International Railroad Discussion > Downunder in 2019 So Far

Hi all,

Some shots from me so far this year.

1. Genesee & Wyoming owned units, FJ104 and FJ105 still wearing the old Freightlink livery sit in Alice Springs yard, N.T. on 01/02/19.

2. Paused between shunting moves, 3AD1 from Adelaide to Darwin sits in Alice Springs yard hauled by GWA010 and CLP14 on 01/02/19.

3. The same train sits on the loop at Newcastle Waters in the Northern Territory as the suns starts to rise, 01/03/19.

Justin



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/26/19 10:29 by AussieGWAdriver.

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Next lot.

1. Another shot of 3AD1 at Newcastle Waters.

2. Empty manganese ore train from Darwin to Muckaty, 4DM4 approaches Newcastle Waters hauled by GWA001 and FQ02 on 01/02/19.

3. The sun is setting as 6DA2 with GWA010 and CLP14 waits on the siding at Kingoonya, South Australia on 01/05/19.

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Next lot.

1. SCT service 6PM9 with Progress Rail lease units LDP001, LDP002 leading SCT's CSR004 passes through Nairne, South Australia, 01/14/19.

2. SCT service 2MP9 with CSR008, SCT005, CSR011 and LDP001 had stalled near Nairne due to loco issues. Pacific National units NR62 and NR110 off another train at Ambleside were sent to assist. When lifting the train a drawgear was damaged on the rear of the fourth wagon. Here we see the six locomotives and first four wagons arriving on the siding at Mt. Barker Jct, 01/15/19.

3. The locomotives running around via the mainline to head back and retrieve the rest of the train.

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Next lot.

1. Sulzer powered Commonwealth Railways unit, NSU58 at the Old Ghan Museum in Alice Springs, 02/19/19.

2. Former Western Australian Government Railways 4-8-2 steam locomotive, W924 at the Old Ghan Museum, Alice Springs on 02/19/19.

3. A broken 16-645 crankshaft at the Old Ghan Museum, 02/19/19.

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Next lot.

1. 7DA2 with GWA007, FQ01 and CLP14 waits at Northgate Block Point on 02/21/19. This is the interface location of the ARTC interstate rail network and GWA's Tarcoola to Darwin line.

2. 7DA2 has moved to the branch line at Tarcoola while SCT service 6PM9 waits on the main line with SCT007 and SCT013 on 02/21/19. Both trains were waiting for the line to open after a derailment just east of Kultanaby.

3. Great Southern Rail's The Overland service, 6AM8 from Adelaide to Melbourne passes through Nairne hauled by Pacific National's NR71 on 02/22/19.

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Last one.

Loaded Pacific National grain train, 2AG4 with NR61 and NR106 waits to depart Snowtown in South Australia bound for Parkes in New South Wales on 02/25/19.

Cheers,
Justin

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Very nice Justin.I saw a south bound unit grainer through here(Wagga) yesterday with 3 x81  class on.He was hauling the mail.
Rode the Overland back in 65 when I was a kid.We hit a truck someplace during the night.Completed the journey to melbourne in Buses.
Regards,DK

Thanks for sharing.

I see a passenger car near the head in some of the GWA trains. Is that for off-duty crews to get their rest?

Congrats on the IOTD mate!
Grrrrrreat series-love the sunrise shots.

BB



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/19 05:47 by bmarti7.

ts1457 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for sharing.
>
> I see a passenger car near the head in some of the
> GWA trains. Is that for off-duty crews to get
> their rest?

That is correct. On the long distance runs a relay crew is used due to the lack of civilisation in a lot of areas we run through. There is a pair of drivers working and a pair resting with 8 hour rotations. We can do this type of working for a maximum of 54 hours.

It can take a little bit to get used to but I enjoy it.

Justin

bmarti7 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Congrats on the IOTD mate!
> Grrrrrreat series-love the sunrise shots.
>
> BB

Thanks again and thanks for the IOTD. Much appreciated.

Cheers,
Justin

>
> That is correct. On the long distance runs a relay
> crew is used due to the lack of civilisation in a
> lot of areas we run through. There is a pair of
> drivers working and a pair resting with 8 hour
> rotations. We can do this type of working for a
> maximum of 54 hours.
> Justin

Thanks for the great post from 'down under' . .  do you get decent meals during the trips . . . assume so as that is a key component to retain crews . .

Craig
mcmrailvideos.com
 

Nice shots!!

I was wondering if you had any photos of those crew cars what they are like on the inside?
The sleepeing quarters, living room area, and the kitchen/ galley looks like ?
I understand if don't want to show or can't because of company/ personal preferences ...
Thanks for sharing !!! :):):)

AussieGWAdriver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ts1457 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Thanks for sharing.
> >
> > I see a passenger car near the head in some of
> the
> > GWA trains. Is that for off-duty crews to get
> > their rest?
>
> That is correct. On the long distance runs a relay
> crew is used due to the lack of civilisation in a
> lot of areas we run through. There is a pair of
> drivers working and a pair resting with 8 hour
> rotations. We can do this type of working for a
> maximum of 54 hours.
>
> It can take a little bit to get used to but I
> enjoy it.
>
> Justin

Thanks again everyone.

As for meals we supply our own but we get paid a meal allowance for every 8 hours on an away job. 

Here are some internal shots of a crew car.

Cheers,
Justin

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