Loco redistribution next year at PN ?

I hear that those 92s ended up at Spotswood and may hve been coupled up to a flat with an inline fuel tank on it  . Are they on the move or still being fiddled with by UGL ? 

2MB4 tonight is rostered for 9212-9211-tank wagon-3xNR's-crew car, ETD 2005.

Many of the changes predicted in this thread to PN Grain and Bulk have happened, all at once. The 82 class have arrived in force at Moss Vale and at least one was on all the Berrima Limestone trains actually seen on Saturday. C class have appeared on PN grain trains, C506 and C507 being seen (with C506 leading).

I've posted a list in Miscellaneous NSW sightings...

M636C 

M I don't know what the Northern Coal loco fleet looks like these days but I suppose with the 92s and however many TTs up there now they may have less need for 82 classes . The 90s have to stay but it would be interesting to know if and how many 82s they could spare . Plainly the 4000+ horsepower ACs and 90s can do the job better than 3000 odd horsepower DCs so it makes sense to concentrate them there .
If they can spare some 82s they would obviously be able to replace 81s Gs Cs doing the same job but probably with less fuel dollars .
I'm beginning to think that AC loco performance and fuel costs are driving some of these aquisitions at times along with new contracts . Diesel fuel is only going to get more expensive over time so fewer units with higher tractive effort can pay off .
It may be interesting to speculate the load differences with ACs vs DCs and how it can equate to unit reductions and overall cost savings . I don't know the loads and conditions in the Hunter Valley but pics I see show 3 90s or TTs leading the bat wing trains and my guess is that 4 82s could possibly do the same job but it ties the extra unit up and probably uses more fuel . 
On the Sydney Melbourne corridor its common to see 2 LDPs on QRs MB/BM trains and they are almost certainly doing better fuel wise than 3 NRs on PNs trains that require more tractive effort and or performance than 2 NRs can generate . It does remain to be seen how a C44ACi performs compared to an NR in more level terrotory and you'd think a bit more horsepower would allow you to run trailing units off line (load limit 1 notch) a bit more often than you can with NRs .
Tonights MB4 will be an interesting trial , provided nothing lays down , and it would be interesting to know its load and length . I think many eyes will be "tracking" that one overnight .

Not sure how this ties in..just an observation.  Coming back home froma visit to Nth NSW last week  I happened to watch a Grain rolling in Gunnedah...  There were 82's in this train. Would this have been a normal occurrence ?

They could of been the Ardglen bankers?

More than likely, it was 82XX 81XX 82XX a few days ago. All the grain I have seen of late has been 81's and 48's. 

Gunnedah is a bit far the wrong side of Werris Creek for the bankers methinks. 
   
  

Recorded on BunCam leaving Mel at 9.17pm tonight.

Waiting for them to depart...

South Dynon panoramaBy michaelgreenhill on Flickr

OK, so it's a lot of stuff before the Payload!

About 150M of it is going to be hard to get it all in a clear image!

9212-9211-tanktainer-NR117-NR2-NR88-crew car 2MB4(9609) PN Superfreighter to Brisbane 6-2-2012.By Railpage - Bunbury Street Camera 2 on Flickr

Why the crew car?

--Bill

Yeah nah definitely a bit far north to be the bankers considering they only go between Ardglen loop and Werris Creek. There is no need to anywhere near Gunnedah.  

The 92's on MB4 came thru the Drizzly Southern Highlands,NSW running a tad late, due to problems around Wingello area.

Aylmerton 11:50am

9212/9211/RQHY-7027V/NR117/NR2/NR88/FAM2389S/Consist

Video of the Melbourne departure:

9212-9211-tanktainer-NR117-NR2-NR88-crew car 2MB4(9609) PN Superfreighter to Brisbane 6-2-2012

By Railpage Australia - watch video on YouTube

Regards
Brian

Tad late , I can see the reds of their eyes ...

Here is some Video I shot of it Through North Strathfield 

011By spongbergl on Flickr


Kind Regards    
    

A couple of questions, please:


Who owns FAM 2389?
What was the load of this train?
Is FAM  2389 a 'standard' FAM or has its underframe/drawgear been modified? 

Does anyone know, please?

In order:

Pacific National:
Sorry, no idea....
It has been modified. Looking at Michael's photograph posted above, the original skirting is visible outboard of the bogies but the strengthening between the bogies (in place of the skirting) can be seen.

I have photos of the car both before and after strengthening. It was used on the original Southern Spirit service in modified form.

I don't know why it wasn't recoded by PN.

M636C

Many thanks M636C

One reason not to reclassify it would be that it would probably take >100 years to get the new class accredited in NSW.   

Heh - nice checkerboard pattern on the cab of 9211.

2222 failed up Wingello bank, 8113 came as D221 to rescue it and 3 81's  slogged it up the hill. It made some noise...

how often do crew vans travel between melb-syd-brisbane.

wal.

The bankers have been used as rescue engines before....


Speaking of the bankers, got word 2x92's (possibly with ECP modifications) will be replacing the 3x82's soon.

Whats the full section load for 2 92s vs 3 82s on that bank ?