Thank you, the line to Hopetoun brings back memories. In 1964 I was based at Warcknabeal for the wheat season as a steam fireman on loan from South Dynon. We had five steam locos based at Warracknabeal (4 N and 1 J oilburners). One train a week went from Hopetoun to Patchewollock and returned after a two day layover. The loco was turned on the turntable at Hopetoun for the north bound leg, we traveled tender first. My trip was at night. The driver warned me not to look out the side as the sand fences in some sections (galvanised steel) were leaning over and rubbed against the side of the loco. The loco was shutdown for the two days in Patchewollock We refilled the tender using a garden hose from the stations masters house.
@@driver667 Using the garden hose in this instant didn't work. When I went to check the next day, I found a leak in the firebox. A rescue locomotive had to be sent from Warracknabeal. My driver took a taxi to Hopetoun with the staff, so the rescue loco could make it to Patchy. I rode back to Warracknabeal with the train. Double headed N class, even if the second loco was dead.
Great history. What meals did you take on the loco. Sounds like a fusible plug leak in the fire box. By the 1960's steam loco maintenance was on the decline.
@@rsinclair6560 I liked to take sausages wraped in foil. Placed behind the injector so the sausages cooked in their own juice. Cans of stew in a pan were also a backup. The N and J locos were had at Warracknabeal were in reasonable condition. The one K (coal burner) we had was straight from storage in Ararat. Leaks everywhere. Howard
Noted your comment about more freight being moved by train, couldn't agree more,being a food producing state and to help our regional communities we need well functioning and viable freight lines,judging by the crowds,this train pulled, passenger trains are scare as hens teeth in this part of the world
G'day thanks for the ride, how many hours from Hopetoun to Melbourne by train, was it an overnight job and a few drivers, cheers mate, see you on the next, video, Neil 🤠.
There were a few drivers involved. I was with it for 4 days. The trip home on the last day was from Horsham to Melbourne. 5 and a half hours. Glad you enjoyed the ride 👍 😀
Last video I watched was southwest Victoria, so it was interesting to see the difference in northwest Victoria. Couldn't help wondering if the loco had been drinking though, when at about eight minutes in it was listing to port quite noticeably, before leaning to starboard at fourteen minutes.😵💫 Maybe you should have given it a cup of strong black coffee.☕😄
Great video. Do you have the return trip to Murtoa, and Murtoa to Horsham? Thanks. PS Do the locos have to do a run around at Murtoa to get to Horsham?
@@driver667 Oh, good. Is there still a chance that they will reopen passengers back to Mildura? I guess that can always be a government decision/policy at any time? Thanks for the update, previous.
Great vision, we lived in Hopetoun for 4 years in the 1980s. A shame to see the new mineral sands facility empty now, so much money invested there to be left abandoned
13:24 This is as far as you needed to go after decoupling from the carriages, just a bit beyond the switch points at the other end of the loop from here.🤔
@@Mediawatcher2023 Did you pull your "That Is the terminus" comment? I tried to answer it but the post couldn't be made, anyway, here's my answer: It's the end of the physical rail line but the *Terminus* is back where the buildings are(where the carriages were left after decoupling).
@@neilforbes416 the information what i got passengers do get off there you wouldn't be able to see it as its out of the cameras view there's a car park on the far left
Why the heck did you have to go all the way to the end of the rail line? When all you needed was to go just beyond the end of the loop track where the passenger carriages were parked(decoupled from the loco).🤔 Seems to me that was a wasted effort to go all that way when you only needed to run around your carriages.🙄
I think that going to the end of the line was for the benefit of the Railfans. It has been many years since a passenger train has been up there, and probably the first time that a C Class loco has been there.
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Thank you, the line to Hopetoun brings back memories. In 1964 I was based at Warcknabeal for the wheat season as a steam fireman on loan from South Dynon. We had five steam locos based at Warracknabeal (4 N and 1 J oilburners). One train a week went from Hopetoun to Patchewollock and returned after a two day layover. The loco was turned on the turntable at Hopetoun for the north bound leg, we traveled tender first. My trip was at night. The driver warned me not to look out the side as the sand fences in some sections (galvanised steel) were leaning over and rubbed against the side of the loco. The loco was shutdown for the two days in Patchewollock We refilled the tender using a garden hose from the stations masters house.
Sounds like an interesting time. I imagine it would have taken a long time to fill the tender with a garden hose. 🤔 Glad you enjoyed the video 😀👍
@@driver667
Using the garden hose in this instant didn't work. When I went to check the next day, I found a leak in the firebox. A rescue locomotive had to be sent from Warracknabeal. My driver took a taxi to Hopetoun with the staff, so the rescue loco could make it to Patchy. I rode back to Warracknabeal with the train. Double headed N class, even if the second loco was dead.
@@howardfranks2937 the garden hose is putting it in and the leak is letting it out. Annoying at the time but a great story to tell afterwards. 😀👍😀
Great history. What meals did you take on the loco. Sounds like a fusible plug leak in the fire box. By the 1960's steam loco maintenance was on the decline.
@@rsinclair6560
I liked to take sausages wraped in foil. Placed behind the injector so the sausages cooked in their own juice.
