...... the ballast appears to have been tampered.

Let's hope not....  are there some kind of rail terrorists at large?

At 9.30am today G515, G512 slowly led a rake of container wagons through Tatura towards Echuca. Steamrail's T395 brought up the rear.

Quite a few cars were following, so I expect some pics and video to go up soon.

Rick

Let's hope not....  are there some kind of rail terrorists at large?

i think he meant Tamped. As in tamped into place.

Hi all,

I chased the train yesterday and here's a video of it



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXB4eTxKx_I

Thanks for that. The T was on the next days service as well. Any idea why it's there? I dont think it really supplys much extra grunt...

Rick

I'm gutted that the service doesn't run via Bendigo and Castlemaine now. Even though the trip via Toolamba is quicker. My grandfather and I always went to the Wheeler st bridge in Castlemaine every time I went to visit my family. And we go to the bridge nearly every night to listen to them begin their assent of Chewton bank, on those clear nights you hear them climb for miles...

Thanks for that. The T was on the next days service as well. Any idea why it's there? I dont think it really supplys much extra grunt...

Rick

Apparently because of RRL works in Melbourne. It's used in a push-pull movement down there.

I was under the impression that the Echuca to Toolamba branch was laid with fairly light rail. But, double headed G's? Wow!! Does anyone know what weight the rail is in lb/yd or Kg/m?

I was under the impression that the Echuca to Toolamba branch was laid with fairly light rail. But, double headed G's? Wow!! Does anyone know what weight the rail is in lb/yd or Kg/m?

Through Tatura the level crossings have been laid with 94 lb (AS 94 LB (1949) AIS 1963 at Murchison Rd) and 80 lb elsewhere (VR STEEL L. S. Co. BUFFALO 803 1906, AS BHP Co 80 LB). Rail markings - there's a whole new area of obsessiveness...

Rick

Yes, the train appeared to ride steadily, despite the "tampered" ballast. Speed appeared to be about 40 kmh. The T loco was detached after Echuca, perhaps it was to perform shunting duties there.

Yes, the train appeared to ride steadily, despite the "tampered" ballast. Speed appeared to be about 40 kmh. The T loco was detached after Echuca, perhaps it was to perform shunting duties there.

RRL works in Melbourne necessitate a push-pull movement before the train can head to Echuca/Deni.

Through Tatura the level crossings have been laid with 94 lb (AS 94 LB (1949) AIS 1963 at Murchison Rd) and 80 lb elsewhere (VR STEEL L. S. Co. BUFFALO 803 1906, AS BHP Co 80 LB). Rail markings - there's a whole new area of obsessiveness...

Rick

Given the age of the track and the return of regular freights, what is the chance of the line be re railed? An upgrade to current standard 50kg / metre would probably work. But 60kg rail would be probably be over engineering the line I would assume.

Or is there some surplus recent 47kg rail lying around somewhere? Perhaps ex Ballarat or Geelong track left over after the RFR works?

80lb rail well  maintained is quite adequate for the axle loads and speeds envisaged  50 - 65kmh .

If and when traffic volume increased or increased axle loads or speed to 80 kmh then a relay with second hand 47 kg rail CWR ex RFR would be adequate .  

There is heaps of available  94lb/47kg rail stacked along the RFR  corridors cascaded as a result of the RFR corridor upgrades some years ago to Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo & Traralgon .

80lb rail well  maintained is quite adequate for the axle loads and speeds envisaged  50 - 65kmh .

If and when traffic volume increased or increased axle loads or speed to 80 kmh then a relay with second hand 47 kg rail CWR ex RFR would be adequate .  

There is heaps of available  94lb/47kg rail stacked along the RFR  corridors cascaded as a result of the RFR corridor upgrades some years ago to Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo & Traralgon .

You mentioned that this rail is “stacked along the RFR corridors” but is it vulnerable to rust?

80lb rail well  maintained is quite adequate for the axle loads and speeds envisaged  50 - 65kmh .

If and when traffic volume increased or increased axle loads or speed to 80 kmh then a relay with second hand 47 kg rail CWR ex RFR would be adequate .  

There is heaps of available  94lb/47kg rail stacked along the RFR  corridors cascaded as a result of the RFR corridor upgrades some years ago to Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo & Traralgon .

Clear info as usual, kuldalai, what maximum axle loading would the 47kg rail be capable of. If there is 'heaps' of it lying around, sounds as if 'heaps' of it could be put to good use on the 19t axle load, country lines, where speed isn't a major factor but an increase in axle load would have big increases in efficiencies.

BigShunter.

80lb rail well  maintained is quite adequate for the axle loads and speeds envisaged  50 - 65kmh .

If and when traffic volume increased or increased axle loads or speed to 80 kmh then a relay with second hand 47 kg rail CWR ex RFR would be adequate .  

There is heaps of available  94lb/47kg rail stacked along the RFR  corridors cascaded as a result of the RFR corridor upgrades some years ago to Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo & Traralgon .

Clear info as usual, kuldalai, what maximum axle loading would the 47kg rail be capable of. If there is 'heaps' of it lying around, sounds as if 'heaps' of it could be put to good use on the 19t axle load, country lines, where speed isn't a major factor but an increase in axle load would have big increases in efficiencies.

