Travel with the train driver on his journey from Ballarat to Geelong on the freight line. Part 1 of 3. April 2023. #train #driverseyeview #traindriversview
Thank you. 75 years ago, I enjoyed this same view from the coveted front seat, beside the driving cab, of the Walker railcar as we returned to Geelong from visiting relatives in Ballarat. Ah, happy days.
I heard from my mum that in the 1970's, my grandpa would wave a flag over the bridge in view of the existing station at Navigators so that it would stop at the platform so he could board it in the morning to attend his job in Ballarat.
Love the video. Used to be a good pub in Lal Lal opposite the station. Always think Ballarat, which is bigger than Bendigo, is underserved by stations. Bendigo has what; Kangaroo Flat, Bendigo, Eaglehawk, new one at Epsom and Huntly. Ballarat has 2. There should be and there’s will be demand for one in the outer eastern suburbs as you enter round Eureka/Brown Hill or Warrenheip to serve the growing nth east and Sth east suburbs and so they don’t have to drive into the centre.
I agree, and Geelong to Ballarat should have service boost small towns population in between and very disappointment the Track plateform cut off in Lal Lal.
I was thinking I haven't been on the Geelong line, but I've been on the kindy train to Lal Lal with K183? and the old red cars back in 1992! Great morning out!
I remember years ago, probably in the 70s,taking a passenger train service from Geelong to Ballarat on this line due to problems with the main line to Ballarat,wouldn't it be great to see services on this line and reopened stations but l won't hold my breath
There’s so many booming commuter towns for both Geelong and Ballarat on that line that will continue to grow: there has to be a demand for 3-4 trains a day at least.
The second and third set of trailing points you crossed were actually set for the others line. Also saw the same thing at 12.09. Are they a sort of spring loaded point that gets pushed over when you travel over them.🇦🇺
In the yard at Ballarat East loco depot, the points are just hand points and are held in either position by a spring. They will throw over and stay that way when driven through. At 12.09, they are trailable points. They will spring over but slowly revert back to the position they were before being driven through. 👍😊
I've been on it as a special Steamrail or 707 Operations trip, that went all the way to Dunolly (where I have family connections), then the return trip came back to Geelong, and then to Melbourne, via this line.
It was a VLocity. The line does not have a regular passenger service but is used for empty transfers when there is a shut-down of the track in Melbourne. 👍😊
Is this standard gauge. If not what is the freight? Grain from where? If it was std gauge and Maryborough was converted to Std gauge then a direct route from Murray basin for grain to interest system and all ports. A chance for a std gauge maintenance facility Maryborough. Dispatch rollingstock and motive power overhauled via Arrarat or Ballarat back into the national system. I wonder why the Castlemaine Maryborough Railtrail Grou just got granted$400,000 feasibility?
On Saturday mornings there used to a locomotive balancing move from Geelong and 5 or so locos would run light engine to Ballarat. I don’t know if this is still done.
No, it was a special empty move for a week or so whilst track work in Melbourne stopped trains from Geelong getting into Melbourne for servicing. They transferred to the workshops in Ballarat instead. 👍😊
I recall in the 1990s there was an H set that ran to Ballarat but if it was congested via Bacchus, might run via Nt Geelong, it was pot luck on the day. Usually Sat mornings. My first trip on that line was the 1pm train that had State Car No 5 attached and even via Nth Geelong arrived dead on time, there were heavies on the platform, a DERM met us for the forward service to Donald. Loco was an S class. I took photos, they are around … somewhere.
@@driver667 oh nice!!! Would cost a boatload to get it all up to spec but might be worth it to make a cheapish link fast between Geelong and Ballarat! Also would be Cool if they used the goods line as a passing loop to maybe increase frequency at the Ballarat end
Dan Andrews Politics always staff up the railway layout so why cut Lal Lal Track Plateform because in next few decades waste more tax payers money to restore track when population growth start use Train Station.
Realistically, Lal Lal will not have the population for a station for the foreseeable future and putting a platform in on the active track would not be hard. Meredith as a crossing loop if traffic warranted would be a better option than Lal Lal.
