A good video with some interesting points. With the presentation of limited shunting movements of the train, it does not look good for the passengers who have to walk the extra distance along the platform. It is a shame that the train does not go all way to the buffer stops when it first came into the platform and when it attaches to the Albury end of train. I was shocked to see the train did not propel back to the Buffer stops.
Quiet likely the 4x SFN Sets with 3 PCJ & 1 PZ Power Vans will all return to BG operation, if they are smart, they will rebuild all the existing BG N Sets into fixed FN & VN sets comprising all N Cars only (like was done for the Albury services){there is also a spare SG BN Car that can be added to any of The SFN Sets to boost capacity to 5 Cars if required} If they were smart, with the rebuilding of all existing BG N Sets into fixed N Car-Only Formations FN & VN Set Configurations; they’d this rebuild the BRN into a BRDN: Conversion from BRN to BRDN would be achieved by removal of the existing BRN toilet, bin & luggage rack & relocation of the electrical control cabinet directly opposite it’s present location to that of now being recessed into the end wall of the carriage (located in the vacant cupboard; behind the inward~swinging motorised / power-assisted external vestibule entry door) at the west end of the carriage… A New BZN / BDN Style Toilet would be installed at the west end (located diagonally-opposite to that of the buffet module location) this allowing buffet staff to view the disabled toilet & DDA Compliant / Wheelchair ♿️ Accessible Seating area at all times & provide assistance as required…
Interesting video reminds me of the old days in the UK when we had Diesel locos on operating out of London Liverpool street and Norwich. Very enjoyable thank you Cheers Doug
Thanks Doug. This was pretty common back in the day for most railway systems. Then came the DMU. It's not as exciting but still allows us to run a passenger train.
Ii spent a whole month of May 1987 traveling by train around Australia including both ways to/from Albany. Yes I remember Spencer St Station. I'm a 'train-a-holic' from Vancouver. Have logged 250,000kms by train since 1955 mostly in Canada but also UK & Australia. Cheers.
It's sad how the N class locomotive is called the city of Mildura since the town hasn't seen a regular vline passenger service since that Jeff Kennet dog axed the Vinelander in 1993.
Really great video Brenden. Great to see the whole run around process. Will be sad to see the venerable N class locos replaced but as George Harrison sang: "all things must pass"
Unless I've missed my guess, 2022 will be the 60th Anniversary Year of the standard-gauge line from Albury to what was then Spencer Street Station, to allow trains to travel all the way from Sydney to Melbourne on one gauge.
@Neil Forbes and yes you're correct In April 1962, a new standard gauge line to Melbourne's Spencer Street station opened, and thus the Intercapital Daylight, Southern Aurora and Spirit of Progress began to operate without the need to change trains. However, the Riverina Express continued to terminate at Albury until November 1993, with passengers transferring to V/Line services to continue into Victoria and it be twelve years since melbourne to wodonga became standard gauge
@Traveling Man: Wodonga was on the same line, so it would've been converted to standard-gauge at the same time. Remember, the train had to cross the Murray River to get from Albury to Wodonga, to enter Victoria!
@@neilforbes416 In May 2008, it was announced that the tracks would be upgraded, including the conversion of 200 kilometres (120 mi) of broad gauge track to standard gauge between Seymour and Albury, a 5 km (3.1 mi) bypass around Wodonga, and upgrades between Melbourne and Seymour including new passing loops.[10] Passenger platforms were to be built on the standard-gauge line, and V/Line locomotives and carriages converted to operate on the line. Costing A$501.3 million, the Victorian Government was to contribute A$171.3 million, the Australian Government A$45 million for the Wodonga Rail Bypass, and the Australian Rail Track Corporation A$285 million and take responsibility for the standard-gauge line under a 45-year lease from Victoria. The project was due for completion by 2010, with passenger services to be disrupted for up to 12 months. On 8 November 2008, broad gauge passenger trains ceased after the evening V/Line service from Melbourne to Albury and a special train operated by the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre, the final broad-gauge passenger train from Albury to Melbourne.] In December 2008, standardisation works commenced, contracted by ARTC to the Southern Improvement Alliance. The first train on the Wodonga Rail Bypass was in March 2010. In early August 2010, CountryLink decided to terminate all Sydney-Melbourne XPTs at Albury for an indefinite length of time, due to defects in the newly re-sleepered track. "Mud holes" resulted in speed restrictions on more than 200 kilometres (about 66 per cent) of the line, adding an extra 1.5 hours to the travelling time.[16] Train drivers have blamed the ARTC's $285 million concrete sleeper project for the track issues, stating that the incorrect insertion of 300,000 new concrete sleepers is to blame. They have repeatedly reported freight trains breaking couplings due to the rough track. CountryLink trains resumed in mid September 2010, V/Line trains the following year.
