Well folks, Steam is back on the VGR for 2018 so it's time for a new thread.

A huge train today double headed by J515 and Y133 hauling 7 passenger cars, an M wagon for bicycles plus the ZLP

Great to see so many cars required to carry the ever increasing number of passengers, I was at Castlemaine Station on Sunday and they had to drag 2 cars out of the shed to try to accommodate the number of walk ups on top of the pax who had pre-booked.

If you are thinking of travelling on the VGR this year make sure that you book your seat in advance, I saw the list that poor old Art had on Sunday and it looked to me like over 200 pre paid and I think some walk ups might have missed out. It was really buzzing on the platform.

BG

J515?

The VGR Civil blog is fantastic, it really shows off the amount of work that goes into keeping a preserved line running under decent traffic.

The VGR Civil blog is fantastic, it really shows off the amount of work that goes into keeping a preserved line running under decent traffic.

(Ever thought of taking over track maintenance from Metro/Vline???)

The VGR Civil blog is fantastic, it really shows off the amount of work that goes into keeping a preserved line running under decent traffic.

I agree. The blog is one facet that is so often missing in preservation circles.
Like some others, I imagine, I unthinkingly just assumed that the track just goes on and on or deteriorates so slowly as to be in the never never basket. Obviously that is not the case had I thought about it.
I was amazed at the level of mechanisation and professionalism displayed.
Thanks to all concerned.

_{(Ever thought of taking over track maintenance from Metro/Vline???)}

Most Preservation groups I believe still attempt to get you to pay for a newsletter via memberships

The VGR Civil blog is fantastic, it really shows off the amount of work that goes into keeping a preserved line running under decent traffic.

Like some others, I imagine, I unthinkingly just assumed that the track just goes on and on or deteriorates so slowly as to be in the never never basket.

The VGR Civil blog is fantastic, it really shows off the amount of work that goes into keeping a preserved line running under decent traffic.

Like some others, I imagine, I unthinkingly just assumed that the track just goes on and on or deteriorates so slowly as to be in the never never basket.

If only YM, if only!

I ventured down to Castlemaine Station on Sunday to pay my membership and thought I would celebrate the occasion by taking a mate and his 2 young kids for a trip on the train.

The K class looking resplendent in Red hauling 7 cars packed full of families was great to see as was the throng of people on the platform when we returned from Maldon in the afternoon.

Also of interest is the VGR Civil Blog which is now avl for all to see via a link from the VGR home page. https://vgrcivil.wordpress.com/

Nice to see that our civil boys have been down at Newport doing some re-sleepering for Steamrail and the other heritage groups that use the West Block Yard. Another positive arising out of the VGR - Steamrail joint venture arrangement.

BG

Their steam locos are certainly getting a workout - 7 carriages is basically the load limit for the 1 in 40 grades.  All the more reason to donate to the K160 overhaul

Talking of which, VGR was featured on local TV news after the Echuca Overlander trip last month.  In future this is hoped to be a twice-a-month excursion between Castlemaine & Echuca.
https://www.facebook.com/9NewsCentralVictoria/videos/1868851446741143/

The VGR Civil blog is fantastic, it really shows off the amount of work that goes into keeping a preserved line running under decent traffic.

Their steam locos are certainly getting a workout - 7 carriages is basically the load limit for the 1 in 40 grades.  All the more reason to donate to the K160 overhaul

Talking of which, VGR was featured on local TV news after the Echuca Overlander trip last month.  In future this is hoped to be a twice-a-month excursion between Castlemaine & Echuca.
https://www.facebook.com/9NewsCentralVictoria/videos/1868851446741143/

And Swan Hill being tossed around as a regular destination as well.

The plan is to have K160 mainline certified too so get donating folks!

BG

Their steam locos are certainly getting a workout - 7 carriages is basically the load limit for the 1 in 40 grades.  All the more reason to donate to the K160 overhaul

Talking of which, VGR was featured on local TV news after the Echuca Overlander trip last month.  In future this is hoped to be a twice-a-month excursion between Castlemaine & Echuca.
https://www.facebook.com/9NewsCentralVictoria/videos/1868851446741143/

And Swan Hill being tossed around as a regular destination as well.

The plan is to have K160 mainline certified too so get donating folks!

BG

On a more basic but equally important level...have the toilet facilities of the train as a whole been improved since the Porta-Potti fiasco of last year

M.

Their steam locos are certainly getting a workout - 7 carriages is basically the load limit for the 1 in 40 grades.  All the more reason to donate to the K160 overhaul

Talking of which, VGR was featured on local TV news after the Echuca Overlander trip last month.  In future this is hoped to be a twice-a-month excursion between Castlemaine & Echuca.
https://www.facebook.com/9NewsCentralVictoria/videos/1868851446741143/

And Swan Hill being tossed around as a regular destination as well.

The plan is to have K160 mainline certified too so get donating folks!

BG

On a more basic but equally important level...have the toilet facilities of the train as a whole been improved since the Porta-Potti fiasco of last year

M.

No idea Mike, the VGR has no toilets on any of our trains, only on the platforms.

You may be referring to an Echuca Overlander service or similar mainline trip, if so these are organised by Steamrail using VGR and Steamrail rollingstock so you would need to direct your enquiries to them.

BG

Yeah, that was the rather rudimentary loo in the SRV carriage on the Swan Hill trip in May last year.  No idea if it's been upgraded to something more appropriate....