Thanks for these freight line videos. They are parts of the world that the public is very unlikely to see. Good stuff. More please.
Glad to hear you enjoyed it 👍 More to come in the future 👍 😀
This is ace, nice to see a line us mere mortals never get to travel on!
🤣 Glad to hear you enjoyed it 👍 😀
Thank you. 75 years ago, I enjoyed this same view from the coveted front seat, beside the driving cab, of the Walker railcar as we returned to Geelong from visiting relatives in Ballarat. Ah, happy days.
It would have looked a bit better back then, glad you enjoyed it 😊 👍
I heard from my mum that in the 1970's, my grandpa would wave a flag over the bridge in view of the existing station at Navigators so that it would stop at the platform so he could board it in the morning to attend his job in Ballarat.
That happened at a lot of smaller stations mainly on the branch lines years ago. Different to today. 😊👍
Love the video. Used to be a good pub in Lal Lal opposite the station. Always think Ballarat, which is bigger than Bendigo, is underserved by stations. Bendigo has what; Kangaroo Flat, Bendigo, Eaglehawk, new one at Epsom and Huntly. Ballarat has 2. There should be and there’s will be demand for one in the outer eastern suburbs as you enter round Eureka/Brown Hill or Warrenheip to serve the growing nth east and Sth east suburbs and so they don’t have to drive into the centre.
Would be nice to see a few more stations serving Ballarat, maybe a service to Geelong also 🤔
I agree, and Geelong to Ballarat should have service boost small towns population in between and very disappointment the Track plateform cut off in Lal Lal.
Always wanted to see a video go from Ballarat to Geelong on this freight line. Thankyou! :)
No problem 😊 happy to see that you enjoyed it 👍
I was thinking I haven't been on the Geelong line, but I've been on the kindy train to Lal Lal with K183? and the old red cars back in 1992! Great morning out!
Sounds like you had a good time 🙂👍
I remember years ago, probably in the 70s,taking a passenger train service from Geelong to Ballarat on this line due to problems with the main line to Ballarat,wouldn't it be great to see services on this line and reopened stations but l won't hold my breath
You never know what the future holds 🙂👍
There’s so many booming commuter towns for both Geelong and Ballarat on that line that will continue to grow: there has to be a demand for 3-4 trains a day at least.
@@xr6lad I think you're right 👍🙂
Visited Ballarat and Geelong in the late 1980’s. The signalling then was Uk style GNR somersault centre balance. All sadly gone it would seem!
How things change. All the stations that are left are just buildings beside the track now. Empty or leased out. 👍
Nice cab ride. Thank you for this video.
No problem. Glad to hear that you enjoyed it 👍🙂
Thank you for this video... brings back many memories. Used to live near Yendon and leave my bike at the old Station... since removed of course.
Very happy to hear you enjoyed it and brought back memories for you 😀 👍
Great video 667.I think this line was originally builtas double tracked as both Geelong and Ballarat were major regional cities.
That is correct. It was double track built to the same standard as the Bendigo line and slowly singled from around the 1930's onward from memory.
@@driver667 I think Moorabool-Gheringhap was singled not long after the line was opened
Another fantastic video, keep it up!
Thank you, glad to hear you enjoyed it 😊 👍
Awesome train
Glad you enjoyed it 😊 👍
The second and third set of trailing points you crossed were actually set for the others line. Also saw the same thing at 12.09. Are they a sort of spring loaded point that gets pushed over when you travel over them.🇦🇺
In the yard at Ballarat East loco depot, the points are just hand points and are held in either position by a spring. They will throw over and stay that way when driven through. At 12.09, they are trailable points. They will spring over but slowly revert back to the position they were before being driven through. 👍😊
Awesome vid, would love to see the melbourne - newport freight line sometime
I'll get that up at some stage also. Glad you enjoyed it 😊
Yeah boiiii
The D3's, CV van and ABW at the Steamrail Ballarat East compound do look good from the mainline with there new coat of paint.