Platform 2B at Southern Cross, the Shakespearean* platform! Your parents coming in from Albury and you have to meet them... now what was the platform the train would arrive at? Was it 2B or not 2B? What a question!😄
Thanks for showing this operation. Man, that dual gauge track must be a royal pain to maintain--especially the switches/points. If you haven't already, and if it is possible, it would be interesting to see up close how the dual gauge points are set up. It looks as though it would be tricky, given how close the dual rails are. Cheers from Wisconsin!
Do I understand correectly that some of these diesels have been converted to SG? Another question: the signal at the end of the platform seemed (some degree of colour blindness!) to indicate red at the top and green below it: what would this mean?
There are a few on SG. The BG and SG locos gets swapped from time to time as the SG locos work harder than the BG locos. Not 100% sure on the signals but it's obviously some green signal and there's no yellow so I can only assume no caution in place for the next signal.
Red over green, is a medium speed signal. Green indicates that the next signal is at proceed . If it was red over yellow, still medium speed, but next signal is at stop.
In passenger service maybe till 2028 / 2030 at the most, but if SSR or QUBE snap them up after that, as long as the money is spent on them, they could last 60Yrs, SSR is still operating EMD B & S Classes, plus P Classes (rebuilt from first series Flat Top T’s in the early to mid 1980’s)
If the train returned, how many people would actually use it. Ararat has pretty good numbers but beyond Ballarat to Maryborough, hardly anyone uses it from my experience
@@Schony747 Mildura is not only a major regional city In Victoria but also a major tourist destination In Australia, The town has a population of just over 50,000 & that's only Mildura & not the whole Sunraysia region. When you look at other locations around Victoria like Bairnsdale, Swan Hill & Ararat those locations have smaller populations yet still have access to passenger rail.
1314 "Undetaken" and "Sercured" - Seems you have a keyboard with a mind of its own, Brendan. I have a new computer and the keyboard(wireless) has keys that either *register a etter twicee on one keystroke r don't register at all* like just then I meant to say "register a letter twice on one keystroke or don't register at all"! This keyboard is going to take a lot of getting used to!
All the best for the new year. I have not seen a female shunter before. Back in the early 80s they had a couple of train drivers who were female. Do they the railways hire female staff to go on the footplate ( locos)?
V/Line has a few female drivers, CountryLink NSW has two female drivers on roster (one in SYD Depot & One in Taree Depot) Both the ladies are excellent at driving & honestly, they put some of our guys to shame, as some of the old hands are rough as guts…
The N class locos don't look that old. The passenger cars look their age, but appear to be well maintained. It didn't look as though there were too many passengers on the train as it departed. Does it pick up more passengers further down the line? And one final question, what is the width of the broad gauge track in Australia?
@@Schony747 The PTV livery is smart~looking compared to The British Rail~inspired 2008 -> 2017 2Tone Grey abomination of a livery that The PTV ‘Violet Crumble’ Livery replaced (only good thing to come out of that; was with the cheeseburger livery applied to the N’s / P’s & one solo A)
Amazing work....Big LIKE from Zimbabwe!!!
Thanks for having a look!
Thankyou very well explained
Thanks for having a look 😀😀
A good video with some interesting points. With the presentation of limited shunting movements of the train, it does not look good for the passengers who have to walk the extra distance along the platform. It is a shame that the train does not go all way to the buffer stops when it first came into the platform and when it attaches to the Albury end of train. I was shocked to see the train did not propel back to the Buffer stops.
No idea why either. I can only assume there's other trains on the platform from time to time or some sort of V/Line operational requirement.
How long does trip take
Just under 4 hours
Nice job of filming, really interesting and looks like you picked a good day for it. 👍
New Years Day Public Holiday one of the reasons why I filmed it. No one around and a great opportunity to film.
Noooo the v/locites will replace the n-class these should go to heritage groups
Quiet likely the 4x SFN Sets with 3 PCJ & 1 PZ Power Vans will all return to BG operation, if they are smart, they will rebuild all the existing BG N Sets into fixed FN & VN sets comprising all N Cars only (like was done for the Albury services){there is also a spare SG BN Car that can be added to any of The SFN Sets to boost capacity to 5 Cars if required}
If they were smart, with the rebuilding of all existing BG N Sets into fixed N Car-Only Formations FN & VN Set Configurations;
they’d this rebuild the BRN into a BRDN:
Conversion from BRN to BRDN would be achieved by removal of the existing BRN toilet, bin & luggage rack & relocation of the electrical control cabinet directly opposite it’s present location to that of now being recessed into the end wall of the carriage (located in the vacant cupboard; behind the inward~swinging motorised / power-assisted external vestibule entry door) at the west end of the carriage…
A New BZN / BDN Style Toilet would be installed at the west end (located diagonally-opposite to that of the buffet module location) this allowing buffet staff to view the disabled toilet & DDA Compliant / Wheelchair ♿️ Accessible Seating area at all times & provide assistance as required…
I'm sure something will end up in oreservation. The SN sets will be stored at Seymour at least that's what the plan is.
