Spotted on test yesterday at Kangaroo Flat after emerging from SSR Nth Bendigo Workshops:



https://youtu.be/jfZpopJFtnw

Apparently it has the ability to inspect the catenary at up to 120 km/h.  Must be loco hauled like IEV102.

Spotted on test yesterday at Kangaroo Flat

How do you test an overhead inspection van where there is no overhead?

Spotted on test yesterday at Kangaroo Flat

How do you test an overhead inspection van where there is no overhead?

A mere trifling detail. We could easily build some!
Is it a completely new build or something built up/converted from an old underframe?

It would not be used for that track it would be for transfer to Melbourne from Bendigo.

It's a European design but fitted with BG bogies. Need to test this first before it gets transferred to Melbourne any day from now.

It's a European design but fitted with BG bogies. Need to test this first before it gets transferred to Melbourne any day from now.

Brought down to Newport last night/ early this morning.

It's a far cry from the old ex-parcels van fitted with a cupola in the centre of the roof. We used to see it from the schoolgrounds back in the mid to late 50's, trundling along between Richmond and South Yarra.

It's a European design but fitted with BG bogies.

Dumped here because European practice has since shifted towards mounting OHLE inspection cameras on normal trains?

It's a European design but fitted with BG bogies.

Dumped here because European practice has since shifted towards mounting OHLE inspection cameras on normal trains?

It's brand new. Its not something retrofitted or handed down. As for the bogies they look an awful lot like commonwealth ones, but I can't really tell due the quality of the footage.

Interestingly its been added to the roster for MTM already.

https://documentportal.metrotrains.com.au/engineeringdocs/Engineering%20Documents/%5BNC%206%5D%20L1-CHE-MAN-016.pdf

It's a European design but fitted with BG bogies.

Dumped here because European practice has since shifted towards mounting OHLE inspection cameras on normal trains?

It's brand new. Its not something retrofitted or handed down. As for the bogies they look an awful lot like commonwealth ones, but I can't really tell due the quality of the footage.

Interestingly its been added to the roster for MTM already.

https://documentportal.metrotrains.com.au/engineeringdocs/Engineering%20Documents/%5BNC%206%5D%20L1-CHE-MAN-016.pdf

tis not new, it is an old refitted harris carraige that road the  rails between two Tait motors some 40 years ago'

Has EM100 life-expired?  Why would they want a loco-hauled inspection vehicle when there is another self-propelled one?

Has EM100 life-expired?  Why would they want a loco-hauled inspection vehicle when there is another self-propelled one?

It got a big overhaul recently after some embarrassing failures on the mainline.  V/line will continue to use it for quite some time.

EV120 is primarily for overhead inspection, but it is a lot faster than IEV102 and also has track recording capability apparently (based on the laser beams firing away underneath it during the transfer Friday night).

From what I've read it seems that the vehicle will be used to confirm what many people already know - our railway tracks are a sub-standard disgrace.

Has EM100 life-expired?  Why would they want a loco-hauled inspection vehicle when there is another self-propelled one?

It got a big overhaul recently after some embarrassing failures on the mainline.  V/line will continue to use it for quite some time.

EV120 is primarily for overhead inspection, but it is a lot faster than IEV102 and also has track recording capability apparently (based on the laser beams firing away underneath it during the transfer Friday night).

EV120 is definitely an EM100 replacement and is primarily a track recording car. Its trials this week out of Newport are exclusively for the track recording capability.

Whilst it can be powered by its onboard Gen Set, it is also in theory able to be powered by HEP, hence the use of P class locos.

It does have a pantograph and will also replace IEV102. The usual overhead recording by video camera that occurs every 3-6 months will be at the same speed as IEV102 ie the permitted loco hauled pass speed.

The much more thorough measurement of catenary position is done at low speed using Teksol equipment, which is not yet fitted. This testing speed may be faster than the current IEV102, but every chance it'll be the same. The low speed testing is only done every two years, so might be a while before that will be revealed.

HI guys.

The EV120 is a track geometry and OH inspection train. It also has track view (CCTV 8K) and Vcube technology (used to inspect fishplates and associated jewelry).

I was the Senior TRO Track Recording Officer and ran the old EM100 now IEV100 since 2010, retired in July this year after 20 years in rail infrastructure inspections.

Why the VIC government went with a push pull vehicle is beyond any and all who worked on the IEV100. We all knew that a self propelled vehicle is the only way to go. However there was no consultation on design or anything regarding the new EV120.

So any questions or query's regarding track inspections or anything EM100 related im your guy.