Cans of stew in a pan were also a backup.
The N and J locos were had at Warracknabeal were in reasonable condition. The one K (coal burner) we had was straight from storage in Ararat. Leaks everywhere.
Howard
( x ) ... Always a fun ridealong! I always learn something new! Thanks for sharing. (Greetings from Tucson)
You're welcome. Glad you enjoy them. Greetings 👍😀
Noted your comment about more freight being moved by train, couldn't agree more,being a food producing state and to help our regional communities we need well functioning and viable freight lines,judging by the crowds,this train pulled, passenger trains are scare as hens teeth in this part of the world
Passenger trains certainly are a novelty in that part of the state. 👍😊
That was short but brief, Putty Cat
Short but not to be left out 😀😀👍🐈🐈
It's a gr8 series of videos
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed them. 😀👍
G'day thanks for the ride, how many hours from Hopetoun to Melbourne by train, was it an overnight job and a few drivers, cheers mate, see you on the next, video, Neil 🤠.
There were a few drivers involved. I was with it for 4 days. The trip home on the last day was from Horsham to Melbourne. 5 and a half hours. Glad you enjoyed the ride 👍 😀
I would love to have seen the consist! Great series!
Just the 2 locos, I think.....
Thank you for a wonderful series of videos covering this railway line. 😀
You're welcome. Very happy you enjoyed them 👍😀
Last video I watched was southwest Victoria, so it was interesting to see the difference in northwest Victoria. Couldn't help wondering if the loco had been drinking though, when at about eight minutes in it was listing to port quite noticeably, before leaning to starboard at fourteen minutes.😵💫 Maybe you should have given it a cup of strong black coffee.☕😄
It only had a couple. 🤣🤣👍
Great video. Do you have the return trip to Murtoa, and Murtoa to Horsham? Thanks.
PS Do the locos have to do a run around at Murtoa to get to Horsham?
Yes, the return trip will be posted in 3 or 4 weeks time. The locomotives do have to run around at Murtoa to get to Horsham. 👍😀
awesome video you might see filming swan hill n class today
Glad you enjoyed it 👍 😀
Why wife loved this.Her Father was postmaster at hopetoun and Warraknabeal.Thk You.
You're welcome. Glad she enjoyed the video 👍 😀
Ignore the silo's and some aspects of the country remind me of Cook.
Yes, I can see what you mean 👍😀
It was sad to see the "end of line" at Hopetoun. Question, is the line to Mildura still open? I remember traveling to Mildura as a kid in the 70s.
Yes, the Mildura line is now standard gauge and open still all the way to the end at Yelta. 👍😊
@@driver667 Oh, good. Is there still a chance that they will reopen passengers back to Mildura? I guess that can always be a government decision/policy at any time? Thanks for the update, previous.
@@gheffz I don't think we will see a passenger service to Mildura any time soon. Who knows what the future holds 👍🙂
4:15 Why is there a giant wall on the right?
That was to cut down the noise toward the town. 👍😊
Great vision, we lived in Hopetoun for 4 years in the 1980s. A shame to see the new mineral sands facility empty now, so much money invested there to be left abandoned
I would love to see more freight on rail around the system. It is a shame to see things like that not used. Glad you enjoyed the ride 👍 😀
That's not a bad location to film Trains here at Hopetoun 14:09
There were quite a few people with that same idea there filming that day. 👍😀
Hi, Do you know what the new wall and platform on the main line are for. Looks unusual. Cheers Peter.
It was used for loading Mineral Sands until a few years ago.
That was a mineral sands storage and loading facility, built to store sands from Ouyen and ship via rail to Portland export hub
Question answered 👍😊
Why don't you show the car or waggon consists behind the Loco's, so to give us more to enjoy,
I usually do but for this series I showed the locomotives only. 🤔 At least with this video we ran back past the cars 👍😊
13:24 This is as far as you needed to go after decoupling from the carriages, just a bit beyond the switch points at the other end of the loop from here.🤔
@neilforbes416 he would know that ?
@@Mediawatcher2023 Did you pull your "That Is the terminus" comment? I tried to answer it but the post couldn't be made, anyway, here's my answer: It's the end of the physical rail line but the *Terminus* is back where the buildings are(where the carriages were left after decoupling).
@@neilforbes416 the information what i got passengers do get off there you wouldn't be able to see it as its out of the cameras view there's a car park on the far left
You can't go all that way and not travel the last half a kilometre to the end of the rails, 🤣🤣 Fan trips always go to the end. 👍😀
@@driver667 thats what i thought
Sorry, spoke too soon!
Lol, that's ok. 👍😀
Why the heck did you have to go all the way to the end of the rail line? When all you needed was to go just beyond the end of the loop track where the passenger carriages were parked(decoupled from the loco).🤔 Seems to me that was a wasted effort to go all that way when you only needed to run around your carriages.🙄
I think that going to the end of the line was for the benefit of the Railfans. It has been many years since a passenger train has been up there, and probably the first time that a C Class loco has been there.
@neilforbes416 have you looked at the locomotive itself
@@Mediawatcher2023 It's shown at the beginning of the video.
Why not?
@@neilforbes416 that loco was terminating that's where people get off