@@Schony747 they can be converted into crewcars
@@Schony747 what would qubes friends at seymour do with them apart from leave them out in the open to rust?
Thank you - this is great. Really enjoy these sorts of videos that explain the workings and procedures. 👌
Thanks. All your contributions are most welcome.
do the Y class locomotives do the albury service
Y class loco is the shunter at Southern Cross Station for the broad gauge trains. There is a P class on the SG that can haul the Albury cars
Interesting video reminds me of the old days in the UK when we had Diesel locos on operating out of London Liverpool street and Norwich. Very enjoyable thank you Cheers Doug
Thanks Doug. This was pretty common back in the day for most railway systems. Then came the DMU. It's not as exciting but still allows us to run a passenger train.
wonder how the N`s will look in Qube " baby spew" yellow and grey.........
It's got to happen first. GML10 looks good and it's basically the same shape
Ii spent a whole month of May 1987 traveling by train around Australia including both ways to/from Albany. Yes I remember Spencer St Station. I'm a 'train-a-holic' from Vancouver. Have logged 250,000kms by train since 1955 mostly in Canada but also UK & Australia. Cheers.
Man that's alot of KM! Rail travel is very enjoyable. I particularly like the UK and Europe.
It's sad how the N class locomotive is called the city of Mildura since the town hasn't seen a regular vline passenger service since that Jeff Kennet dog axed the Vinelander in 1993.
Horsham, Portland and others have lost their passenger trains. It's still nice to have a loco named after your city.
Really great video Brenden. Great to see the whole run around process. Will be sad to see the venerable N class locos replaced but as George Harrison sang: "all things must pass"
Correct. All things change and come to an end. That's why recording things like this is important.
Unless I've missed my guess, 2022 will be the 60th Anniversary Year of the standard-gauge line from Albury to what was then Spencer Street Station, to allow trains to travel all the way from Sydney to Melbourne on one gauge.
@Neil Forbes and yes you're correct In April 1962, a new standard gauge line to Melbourne's Spencer Street station opened, and thus the Intercapital Daylight, Southern Aurora and Spirit of Progress began to operate without the need to change trains. However, the Riverina Express continued to terminate at Albury until November 1993, with passengers transferring to V/Line services to continue into Victoria and it be twelve years since melbourne to wodonga became standard gauge
@Traveling Man: Wodonga was on the same line, so it would've been converted to standard-gauge at the same time. Remember, the train had to cross the Murray River to get from Albury to Wodonga, to enter Victoria!
@@neilforbes416 yes the river is the border
@@neilforbes416 In May 2008, it was announced that the tracks would be upgraded, including the conversion of 200 kilometres (120 mi) of broad gauge track to standard gauge between Seymour and Albury, a 5 km (3.1 mi) bypass around Wodonga, and upgrades between Melbourne and Seymour including new passing loops.[10] Passenger platforms were to be built on the standard-gauge line, and V/Line locomotives and carriages converted to operate on the line. Costing A$501.3 million, the Victorian Government was to contribute A$171.3 million, the Australian Government A$45 million for the Wodonga Rail Bypass, and the Australian Rail Track Corporation A$285 million and take responsibility for the standard-gauge line under a 45-year lease from Victoria. The project was due for completion by 2010, with passenger services to be disrupted for up to 12 months.
On 8 November 2008, broad gauge passenger trains ceased after the evening V/Line service from Melbourne to Albury and a special train operated by the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre, the final broad-gauge passenger train from Albury to Melbourne.] In December 2008, standardisation works commenced, contracted by ARTC to the Southern Improvement Alliance. The first train on the Wodonga Rail Bypass was in March 2010.
In early August 2010, CountryLink decided to terminate all Sydney-Melbourne XPTs at Albury for an indefinite length of time, due to defects in the newly re-sleepered track. "Mud holes" resulted in speed restrictions on more than 200 kilometres (about 66 per cent) of the line, adding an extra 1.5 hours to the travelling time.[16] Train drivers have blamed the ARTC's $285 million concrete sleeper project for the track issues, stating that the incorrect insertion of 300,000 new concrete sleepers is to blame. They have repeatedly reported freight trains breaking couplings due to the rough track. CountryLink trains resumed in mid September 2010, V/Line trains the following year.
