Broadmeadows Upgrade
June 24th 2000 - December 2000

NEW >> Completed Works 

New Signaling Operational SAT 18th - SUN 19th November 2000 
Second set of points SAT 11th - SUN 12th November 2000 
October 2000 Update
September 2000 Update 
Broadmeadows Shutdown SAT 24th - SUN 25th June 2000 
Photos of Broadmeadows before works began 23rd June 2000 
Summary of works to be completed 

For more information, see Chris Gordon's Broadmeadows resignaling page.

 

Summary of Works to be completed
Following info courtesy Chris Gordon

    Two sets of new high speed points will be installed to allow Country VLP trains to run into Platform 2 on Down (outbound) runs, all points will also be motorised.
    Other improvements will include upgrading of mechanical signals to modern LED signals, and the installation of VDUs to replace the current mechanical frame.  The commissioning of re-signalling is 23rd December (but maybe be brought forward to November).

Signalling diagram showing works to be undertaken:   map courtesy Chris Gordon

Chris's map description:     The signals are a guess of what will be there, and I am not sure if sidings 'C' will be staying.     The new layout will be the same as now except points 11 (see map) will be upgraded to high speed points, and a new set of high speed points will be installed near the bridge for train from Melbourne to have direct access to No.2 road (Up platform).     So in effect the extra move will be that country and goods train going towards Seymour will be able to use high speed points and No.2 road over taking any 'spark' in No.1 road waiting to return to Melbourne.  This will eliminate the need to shunt the 'sparks' into the siding for goods and country trains as is done now.

 

Photos of Broadmeadows before works began
Friday 23rd June 2000

	Looking North from Platform 2. 23-06-2000
	Looking South from Platform 2 showing where the new points will be installed. 23-06-2000

 

Broadmeadows Shutdown
Saturday 24th - Sunday 25th June 2000

    Works began on Saturday 24th June, with a complete shutdown, affecting train services on all Broad gauge lines north of Broadmeadows.  Suburban trains terminated at Essendon, and services were replaced with busses from Essendon to Broadmeadows.  As services terminated at Essendon, platform 1 was used, it sees no regular service these days.

    Freight trains ran prior to the weekend in the North East, as a result of the shutdown.  The spark transfer was cancelled.

Points at the southern end were installed on Saturday, and the overhead modified on Sunday.  No special works trains were required.  The points were constructed in the car park prior to the weekend.  They were built in three sections due to the length required for high speed points.

Above - The first set of high speed points in the car park awaiting installation 23-06-00

Above - The first set of points in position and spiked 'out of use'.  Also note the modifications to the stanchion for the overhead wires.  Monday 26-06-2000

    During the shutdown on Saturday, work was also carried out on the bridge over Mt.Alexander Rd. at Essendon to remove the old decking form where the third track used to lie.

Trains terminating at Essendon
    Approximately a month before the works, Platform 1 had lines painted on it , and it was generally given a good clean up.  On Friday 23rd June (the day prior), there were workmen filling potholes in the platform, and generally levelling the surface.

A Comeng set waits to depart from Platform 1 at Essendon on Saturday 24-06-00

    Due to the way trains are timetabled, they usually cross at Essendon, this meant that PL3 was used for arrivals, whilst the PL1 was used for departures due to it's proximity to the bus stops.  Once the train departed PL1, the train in PL3 shunted out toward the city, and used the points at the southern end to switch tracks to run back into PL1.  This is slow, as the driver had to swap ends twice, but the points at the Northern end could not be used to swap tracks due to the trackwork on the bridge.

 

September 2000

New Signal bay and computer room had all the pre-fab walls put up on the 16-09-00 - at the down end of down platform at BMS (- info and photo courtesy Chris Gordon)

    Also by now it was noted that most, if not all, of the new (concrete) signal bases had been installed.  There were also large track sections lying on the area where "sidings C" are, possibly the new second set of HS points.
    By the 11-09-00 the refuge siding was back in use, and all the new drainage works appear to be mostly complete.

October 2000

Saturday October 14
    The new signal bay appears mostly complete, with an air conditioner now installed, it appears it is just finishing touches as far as the structure itself is concerned.
    Work has been started on the new signals and it appears that they are working from the North, with the new distant signal installed about 200m north of the old one and two others to the north of the station, as well as two on the north ends of the station platforms.  Masts are up for most other signals now, except that on the goods line along side Pascoe Vale Rd.  All installed lamps are turned to face at right angles to the track.

	New Up Broadmeadows Repeater with old Distant signals in the distance.
	Signals North of Barry Road bridge on the down.
	Signals opposite McDonalds (Maccas is behind the trains to the right)
	Looking North West at the end of the station platforms with new and old signals.  (Station buildings are to the left on the other side

 

Second set of points
SAT 11th - SUN 12th November 2000
Following info courtesy Chris Gordon

The new down end high speed points were installed over 11-12th. Down suburban trains terminated in the down platform (PL2) with a baulk provided 1/2 way along the platform track.     The Refuge Siding was be out of use from Friday 10-11-00 until the new interlocking was commissioned over 18-19 November.  Siding "B" was out of use for 11-12 Nov only.  Only siding "A" was available (holds one six car train only).

All VLP and Freight trains did not run for the duration of the weekend.

 

New Signalling Operational
SAT 18th - SUN 19th November 2000
Following info courtesy Chris Gordon

The new signals at Broadmeadows will be commissioned over the weekend of 18/19 November 2000.  Work will start on Friday 17-11-00 from 21:00 until 04:00 Monday 20-11-00.  The system will be monitored for the week to iron out any problems.

Freight trains will run before and after the works, and there will be no trains through or at Broadmeadows at all over the weekend. Suburban trains will terminate at Essendon.

Completed Works

After all the works were completed in 2000, an hour or so was spent at BMS one morning a couple of weeks later...

	A Comeng Set pulls into PL2
	P22+A79 haul a late running Tocumwal goods over the new HS points (at the City/South End) into PL1, to pass a suburban train in PL2 (main PL)
	A Hitachi Set in PL2
	A citybound VLP train behind N452 waits at the new signals on PL1
	N464 in PL2
	The new signal box at the North End of the station.