Location: Adelaide, SA
hi, I was wondering where the passenger trips were run on the standard gauge bluebirds and what bluebirds were involved and when did this venture stop and why?
Standard gauge bluebirds
Gayspie
Deputy Commissioner
Location: Adelaide, SA
GeoffreyHansen
Minister for Railways
Location: In a FAM sleeper
I recall reading that Standard Gauge Bluebirds ran to Broken Hill until 1990. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Pressman
Spirit of the Vine
Location: Wherever the Tin Chook or Qantas takes me
AN ran Passenger railcar trains Adelaide to Broken Hill, and Adealide to Whyalla.
Broken Hill was mainly Bluebirds, Whyalla was mostly the Budd cars, but either could be used at times.
Private charters .... I remember NRM ran a tour to Peterborough using 3 x bluebirds
Broken Hill was mainly Bluebirds, Whyalla was mostly the Budd cars, but either could be used at times.
Private charters .... I remember NRM ran a tour to Peterborough using 3 x bluebirds
vinelander
Junior Train Controller
AN ran Passenger railcar trains Adelaide to Broken Hill, and Adealide to Whyalla.I think that at certain times the Broken Hill service had a pokies car attached. This was before the State Government's poker machine introduction to South Australia.
Broken Hill was mainly Bluebirds, Whyalla was mostly the Budd cars, but either could be used at times.
Private charters .... I remember NRM ran a tour to Peterborough using 3 x bluebirds
wat700
Junior Train Controller
Location: Richmond, NSW
According to the Mar 93 Catchpoint the "pokie specials" utilising SG Bluebirds continued until the last run on the long weekend of 30 Jan - 1 Feb 93. Cars 251/103/252 did the honours.
Cheers,
Cheers,
thadocta
Chief Commissioner
Location: Katoomba
I have no idea of the date, but I caught a SG Bluebird from Port Pirie to Adelaide, connecting off the IP, this was before the IP was diverted through Adelaide.
Dave
Dave
Gayspie
Deputy Commissioner
Location: Adelaide, SA
well I thought I saw in old catchpoints (early 2000's) that bluebirds ran to Tailem bend and mount barker junction to connect with setamranger, when and why did these movements stop?
2001
Moderator The Snow Lord
Location: The road jump at Charlotte Pass. Paxman Valenta on two planks.
well I thought I saw in old catchpoints (early 2000's) that bluebirds ran to Tailem bend and mount barker junction to connect with setamranger, when and why did these movements stop?
Commercial reasons. After AN retired the Bluebirds, they were picked up by private companies. Bluebird Rail Systems bought a few. I vaguely recall the Bluebirds that made a few enthusiast trips on the SG South were later sold to Great Northern Rail. They did spend some time over in Victoria for proposed use on their country network.
Pressman
Spirit of the Vine
Location: Wherever the Tin Chook or Qantas takes me
well I thought I saw in old catchpoints (early 2000's) that bluebirds ran to Tailem bend and mount barker junction to connect with setamranger, when and why did these movements stop?
I'm pretty sure that there has never been a bluebird to connect with Steamranger.
It has been suggested a squillion times by rail fans and gunzels, but never happened.
The only other possibility is that there may have been a private charter.
2001
Moderator The Snow Lord
Location: The road jump at Charlotte Pass. Paxman Valenta on two planks.
The only other possibility is that there may have been a private charter.
The SG Bluebirds were chartered on at least one or a couple of occasions by the former 'Friends Of Belair Station'. Coonalpyn was one destination, in 2000
I think Mr Loxton's thinking may be influenced perhaps from the occasions of staged photoshoots, such as this :
http://www.comrails.com/pic_pf/pf_1236.html