Portland Mineral Sands
G532 and T386 are stabled on the front of 9768 up mineral sands train, pictured beside the locomotive depot at Portland at 18 00 on the evening of Wed.24.9 awaiting its scheduled 22 00 departure for Melbourne.
El Zorro operate this new service between Portland and Melbourne three times a week for Iluka Resources, transporting containerised minneral sands from the processing plant near Hamilton to Melbourne for export. In its first few weeks of operation, this has been the standard motive power.
| S313 and T357 leading a down ballast train towards Donald on the Mildura line on the morning of Wed.8.10.
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| Current and Recent Operations
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Major grain carrying rail lines will be upgraded as part of $38.7 million announced by the Victorian Government today. - Mon.20.10
Australian premier agribusiness, ABB Grain, and rail-freight transportation operator, Genesee & Wyoming Australia, are close to signing a five-year broad gauge agreement to annually move up to 300,000 tonnes of Victorian grain.... - Wed.17.9
The first down empty Iluka mineral sands train to Portland was reported through Gheringhap on Sat.13.9 consisting of T386 hauling 21 container flats with three containers on each, although G532 was dropped at Maroona from an up grain train and it is anticipated that this loco will be collected for the sand train. The first loaded up service is rumoured to depart Portland on Monday (15th) evening. - Sat.13.9
Under a deal announced today between miner Iluka Resources and freight operator El Zorro, mineral sands in containers will be railed from Portland to Melbourne, returning regular rail traffic to the Maroona to Portland line. - Wed.3.9
- Rail freight back on Portland-Maroona line - [ABC Radio - Wed.3.9] - [Read Article]
- New Pilot Locomotive for Horsham
An article in the Wimmera Mail-Times on Fri.22.8 indicates that Wimmera Container Lines has purchased locomotive 7334, and their staff will be trained to operating it. - Fri.22.8
- Engine to drive rail freight future - [Wimmmera Mail-Times - Fri.22.8] - [Read Article]
As part of the new contract to rail containers between Horsham and Melbourne, CRT blue locomotive 7334 has been transferred to Horsham to take up pilot duties.
The locomotive arrived by road overnight on Sun.12.8 - Mon.11.8 and was unloaded by crane onto number 5 road on the Monday morning. - Fri.15.8
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The rumour of one last Pacific National Horsham goods service on Fri.1.8 proved to be incorrect, which left G529-G530 hauling 9791 on Wed.30.7 as the last down service, and the final up return train, 9792, ran the following day with the same locos. - Fri.1.8
It has been announced that QRNational / Interail have signed a twelve month contract with Wimmera Container Lines to transport containers from Horsham to Melbourne, replacing Pacific National as the provider of this service. - Mon.28.7
- Wimmera councils say a new deal for rail freight services in the region gives them hope for the sector's future - [ABC Radio - Mon.28.7] - [Read Article]
- Rail to roll on - [Wimmera Mail-Times - Wed.30.7] - [Read Article]
- First train on the Yaapeet Line for Over a year.....
Despite the news item listed below indicating that Pacific National and GrainCorp plan the cease rail operations of the Yaapeet branch, a train of 18 empty grain hoppers hauled by XR555 and XR559 operated to the terminus of the line on Tues.22.7.
This was the first train on the line since a return light engine movment to Antwerp in June last year, and the last revenue train since March last year when a coule of train loaded at Rainbow.
The train is pictured here whilst loading at Yaapeet. - Tues.22.7
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- Train is back after one year - [Wimmera Mail-Times - Fri.25.7] - [Read Article]
It would appear that QRNational may soon take over the contract to operate the Horsham container service (currently run as trains 9791 and 9792 by Pacific National who are contracted to the job until the end of July), and if so they would be transferring a locomotive to Horsham for shunting duties - QRNational have yet to confirm this. - Thurs.17.7
Upgrade Announced for the Maroona to Portland Line - Thurs.17.7
- Rail track upgrade announced for Portland - [ABC Radio - Wed.16.5] - [Read Article]
- Future of Portland to Maroona Rail Line Secured - [Govt. Press Release] - [Read Article]
- New Deal Will Improve Rail Performance Maroona to Portland - [ARTC Press Release] - [Read Article]
PACIFIC National and grain handler GrainCorp will cease rail freight operations on the Yaapeet to Dimboola rail line....
Stored Rolling Stock
As of Thurs.20.3, the rake of twelve VLEY louvre vans, in assorted Freight Australia and V/Line colours, had been joined by 27 assorted empty container flats and the SE1 rake of grain hoppers, all stored in Murtoa yard. A further small number of grain hoppers were also present in the sidings at Marmalake. - Thurs.20.3
The following rolling stock is stored in the silo road ('A' siding) at Dimboola - 5 x VLEX louvre Vans and 1 x NGKF hopper. 'C' siding also contains seven VHAF grain hoppers and a number of empty container flats. - Thurs.20.3
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. - Thurs.20.3
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NORTH WESTERN LINE - Sections of Maryborough to Mildura Line
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