Will this vehicle replace both IEV100 (EM100) and IEV102 on both the METRO and V/Line networks?

Is it gauge convertible like IEV100?

Will this vehicle replace both IEV100 (EM100) and IEV102 on both the METRO and V/Line networks?

Is it gauge convertible like IEV100?

The EV120 is not gauge convertible and no where near as versatile as the EM100/IEV100. The grand plan is to replace the 2 other TRV with the EV120 for both MTM and Vline.

The EM100 recently had a new engine (zero hour rebuild) and new wheel sets installed. Its in great condition and with the proper pro active maintenance would go for another 10 years incident free. It was very clear from when i joined the project in 2010 that the big wigs had no idea about mechanised inspection or correct maintenance of a TRV (Track Recording Vehicle).

Vline should grab the IEV100 first chance they get. Upgrade the HATZ genset and do a small makeover of internal electrics and AC units. Then no need to pay MTR (Metro Trains) for the ONRSR compliance network runs/inspections.

I would say over 95% of the EM100's breakdowns were preventable but when you tell experts how to do their job the seldom listen....I can verify this as i keep detailed records of requests and responses relating to safety critical and project critical requirements.

The FAT (Factory Acceptance Testing) of the new EV120 will take quite some time as the boffins in charge of the project are not exactly brains trust quality. One still has trouble even understanding the difference between BG and SG networks and he is an apparent engineer...

'... EV120 is not gauge convertible ...'
Typical.
DD707 will be happy as no one in NSW will be able to steal it.

The EV120 is not gauge convertible and no where near as versatile as the EM100/IEV100. The grand plan is to replace the 2 other TRV with the EV120 for both MTM and Vline.

The EM100 recently had a new engine (zero hour rebuild) and new wheel sets installed. Its in great condition and with the proper pro active maintenance would go for another 10 years incident free. It was very clear from when i joined the project in 2010 that the big wigs had no idea about mechanised inspection or correct maintenance of a TRV (Track Recording Vehicle).

Vline should grab the IEV100 first chance they get. Upgrade the HATZ genset and do a small makeover of internal electrics and AC units. Then no need to pay MTR (Metro Trains) for the ONRSR compliance network runs/inspections.

I would say over 95% of the EM100's breakdowns were preventable but when you tell experts how to do their job the seldom listen....I can verify this as i keep detailed records of requests and responses relating to safety critical and project critical requirements.

The FAT (Factory Acceptance Testing) of the new EV120 will take quite some time as the boffins in charge of the project are not exactly brains trust quality. One still has trouble even understanding the difference between BG and SG networks and he is an apparent engineer...

Thanks Crabman. As you may be aware (nor sure how long you've been sitting on the sidelines) there's quite a bit of interest here in the track/overhead geometry vehicles. Over some years I have from time to time weighed in trying to explain just what they do, and about track geometry concepts. It's good to have some recent inside information.

I like Crabman already.
We have similar type in my industry. Exactly the same as yours, just not horizontally.
If you haven’t already, you’ll find yourself reaching for the word F..tard.
It combines the resultant effects of both quite well, and is extremely accurate in identifying these types who take the worst elements of both contributing descriptors precisely.

Enjoy

'... EV120 is not gauge convertible ...'
Typical.
DD707 will be happy as no one in NSW will be able to steal it.

Even better, another great forward thinking moves by the enlightened higher ups in protecting our states strongest asset, its broad gauge network.

'... EV120 is not gauge convertible ...'
Typical.
DD707 will be happy as no one in NSW will be able to steal it.

Even better, another great forward thinking moves by the enlightened higher ups in protecting our states strongest asset, its broad gauge network.

IF it works it will bite them with the number of track defects that they will not wish to fix.

Guys to be honest with you i was never amazed by the poor quality of track ALL OVER Victoria. There are of course,some examples of great track sections where money and brains get together and all works well.

Having worked in track maintenance (special mobile gang for 8 years) before specializing in infrastructure inspections, i had a keen eye for what works and what is a complete WOFT.

Does anyone want my top 10 worst track sections of 2021? Listed?

Guys to be honest with you i was never amazed by the poor quality of track ALL OVER Victoria. There are of course,some examples of great track sections where money and brains get together and all works well.

Having worked in track maintenance (special mobile gang for 8 years) before specializing in infrastructure inspections, i had a keen eye for what works and what is a complete WOFT.

Does anyone want my top 10 worst track sections of 2021? Listed?

Go ahead.

Officer station has to rank up there.

North Melbourne Junction?