Big birthday cake for the occasion. I'll have a party at Airport West. All the best for 2022 😀😀
Its good to see female loco drivers now. You see them on the Vlines Bombardier Trains e.g Southern Cross to Traralgon
Lots of tram drivers as well.
Platform 2B at Southern Cross, the Shakespearean* platform! Your parents coming in from Albury and you have to meet them... now what was the platform the train would arrive at? Was it 2B or not 2B? What a question!😄
@Neil Forbes theyre both the same a small joke come from a send up of master mind where you answer the question before last LOL
That's the question 2A asks - why does 2B get all the attention
@@Schony747 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Thanks for showing this operation. Man, that dual gauge track must be a royal pain to maintain--especially the switches/points. If you haven't already, and if it is possible, it would be interesting to see up close how the dual gauge points are set up. It looks as though it would be tricky, given how close the dual rails are. Cheers from Wisconsin!
Thanks Andrew. Next time I'm at Dunolly, I'll have a look. There is a dual gauge track there as well.
Do I understand correectly that some of these diesels have been converted to SG? Another question: the signal at the end of the platform seemed (some degree of colour blindness!) to indicate red at the top and green below it: what would this mean?
There are a few on SG. The BG and SG locos gets swapped from time to time as the SG locos work harder than the BG locos. Not 100% sure on the signals but it's obviously some green signal and there's no yellow so I can only assume no caution in place for the next signal.
Red over green, is a medium speed signal. Green indicates that the next signal is at proceed . If it was red over yellow, still medium speed, but next signal is at stop.
Are those locomotives EMD units? They sound just like ones we used to have here in Canada, and the clas 66's in the UK.
Yes indeed. All the info can be found here - en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/V/Line_N_class
I hadn't realised the age of the N class diesels until my brother told me. Hopefully they'll last a bit longer.
In passenger service maybe till 2028 / 2030 at the most, but if SSR or QUBE snap them up after that, as long as the money is spent on them, they could last 60Yrs, SSR is still operating EMD B & S Classes, plus P Classes (rebuilt from first series Flat Top T’s in the early to mid 1980’s)
Yep and still the really reliable for its age as well
@@Dalts1985 they're well too young to join ssr! they are not 60 years old
ONG Now I've seen everything there a loco with the City Of Mildura yet we don't even have a passenger rail service to our town.
If the train returned, how many people would actually use it. Ararat has pretty good numbers but beyond Ballarat to Maryborough, hardly anyone uses it from my experience
@@Schony747 Mildura is not only a major regional city In Victoria but also a major tourist destination In Australia, The town has a population of just over 50,000 & that's only Mildura & not the whole Sunraysia region. When you look at other locations around Victoria like Bairnsdale, Swan Hill & Ararat those locations have smaller populations yet still have access to passenger rail.
1314 "Undetaken" and "Sercured" - Seems you have a keyboard with a mind of its own, Brendan. I have a new computer and the keyboard(wireless) has keys that either *register a etter twicee on one keystroke r don't register at all* like just then I meant to say "register a letter twice on one keystroke or don't register at all"! This keyboard is going to take a lot of getting used to!
It wouldn't be one of my videos without a typo 😀😀
@Neil Forbes my keyboard is also wireless as keys are flat rather than raised i find it more easier when you touch type
@@Schony747 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@travelingman6511 My typing method is "AHP"(Advanced Hunt & Peck)! LOL😁
@@neilforbes416 dunt yea jost hot thit :D
Fascinating loco haulage. Just wondering, what's the distance of this line in miles?
I don't know the exact mileage but it's around 330km by car from Southern Cross to Albury.
All the best for the new year. I have not seen a female shunter before. Back in the early 80s they had a couple of train drivers who were female. Do they the railways hire female staff to go on the footplate ( locos)?
V/Line has a few female drivers, CountryLink NSW has two female drivers on roster (one in SYD Depot & One in Taree Depot) Both the ladies are excellent at driving & honestly, they put some of our guys to shame, as some of the old hands are rough as guts…
Thanks Peter. All the best for you in 2022 as well.
The N class locos don't look that old. The passenger cars look their age, but appear to be well maintained. It didn't look as though there were too many passengers on the train as it departed. Does it pick up more passengers further down the line? And one final question, what is the width of the broad gauge track in Australia?
Victoria uses the Irish Standard of 5ft 3in (1600 mm).
1981 to 1984 for the pasa cars and 1985 to 1987 for the locos so not much difference. The new PTV livery makes the cars look younger in my opinion
@@Schony747 The PTV livery is smart~looking compared to The British Rail~inspired 2008 -> 2017 2Tone Grey abomination of a livery that The PTV ‘Violet Crumble’ Livery replaced (only good thing to come out of that; was with the cheeseburger livery applied to the N’s / P’s & one solo A)