Steamrail Weekender
'The Last D3 to Mildura & Farewell
Mildura Broad Gauge'
April 24 - April 28 2002
Down to Thursday April 25 Down to Friday April 26 Jump to Saturday April 27 Jump to Sunday April 28
Preparations on Wednesday April 24 2002
To position locos, stock and coal an otherwise empty move was made from Steamrail's depot at Newport to Donald via Bacchus Marsh and Ballarat.
T395 & D3 639 ready to leave Newport. The Y Class yard pilot is on the right. April 24 2002
D3 639 & T395 at Bacchus Marsh during a servicing stop. April 24 2002
D3 639 & T395 with their train at Bacchus Marsh during short a servicing stop. April 24 2002
From Bacchus Marsh T395 & D3 639 climbed the 1 in 48 of Ingliston Bank. April 24 2002
Thursday April 25 2002
The tour left Melbourne Spencer Street on the night of Wednesday April 24 2002. It ran overnight via Bacchus Marsh and Ballarat to St Arnaud behind R761 & R711 in multiple with Steamrail T356. Waiting for paths to cross late running freight trains on the single track route beyond Ballarat saw the train very late in to St. Arnaud on April 25 and a change of plan. Here R711 came off to follow light and tender first to Donald instead of remaining with the train. R761 remained at the very front piloting T356. Next stop was Donald for breakfast and loco servicing and a bit of shunting. On leaving Donald the locomotive arrangement was D3 639, R761 & T356. However the train had also grown with the addition of the day cars brought up by T395 and D3 639 the previous day. The T was left in the train to help make up some time on the way to Ouyen so we hopefully would not miss anymore crosses. Ultimate destination for an overnight stop was the small country town of Murrayville.
D3 639, R761 & T356 perform a runpast between Tempy and Nunga. April 25 2002
After a hearty breakfast at the local hotel the train headed back to Ouyen and from there on to Mildura where the next night was spent. The locos for the day were D3 639 piloting R761.
D3 639 at Murrayville station. April 26 2002
D3 639 and R761 almost ready to depart from Murrayville. April 26 2002
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D3
639 and R761 perform a runpast on the line between Murrayville and Ouyen.
April 26 2002 |
D3 639 and R761 stopped near 519KM post for a runpast on the line between Murrayville and Ouyen. April 26 2002
D3 639 and R761 perform a runpast near 519KM post on the line between Murrayville and Ouyen. April 26 2002
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D3
639 and R761 perform a runpast near 519KM post on the line between Murrayville
and Ouyen. April 26 2002 |
D3 639 and R761 perform alongside the Mallee Highway on the line between Murrayville and Ouyen. April 26 2002
D3 639 and R761 pose at Hattah station. April 26 2002
D3 639 and R761 make a false start from Hattah for the photographers. April 26 2002
D3 639 and R761 perform a rupast beyond Hattah. April 26 2002
Train and passengers after the runpast. April 26 2002
D3 639 and R761 perform the last runpast before arriving at Mildura. April 26 2002
D3 639, having been turned, shunts the stock in Mildura yard. April 26 2002
R761 on Mildura turntable. April 26 2002
R761 on Mildura turntable. April 26 2002
R761 on Mildura turntable ready to be coaled with the aid of that crane. April 26 2002
The late afternoon was free in Mildura whilst for an evening meal most passengers joined the side trip organised. This took us up the Murray on paddle steamer Melbourne to Gol Gol for an Australian barbeque (what else !) Overnight passengers had the option of staying in the train or moving out to a Motel.