Thanks, Brad, for all the work you do in presenting these videos to us, who are interested in the workings of the rail system but have never worked in it and have no access. A couple of comments/questions from an ignorant bystander: 1. When the Portland line was standardised (in 1995?) I thought it was supposed to provide increased access to the Port of Portland for grain trains from the north-west. Why does it now appear to be so neglected? 2. From what I have seen in this and other videos, the Maroona junction appears to be configured for train access to/from the Ararat direction only. How do they handle trains to/from the North Geelong direction, if any?
1. That may have been the theory, though in reality when that was done they could only get grain from the Wimmera as only those lines were converted. Anything from the BG network had to be transhipped at Dunolly and then taken down though with that being a rather time consuming process I can't imagine it happened often if at all. At least they can get stuff from the Murray Basin lines now though which has happened a few times. It appears neglected pretty much because it is. This train seen was the first to run there in two years. The whole line is restricted to 40kph all the way from Maroona to Portland and because it's very infrequently used, ARTC have better things to spend their maintenance money on. 2. They did it with a run around at Maroona, though there never was as much stuff going from Geelong to Portland or vice versa as compared to loading from the Murtoa/Dimboola direction.
@@Greensleeves94 So far - touch wood - the end of 2020 looks like being a fantastic grain season in Vic and NSW, so let's hope that ships start calling at Portland (Vic) as well as the usual Port Kembla, Newcastle (NSW) and Geelong (Vic), and that rail is used not B-Double trucks to get the grain to port. Great video!
Great to see trains on Portland line again. Last time I was in Portland (few months ago) the yard was full of logs for export and it looked as if the line to the grain silos was decommissioned. Glad it can still be used by trains!
Thanks, I can't remember if it's one I'd used before but it certainly works well. I had thought of possibly getting 7740V there but there were a number of light poles in the way that I wasn't keen on.
Nice video! It’s great to see trains on the Portland line again, though I imagine that the speed restriction along the whole line would make it a bit unattractive to use. Hopefully it has more work done to get it up to speed!
Another engineering triumph by a government. The auditor generals report of this whole fiasco was scathing at best. And if what i have read is correct, the federal government is pitching in money with cuts to the original plan. I would not be putting to much faith in this whole project ever being completed to what was originally promised, hope i'm wrong.
Portland doesn't see any urgent freight by rail, with the only traffic being very occasional grain trains. The MBRP even isn't THAT big on urgent traffic, as a lot of the containers on the Fruit Flyer tend to sit on the docks for up to a week after arrival before being loaded on their respective ships.
@@cudgee7144 , and you didn't even mention the fuel-wasting diversion dragging all that weight all the way to lubeck to refuel then waste more fuel dragging the weight to return back from where it came to get to where it needed to go.
Enjoyed that Brad, is the Portland line still handling freight today? Only mention recently was a special charter that went there a few weeks back. The 81 class are a long way from home. Great surf up at the old PHT crusher site...😉
Sure is, though still infrequently a lot of the time. They have been running one SG rake down there for the last week-and-a-bit though so still plodding on (literally when you count the abysmal track speed of 40kph the entire way). Miss seeing the 81's down here on bulk work, last one went back north over a year ago now leaving just the two Dynon pilots.
Wow thats incredible Brad thanks for that i have worked down that way a few times years back. but not on the Portland line is that dual Gauge ? i cant remember, thanks for the Memories mate take care..
@@Greensleeves94 l can see your point,it's a indictment when governments and corporations let the rail freight lines run down to this extent,they find the money for level crossing removals in Melbourne, but rail freight lines gets the crumbs, but enjoy your videos.
Amazing , looking forward to seeing more trains to Portland
Thanks, hope there is. Rumours of another one circulating
Ooooh yeah here come the 81’s baby 😍😍😍
nice I hope there's one when i'm thinking of going to casterton for break
Thanks, they're touch and go at the moment
Great catches man!
Thank you
excellent. of course my favourite bit was the train on the portland line.
Glad you enjoyed it
Wonderful video my friend! Well done!👍
Thanks
Thanks, Brad, for all the work you do in presenting these videos to us, who are interested in the workings of the rail system but have never worked in it and have no access. A couple of comments/questions from an ignorant bystander:
1. When the Portland line was standardised (in 1995?) I thought it was supposed to provide increased access to the Port of Portland for grain trains from the north-west. Why does it now appear to be so neglected?
2. From what I have seen in this and other videos, the Maroona junction appears to be configured for train access to/from the Ararat direction only. How do they handle trains to/from the North Geelong direction, if any?
