AFL International Cup Special to Warrnambool (31/08/08)

vlinecars · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:42 pm

Hi All,

This morning V/Line operated a different type of 'Footy Train'; a special charter service consisting of N462+N454+N4+FN11 (seven cars; both sets with manual doors) to Warrnambool for the purpose of transferring the 12 participating teams and officials in the AFL's 2008 International Cup to Warrnambool.

The locos docked onto the train at 1021. The train was available for boarding from 1024, and it left from Platform 3 at Southern Cross, on time at 1037 as 8297.

Carriages were allocated to teams as follows:-
(From East End)

Car A - ACN33 - Japan
Car B - BRN31 - Ireland and Nauru
Car C - BN25 - USA and South Africa
Car D - BTN253 - Finland and China
Car F - ACN12 - Canada and India
Car G - BRN44 - New Zealand and India (lots of Indians)
Car H - BN11 - Great Britain & the Peace Team (made up of 13 Israeli's & 13 Palestinian's)

The buffets in both BRN31 and BRN44 (Cars B and G) were manned and stocked appropriately, and I believe this would be the first time in many a year that a first class carriage has been designated as Car F!

Not surprisingly, there was plenty of V/Line staff around too; conductors, conductor services managers and stakeholder relations people.

Some photos:-

PIDS for Platform 3 showing the special service

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N454 approaching the train

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N462+N454+N4+FN11 with the special in Platform 3 at Southern Cross

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Further photos can be found at:-
http://vlinecars.com/gallery/2008-08-31/

Upon arrival into Warrnambool and passengers detraining, the locos ran around, then returned the train as 8298 empty cars to Southern Cross (wongm has a photo of this movement at Breakwater here:- http://wongm.fotopic.net/p53180495.html)

I've been informed that players and officials will be returning by train ex Warrnambool back to Southern Cross on Thursday morning, the train due out of Warrnambool as 8298 at 0920; after coming down empty cars earlier that morning (0200 into Warrnambool; departs Southern Cross 2235 Wednesday night as 8297). 7 cars again.

Cheers

Cheers,
Matt Julian
Railpage Australia™ Forums - Young Member of the Year, 2006 & 2008
Railpage Australia™ Forums - Most Informative Poster, 2006 & 2008

spottyrahr · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 12:03 am

That would explain the group of guys in green uniforms in the bus terminal Sunday terminal?

dalts 1985 · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 1:20 am

The South African Team did a lap of Skilled Stadium on Sunday at ½time at the Geelong V's However (I don't really care for which team,
as I bloody mindedly well hate football, but love Rugby Shocked

) (Weird I know Rolling Eyes

what ya expect through Exclamation

I'm ½Mexican / ½New South Welsh anyway so it can't be helped... Laughing

)

Anyway back to the topic at hand...

a SMS from Matty J had the special as arriving W'bool 1400Hrs & departure again MTY Cars at 1440...
The Return MTY Cars working jumped 10" early, leaving at 1430Hrs...
(I'd like to see them try doing this again come post Nov 1 Shocked

when the line goes to 6-Rtn services a day, Mon - Sun, 7-days-a week) Confused

Jnr reported seeing a N & VN Set in Rd 3 of W'bool Yard earlier that day, this would have been the ex Melb. SCS 0900Hrs Dwn Pass Arrival,
stabled to form the 1705Hrs Up Pass later that afternoon...
Jnr also reported seeing the return MTY Car-working passing thru Birrigurra Melb. SCS-bound at 1535Hrs...

I had the pleasure of working with the South African Football team at my workplace this evening... Boi those boys can eat...
All enjoyed a main serving size of Penna Pasta w/- choice of: Bolognese, Alla Matriciana or Pollo e Fungi (Yurk... I HATE Mushroom)
We ran out of prepared-cooked penna pasta midway thru Embarassed

A short wait was required cooking more, never the less the team was happy with the wait Wink

I learned alot from talking to the various team members...

I will endeavor to get some photos of the return working Thurs. Morning before I head to work
(I have to swap shifts to cover for not being available Fri, or else I may have chased it to at least Colac/Winchelsea...)

"A vote for Labor means no more of Howard's bullsh*t

DalyWaters · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:09 pm

The empty cars sat at Geelong due to the Geelong - Melbourne line being blocked by a car accident at Werribee.

Eventually, they were used to form the 1729 to Melbourne.

Plenty of seats for everyone.

Junior · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:00 pm

If V/line are so short of N Classes. Is there the possibility that a possibile loco combination could be N+A class for the return working. The N class required for HEP. As the train is running to Warrnambool empty. The N could lead with a simple run around at Warrnambool for the A to lead back. I think the V/line roster caters for 3 A classes?

Drink Red wine by the BOTTLE its good for you and grow hairs on your chest. Beer is nearly as good. Rogie. Rogie.

dalts 1985 · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:51 pm

S301 · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:22 pm

Tomorrows special from Warrnambool will cross the morning Warrnambool cross at Camperdown around 10ish in the morning. Very rare for two passenger services to cross at Camperdown meaning the possibility of three N's in Camperdown at the one time.

NR77 · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:17 pm

I'm suprised they didn't put N468 and N460 up front!!!

Youtube profile, Standard Guage Productions:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=NR54trailerail

vlinecars · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:36 pm

dalts 1985 · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 1:59 am

8297 Dwn thru Colac 0045 & arrived W'bool 10" early at 0150...

"A vote for Labor means no more of Howard's bullsh*t

S301 · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:37 pm

N475 and 454 ran todays specials through Colac at about 11am this morning with 7 cars and a van.

vlocity160 · V/Gunzel Joined: May 03, 2006 Last Visited: Jan 7, 2009

The train for today was N454 and N475 as mentioned before with N4, FN11 and D332 aswell.

Looking foward to seeing some photos! I couldn't see the train unfortunitly due to School. Sad

Regards,
Matt

S301 · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 5:03 pm

[quote]Vlocity160 wrote: Looking foward to seeing some photos! I couldn't see the train unfortunitly due to School.

I managed to get photos of the train running through Colac, was going to post them but cant as i cant load them.

Junior · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 9:07 pm

Some from today more to come soon

Drink Red wine by the BOTTLE its good for you and grow hairs on your chest. Beer is nearly as good. Rogie. Rogie.