Mentioning wheat trains on the Oaklands line – I have fond memories of a cab ride on K163 with VR driver Barry Dunn on 7 January 1965.
On that morning I’d driven from Wangaratta but arrived in Yarrawonga after Barry’s Down train had departed northwards.
A fast drive allowed me to catch up with the train, K163 running tender-first with a rake of empty GY trucks and to board it at a level crossing somewhere near Sloane.
We trundled along as far north as Wangamong, where K163 shunted the empties and picked up a rake of loaded, tarp-covered trucks.
It was a stinking hot day and the line’s track gang was burning off between the boundary fences.
For the Up departure, Barry offered me a ‘steer’. I’m pleased to say that I managed to start that train with only one little wheelslip!
The load was, as I recall, 1400 tons of wheat.
Herewith a few photos taken that day, including some taken closer to Yarrawonga after we got back to my car and I’d driven ahead of the train.
Credit: John Thompson
