Western Victorian Railfan Guide

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Portland Mineral Sands
 
El Zorro's mineral sands train operated on behalf of Iluka stabled beside the locomotive depot at Portland on the evening of Wed.24.9
2009 Motive Power Combinations
Fri.13.2 GM36-EL52 9767
Tues.17.2 EL52-GM36 9768
Tues.10.3 S300-J102 9767
Sat.14.3 J102-S300 9768
GM36-EL51 9767
Thurs.19.3 EL51-GM36 9768
Thurs.26.3 GM36-T386 9767
Thurs.2.4 T386-GM36 9768
Fri.22.5 4836-4816 9767
Wed.27.5 C501-T386-4816-4836 9768
Sat.30.5 T386-4816 9767
Thurs.4.6 4816-T386 9768

 
Storm clouds brewing above the railway signals<br> to the west of Nhill on the evening of Sat.20.6.

Locomotives 4836 and C501 are hire to El Zorro for their ballast trains from Callington in South Australia to Western Victoria.

After ballasting in the Miram to Diapur section in push pull mode (4836 on the west end and C501 on the east), the locos have been remarshalled at the up end of Leeor Loop and the train is awaiting passage through a work site at the down end of the loop on their way back to Callington at midday on Tues.30.3.

Current and Recent Operations
  • The El Zorro ballast trains are currently being hauled by 4838 and C501 and in the last week of June were working in the Miram to Diapur section. - Fri.3.7

  • In conjuction with the delivery of new concrete sleepers outlined below to far western Victoria, this week sees the start of their installation and a the commencement of a series of ballast trains operating out of Callington west of Murray Bridge in South Australia. El Zorro has the contract to operate these trains and initially C501 and T386 were the motive power.

    The fourth week in May saw C501 and T386 return to Melbourne, via Portland to assist the mineral sands train, before C501 and 4816 in Austrac colours returned west to resume ballast duties.

    These ballast trains are now operating to the east of Kaniva in western Victoria from their loading base at Callington. - Sat.20.6

  • Pacific National Sleeper Train

    Pacific National are operating a series of six sleeper trains for ARTC from New South Wales to the west of the state via Albury and Melbourne.

    The schedule anticipates twelve such trains with one per week from the end of March.

    Each train is to unload the new concrete sleepers west of Dimboola in two trips, scheduled for Thursday and Friday mornings with a layover at Dimboola in between.

    Sleepers have been unloaded as far east as Diapur Loop. - Sat.20.6

    Motive Power
    Thurs.26.3 8177-X45-8169-8153
    Thurs.2.4 8177-X45-8121
    Thurs.9.4 8177-8121
    Thurs.16.4 8171-8169-8177
    Thurs.23.4 8171-8169-8177
    Thurs.30.4 8177-X45-8171
    Thurs.7.5 8177-X45-8171
    Thurs.14.5 X45-8169-8171
    Thurs.21.5 X45-8169-8171
    Thurs.28.5 8171-X45-8169
    Thurs.4.6 XR559-8177
    Sleeper train stabled in Dimboola yard on Thurs.26.3.

    This picture is of the first train when stabled in the yard at Dimboola in fading light on the evening of Thurs.26.3.

     
  • The first revenue train since October last year ventured out onto the Yaapeet branch on Thurs.19.3 when G528 hauled 14 empty grain wagons for loading at Rainbow. - Thurs.19.3

  • The management of the Maroona to Portland corridor was transferred from V/Line to ARTC on the afternoon of Sun.22.3. - Wed.18.3

  • A couple of incidents held up an Adelaide bound train at Dooen, east of Horsham, just after midnight on Tuesday night. - Tues.6.1

    • Fire fighters stop chemical explosion on Horsham freight train - [Herald-Sun Online] - [Read Article]
    • Tractor fall damages Melb-Adel rail line - [ABC Online] - [Read Article]
    • Train driver averts rail line 'explosion' - [theage.com.au] - [Read Article]
    • Crews derail blast threat - [Wimmera Mail-Times] - [Read Article]

    Stored Rolling Stock

  • A rake of twelve VLEY louvre vans, in assorted Freight Australia and V/Line colours, and 27 assorted empty container flats all remain stored in Murtoa yard. - Tues.6.1

  • The following rolling stock is currently being stored in the yard at Dimboola - in the silo road ('A' siding) - 5 x VLEX louvre Vans, 1 x NGKF hopper and a number of container flats. At the down end of 'C' siding - 7 x VHAF grain hoppers. - Mon.11.5

  • The rake of 21 former NSWGR 'Blacks' grain hoppers, now in Freight Australia green and coded VHBF, remain stabled in the siding at Antwerp on the Yaapeet branch where they have been since mid-June 2006. - Mon.11.5


El Zorro Logo.gif Trains and Operators - Western Standard Gauge Line
15 December
Photos Logo Photo Archive
3 July
XR558-G512 leading 9126 Pinnaroo to Geelong grain service on Wed.27.9.06. Pinnaroo AWB Grain Centre
SCT Derailment - Jan 2002 Kiata Derailment - Friday 25th January 2002
Rail Line .gif Track Diagrams
Maroona to Wolseley (SA) and the Hopetoun and Yaapeet Branches

NORTH WESTERN LINE - Sections of Maryborough to Mildura Line

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