Yes, a coat of paint makes a difference to the look 👌
"Dulux" rebuild 😉
@@pvda64 👍🤣
I recon V/line could use this line, so trains leaving Geelong can run express to Ballarat, then stop all to Maryborough
You never know what could happen in the future 🙂👍
I've been on it as a special Steamrail or 707 Operations trip, that went all the way to Dunolly (where I have family connections), then the return trip came back to Geelong, and then to Melbourne, via this line.
@@amandawitt8363 a great adventure!
@@amandawitt8363 it is a good line for heritage trains to use to avoid getting caught up with Ballarat trains as well as being different scenery 😀 👍
Always wondered that too. Sadly I couldnt see patronage justifying a regular V/Line service.
Need to have train service to Geelong which would encourage lots to go for a day at the beach!
That would be great. Lot's of people travel between the two cities.
Was that a Sprinter you were driving? I didn't think that line was in use other than for freight and heritage excursion traffic?
It was a VLocity. The line does not have a regular passenger service but is used for empty transfers when there is a shut-down of the track in Melbourne. 👍😊
Is this standard gauge. If not what is the freight? Grain from where? If it was std gauge and Maryborough was converted to Std gauge then a direct route from Murray basin for grain to interest system and all ports. A chance for a std gauge maintenance facility Maryborough. Dispatch rollingstock and motive power overhauled via Arrarat or Ballarat back into the national system. I wonder why the Castlemaine Maryborough Railtrail Grou just got granted$400,000 feasibility?
@@rsinclair6560 this is broad gauge across here with grain traffic from the Sea Lake and Manangatang lines.👍😀
Lovely video. Do you think that they will return a regular (or semi) service back on this line?
There is a chance but time will tell. 👍🙂
On Saturday mornings there used to a locomotive balancing move from Geelong and 5 or so locos would run light engine to Ballarat. I don’t know if this is still done.
Does not happen any more.
So are Vlocitys now fitted with dashcams - if not, they should be!
They are being progressively fitted with forward facing cameras 🙂👍
Is this a frequent service?
No, it was a special empty move for a week or so whilst track work in Melbourne stopped trains from Geelong getting into Melbourne for servicing. They transferred to the workshops in Ballarat instead. 👍😊
It's a very picturesque line. Passengers would enjoy it if there were any apart from Heritage runs.
Yes it is. Years ago we used to run the Dimboola pass via this line and earlier there used to be a local service across here.
I recall in the 1990s there was an H set that ran to Ballarat but if it was congested via Bacchus, might run via Nt Geelong, it was pot luck on the day. Usually Sat mornings.
My first trip on that line was the 1pm train that had State Car No 5 attached and even via Nth Geelong arrived dead on time, there were heavies on the platform, a DERM met us for the forward service to Donald. Loco was an S class. I took photos, they are around … somewhere.
@@darylcheshire1618 sounds like an interesting trip 🙂👍
how do the vlos feel on the freight line?
The freight line is in good condition. The vlocity feels fine, just the top speed is half the speed of the passenger lines. 👍🙂
@@driver667 oh nice!!! Would cost a boatload to get it all up to spec but might be worth it to make a cheapish link fast between Geelong and Ballarat! Also would be Cool if they used the goods line as a passing loop to maybe increase frequency at the Ballarat end
@@hellblazer275 time will tell. Let's see what and if anything happens with the commonwealth games coming up. You just never know 😀👍
how often does this happen? do vlocitys usually do this to transfer from geelong to ballarat and was this on a vlocity?
It is on a VLocity. Happens when there are track work closures in town that stop transfers via Melbourne. 👍
I note several level crossings need to have someone there to trigger the manual override.
This is due to the infrequent use of the line.
Lal-Lal used to have manually operated gates, to run a special DERM or whatever, you had to pay extra for the gatekeeper.
@@darylcheshire1618 ok, I didn't know that 👍
Dan Andrews Politics always staff up the railway layout so why cut Lal Lal Track Plateform because in next few decades waste more tax payers money to restore track when population growth start use Train Station.
Realistically, Lal Lal will not have the population for a station for the foreseeable future and putting a platform in on the active track would not be hard. Meredith as a crossing loop if traffic warranted would be a better option than Lal Lal.