :o(

I have no interest whatsoever in travelling behind 2 overgrown tea kettles
from NSW :o), but would have been very interested in the Diesel beyond
Dimboola.  But at $3500 for 2 branches, nah......

>  Enquiries contact the NSW Rail Transport Museum ph (02) 9744 9999 Fax
(02)
> 9745 2530.

What services is Pichi Richi running over Easter?

--
Mr Notagunzel.
Non NSW Rail Transportation Connoisseur. :o)
notagunzel@bigfoot.com
(Waiting for the next move at http://www.bigfoot.com/~notagunzel)