1. That may have been the theory, though in reality when that was done they could only get grain from the Wimmera as only those lines were converted. Anything from the BG network had to be transhipped at Dunolly and then taken down though with that being a rather time consuming process I can't imagine it happened often if at all. At least they can get stuff from the Murray Basin lines now though which has happened a few times. It appears neglected pretty much because it is. This train seen was the first to run there in two years. The whole line is restricted to 40kph all the way from Maroona to Portland and because it's very infrequently used, ARTC have better things to spend their maintenance money on.
2. They did it with a run around at Maroona, though there never was as much stuff going from Geelong to Portland or vice versa as compared to loading from the Murtoa/Dimboola direction.
Great video. Hope things improve down that way! Thanks. Riverina.
Thanks, I hope so too
@@Greensleeves94 So far - touch wood - the end of 2020 looks like being a fantastic grain season in Vic and NSW, so let's hope that ships start calling at Portland (Vic) as well as the usual Port Kembla, Newcastle (NSW) and Geelong (Vic), and that rail is used not B-Double trucks to get the grain to port.
Great video!
Great to see trains on Portland line again. Last time I was in Portland (few months ago) the yard was full of logs for export and it looked as if the line to the grain silos was decommissioned. Glad it can still be used by trains!
Indeed, I've seen some photos from the port area there with logs all over the place
Great angle on the Steelie. I'll have to give that a go!
Thanks, I can't remember if it's one I'd used before but it certainly works well. I had thought of possibly getting 7740V there but there were a number of light poles in the way that I wasn't keen on.
Nice video!
It’s great to see trains on the Portland line again, though I imagine that the speed restriction along the whole line would make it a bit unattractive to use. Hopefully it has more work done to get it up to speed!
Another engineering triumph by a government. The auditor generals report of this whole fiasco was scathing at best. And if what i have read is correct, the federal government is pitching in money with cuts to the original plan. I would not be putting to much faith in this whole project ever being completed to what was originally promised, hope i'm wrong.
Portland doesn't see any urgent freight by rail, with the only traffic being very occasional grain trains.
The MBRP even isn't THAT big on urgent traffic, as a lot of the containers on the Fruit Flyer tend to sit on the docks for up to a week after arrival before being loaded on their respective ships.
@@cudgee7144 , and you didn't even mention the fuel-wasting diversion dragging all that weight all the way to lubeck to refuel then waste more fuel dragging the weight to return back from where it came to get to where it needed to go.
you guys oughta honk for crossings like we do in NA
long long short & loonnggg thru the crossings hehe 😉
Enjoyed that Brad, is the Portland line still handling freight today? Only mention recently was a special charter that went there a few weeks back. The 81 class are a long way from home. Great surf up at the old PHT crusher site...😉
Sure is, though still infrequently a lot of the time. They have been running one SG rake down there for the last week-and-a-bit though so still plodding on (literally when you count the abysmal track speed of 40kph the entire way).
Miss seeing the 81's down here on bulk work, last one went back north over a year ago now leaving just the two Dynon pilots.
Greetings my friend, awesome location, best regards
Many thanks
Hopefully SSR and QUBE come down there aswell
Might do eventually though SSR seem more focused on interstate stuff and QUBE aren't doing much in Vic export either.
Very nice video! Greetings 🚂👍👋
Thanks
Wow thats incredible Brad thanks for that i have worked down that way a few times years back. but not on the Portland line is that dual Gauge ? i cant remember, thanks for the Memories mate take care..
Standard Gauge only to Portland, thanks
Can I use your footage for one of my videos
Great Video! Nice to see that region exporting grain again. Also do you know if the 0082 light engine is running tonight?
Thanks
@@Greensleeves94 All Good, Did you catch the 0082 light engine tonight?
With Portland a deep water port,more grain should be transported by Rail to Portland
Should be but the long length of 40kph running all the way from Maroona makes that a very slow trip...
@@Greensleeves94 l can see your point,it's a indictment when governments and corporations let the rail freight lines run down to this extent,they find the money for level crossing removals in Melbourne, but rail freight lines gets the crumbs, but enjoy your videos.
What’s the train at 1:40?
3PM4 as per the caption at the start of the clip. It's a steel train to Melbourne.
@@Greensleeves94 | What time does it come around at Maroona? Is it random time?
Schedules are on the ARTC website, it usually runs within an hour or two of the schedule.
www.artc.com.au/customers/operations/mtp/
@@Greensleeves94 | Thanks, I appreciate it.
@@Greensleeves94 | And what section is it on?
I thought portland was closed?
Reopened earlier this year
Greensleeves94 I used to live right next to portland line