BigShunter.

S303 led G512 through Tatura this morning, with a very bored driver in T395 at the rear. A mix of full and empty container wagons.

Rick

I'm starting to think the 2 G's were just a photo op. G512, T395, and S313 at the rear today.

Rick

Just so everyone knows.
1st time poster on these forums but have alot of knowledge in the Rail Industry as our company does alot of work for VLine & Metro Trains Melbourne.
Our company upgraded the pedestrians crossings through out Kyabram and Merrigum to make them DDA Compliant in preparation for the re-opening of this line.
The MAIN purpose of this line is to remove the 1 freight line a day that is on the Bendigo line onto this independent line so therefore if there is a break down on Freight trains which is VERY common it would no longer affect VLine services.
This also allows VLine to be more flexible with there timetables as they now have more room in there slots due to this train no longer being on there network.
This re-opening was only approved because VLine required it needing to be done, no other reasons.. Not even the Joint Venture with SunRice was a factor
Reference: Confidental, VLine Rep

Notations of the re-opening.
WORST repairs i've ever seen done on a railway line in my life. $7.5 million budget was blown within 2 weeks as the Government underestimated how much work there was to be done. All the work they've completed was to get the line moving but this line faces MANY problems. Mud Holes through out the entire line, old useless sleepers aswell as track alignment issues.
They did a complete half smeg job doing the tamping works by just putting new ballast over the dry clay... Anyone who knows ballast knows it acts like a drain which means the water from the rain will go straight into the clay and when the train goes over these mud holes.. 'splat splat' Possibility of derailment... This is why it's 50km/h because it's the only way to make it completely safe.

Only 1/4 of broken sleepers were replaced as VLine runs a system that if 2 sleepers are broken next to one another, they will replace one otherwise all the broken ones will remain in the track. Red Gum replacements were purchased from millers up in QLD and second hand "A" Grade sleepers we're shipped from a Confidential Location in Melbourne Metro Area to different areas along the line.

Any other questions regarding any of the works, feel free to ask.

The MAIN purpose of this line is to remove the 1 freight line a day that is on the Bendigo line onto this independent line so therefore if there is a break down on Freight trains which is VERY common it would no longer affect VLine services.
This also allows VLine to be more flexible with there timetables as they now have more room in there slots due to this train no longer being on there network.

PN grain trains should still be using the Bendigo Line. I'd imagine the only ones that might go via Toolamba would be ones heading to Deniliquin. All the others (heading up the Swan Hill line and to Elmore) should still go via Bendigo.

The MAIN purpose of this line is to remove the 1 freight line a day that is on the Bendigo line onto this independent line so therefore if there is a break down on Freight trains which is VERY common it would no longer affect VLine services.

Hi Grosso - understand what you're saying but the only time now a breakdown won't affect V/Line trains is if the breakdown occurs between Echuca & Toolamba. Between Toolamba and Seymour you'll hold up the Shep's and south of Seymour you'll hold up the Seymour's as well. Having said that, there's probably more Bendigo trains so it's probably still the right decision.

Funny thing is the train ran via Bendigo this morning, G512 and S313 through at 08:50...

Funny thing is the train ran via Bendigo this morning, G512 and S313 through at 08:50...

Perhaps to give the RRL work done in the past week or so in Footscray a going over?

Or maybe Grosso's comments about the condition of the Toolamba-Echuca line are frighteningly accurate?

Either way, I reckon we'll see a few regular diversions through Bendigo over the coming months.  That might change if Bendigo-Echuca gets extra passenger traffic now that the railway crossing upgrades are more-or-less done.

Perhaps to give the RRL work done in the past week or so in Footscray a going over?

Or maybe Grosso's comments about the condition of the Toolamba-Echuca line are frighteningly accurate?

Either way, I reckon we'll see a few regular diversions through Bendigo over the coming months.  That might change if Bendigo-Echuca gets extra passenger traffic now that the railway crossing upgrades are more-or-less done.

I reckon the train will be going via Bendigo for a little bit.

The MAIN purpose of this line is to remove the 1 freight line a day that is on the Bendigo line onto this independent line so therefore if there is a break down on Freight trains which is VERY common it would no longer affect VLine services.

This re-opening was only approved because VLine required it needing to be done, no other reasons.. Not even the Joint Venture with SunRice was a factor

Reference: Confidental, VLine Rep

First off,  Freight Trains breaking down is VERY common?!....Sorry, but ANY train can break down ANYWHERE! And as mentioned, if the train was to break down between Seymour and Melb, what will happen then? The line doesn't have the option of doing bi-directional running like the Bendigo Line. And what if a VLP train breaks down and screws up the rest of the services? Many times an ON TIME running freight train has been pushed back several hours all because of a broken down suburban train or VLP. In my short few years on the footplate I have NEVER caused delays to traffic due to a break down. If your going to make accusation's like that, at least do your research.

Also, Confidential (which you spelt wrong anyway) means exactly that....so why are you putting it up on a public forum?!

Thumbs up for a top effort!