went on overnight trip on what remains of the Loco Haul 17th -18 Dec 2024
VN3 hauled by locomotive no N474 and noted the carriage I was riding in was BTN251 from VN10 has the carriage have being shuffled around to other sets around the system.
the train was well patronised, but there was no buffet service that night as this came from Swan Hill with passengers and it ran from earlier during the day as 07:39 down Swan Hill with no buffet for that leg at 13:35.
I had earlier learnt from very reliable source on site about the absence of buffet for that particular service that night
I had Dinner in the train as prepared beforehand for it and bought what limited food and drinks I managed to get at short notice.
Riding Conditions onboard:
A sad change from what it was perviously as I noted more buffet service reduction on other route like Swan Hill and Warrnambool recently since after Nov 30th 2024.
I could understand staff illness for valid reason and too short of notice for other staff to take that role, it became quite frequent recently. I suspect a lot people on board got caught out with this as it state on their website when people make booking buffet service available on board from several major stations along the way.
The ride was very comfortable and seats were lovely to sit and snuggle back in as I was bit tired beforehand as I had busy day manual labor as I was assisting restoring a older vintage wooden bodied carriage in one our many tourist railway in Vic.
noticed near Colac before the Sun went down completely my carriage window was getting black splashes of what looked like black, greasy oil splashes along the windows whist we were rolling along!
From my past experience with trains and feedback from people in Rail Sector of the public service I was guessing my locomotive of my train had some sort emerging issue as it was definitely not normal for this to happen whist he train was operating on route on Warrnambool.
Neither less it was very nice enjoyable travel on route which arrived late evening at Warrnambool about 22:41 night I noticed FN9 in the yard on arrival.
I later found that VN3 was going back Melbourne on 06:10 up Warrnambool before checking out for the night and after a brief stay next day I was alerted at 05:30 by hearing the shunting movement for the prep of the first service beforehand as I could clearly hear their horn and train movement from where slept
19/12/2024 as I am typing Thursday’s morning Swan Hill 07:39 didn’t even make it past Footscray!
[source: v/line website ]
One is left to pounder as wonder did they use that same locomotive that the service I was on was behind Tuesday to pull the Thursday Morning Swan Hill Service?
As I only rode behind that locomotive on Tuesday Night!
Return trip next Day Wed from Warrnambool
by 08:30 I was on the ready station waiting for 09:24 which was FN9 pulled by N458 I noted the vending machines at Warrnambool’s waiting room cashless payment card operated.
It looked nearly empty but still had some food and drink available but for those who has limited food options it could be tricky if they need hot water to prep the food the bring beforehand easy to cook on board like powered soups and pre prepared food add hot water vetted by their GP or Dieticians etc. when people get off those buses from Portland etc.
I can’t imagine the hassle and stress endured of the people all lining up wanting buy food and drinks from those vending machines and juggling their luggages before going on those daytime services which are now Velocity rail car 3×1 on the new timetable.
I settled in BZN261 which was moved to FN9 from N12 recently there was good crowd on board at Warrnambool picking up a few Terang between at Boorcan loop I didn’t notice the train I was onboard stopping to wait or slowing down for the 07:26 Velocity 3×1 to Warrnambool speeding towards Camperdown. As earlier on after Sherwood Park buffet was in service, I had nice breakfast onboard with my food and drinks on route as I wondering what happened to it?
We had good amount people heading to Melbourne the bulk getting on board at Colac. followed people getting off and more getting on board non reservation cars E and D from Waurn Ponds where I saw the 10:12 Velocity 3×1 shuffle by as we headed toward Marshall. Pulled in at 12:47 just before the 13:10 Warrnambool left Southern Cross….
That was good trip on what left the loco haul on that line and noticed by day whist there the Warrnambool yard has pile of sleeper and ballast here and undisturbed for now as it being there for months before the timetable was first amended and loco haul that was 10:13 day time service was still active and table as regular service to Warrnambool.
These ballast heaps and concrete sleepers were even there presently currently even after the 4 mth shut down to upgrade that line for it newer Velocities to take that route the line completely plus concert sleepers lying beside the track at odd places on route from Terang to Sherwood Park etc ready for installation when time permits.
As I presume this what the Gippsland line had to endure before those new stabling facilities were installed and activated before they lost their loco hauled services…..
