Chasing dinosaurs in December

The first week of December ended up being fairly busy one out photographing N class locos on commuter, and longer distance passenger trains.

The last of the Bacchus Marsh trips were supposed to be finishing by mid December, and given the woeful weather any opportunity to get out was taken.

On the afternoon of Sunday 3rd I'd received a tip off that two of the long distance loco hauled trains remaining, would be both double headed due to issues with locomotives.

The two trains, the Warrnambool and Swan Hill services to Southern Cross are timetabled to pass through Footscray within three minutes of each other at 20:58 and 21:01 so I set off for an outing after dinner.

A VLocity accelerates out of Footscray, as the XPT descends to pass under the suburban and regional tracks before entering the Bunbury St. tunnel.

I took a few photos of other trains coming and going in nice evening light from up on the footbridge. One of these that almost snuck past was the XPT from Sydney descending to pass under the suburban and regional lines as a VLocity departed. The Warrnambool arrived a little late in dimming light, so I made use of the station platform lights to catch N471 leading N463, which having a defective radio couldn’t haul the train.

Almost out of light as the Warrnambool slows down to stop at Footscray.

To change things up a bit, I went onto the platform itself, and waited for the Swan Hill. Several other trains came and went, signs were put out for rail replacement busses on the Bendigo line, so I ended up leaving at about half nine.

It did eventually wander through almost an hour late, by which time I was well and truly home.

Monday morning I headed to work with my camera gear, Janelle was going away for a couple of days for work, so staying out to whenever chasing trains wasn't going to impact anyone but myself.

By the time I left work  it was the stinking hot day, 35 according to the car! I headed west to try a location between Deer Park and Tarneit planning on getting the 16:31 Geelong, then heading to Bacchus Marsh for the 17:21, both loco hauled services. I chose the Boundary Road bridge as a good spot to start with, but anti throw screens blocked the most obvious angle. I climbed over the barrier onto the approach embankment, and started wandering, but after a rabbit and I startled each other, decided against wading into the shrubbery too much, lest I disturbed a tiger snake!

I did end up finding a relatively clear spot on the other side of the bridge, so settled in, and was treated to a couple of sets of VLocities passing in front of me, which was interesting!

Geelong services from both directions passing at Boundary Rd.

Same spot, but a different angle for the loco hauled train.

N 461 made an appearance through the shimmering heat, so after photographing it,  it was a trudge back to the car wishing I'd thought to bring some water. With the aircon flat out, I a spent a few minutes  figuring out the best way to The Marsh.

It had been a long time since I'd gone out that way, but continuing west out Boundary Rd., then north onto Mount Cottrell Rd., and past Melton Weir was still the quickest, most direct route.

Where to get my shot was the next question, the bull farm curve between Parwan and Bacchus Marsh is well known amongst rail enthusiasts, and an interesting location, so I thought I'd see if I could get something a bit different there. After walking around and experimenting with a couple of other trains, I settled on an angle that wasn't the usual one, and ended up with a reasonable result.

Almost at its destination, the 17:21 Bacchus Marsh has just passed under the Woolpack Rd. bridge.

After discharging passengers, the train continued on to Maddingley sidings, a short distance out of town.

It was easy to get to the station before the train departed for the above photo, and after grabbing a big bottle of water, I cut back to Tarneit for a shot of N455 at on the 19:12 Warrnambool, and N468 on the 19:16 Waurn Ponds.

The Warnambool is swinging into Tarneit, interestingly the Dandenong Ranges and Newport power station chimney stand out in the background.

Longer shadows as the 19:16 wanders in.

A late dinner, but I'd had a good time, so decided to have another go Tuesday.

I was a little later leaving work, so I headed straight to Bacchus Marsh, and picked a spot I’d scoped out Monday for my shot of the N on the pass.

N474 swings around the bullfarm between Parwan and Bacchus Marsh.

I was getting myself organised at the back of the car when a ute pulled over beside me to see if I needed a hand. After introducing myself, and explaining what I was up to, the person kindly gave me permission to enter his property to get a better angle which was much appreciated! Readers of Newsrail magazine will recognise this as the January 2024 front cover.

After unloading at Bacchus Marsh, the empty train headed to Maddingley stabling yard for the evening.

I then headed out to Maddingley for a photo of the train heading up to the sidings to stable, and also looked at a couple of other options for future reference.

Knowing there was still the same two loco hauled trains on the Geelong line, a friend I was messaging with suggested Little River would be worth a try.

Some more back roads I hadn’t been on for years, it was a pleasant drive, barely any other cars to be seen, and in nice light, it was a super relaxing mini road trip!

Low bright sun is a pain for me on the front of the loco, I’m sure the driver wasn’t happy to be staring into it!

N463 was on the Warnambool, after photographing it, I decided to move locations, and, in the process got some nice shots of an up Vlocity at Cherry Swamp Road crossing.

This Melbourne bound VLocity has just crested the highest point on the Melbourne - Geelong railway between Lara and Little River.

The 19:16 Waurn Ponds was late, with the light almost gone when it came through with N455 up front.

The late running Waurn Ponds

Heading for home through Little River, the light on the standard gauge around the back of the station looked amazing, and there was another Geelong service approaching from the distance, so I took some trailing shots of that which I’m also happy with!

Charging out of Little River into the twilight.

Wednesday was a night off chasing trains, but Thursday the 7th 17:21 Bacchus Marsh was the last scheduled loco hauled, so I managed to con Janelle into a train ride and dinner at 'Stoney's' pub, a short distance from the station.

A lot of people don’t like the Southern Cross station, but I think the design is pretty cool! Passengers are ready to board the last scheduled Bacchus Marsh.

It ended up being an easy run out, with plenty of photos taken by the horde of mainly younger enthusiasts at Southern Cross, and out of the suburbs, a small group chasing in cars to get shots. The train is timetabled to terminate at Melton at 18:02, and displays as such on the screens at Southern Cross, however after a 10 minute pause it sets off again for the 16 minute run to Bacchus Marsh. This gave time for some of the horde to run down the platform and squeeze off a couple of shots before rejoining the train.

Shortly after departing Southern Cross, and every station thereafter, the conductor enthusiastically explained over the PA that it was the last run of the loco hauled train, which was mainly lost on the dozing commuters, and those who were thoroughly engaged in their phones with headphones in.

I wonder what commuters back in the 60s to the Marsh thought of the demise of steam on their trains, they having the last regular steam hauled services from Spencer St?

Most of the passengers have left, but a few enthusiasts are hanging around on the platform at Bacchus Marsh to admire the ‘last’ loco hauled train to the commuter town.

Friday morning I backed up again driving out to get the last up at the bull farm curves.

There was only a couple of other people there, near the over bridge for the ‘standard’ shot inside the curve, but, as usual, I wanted to try something different.

The last regular loco hauled passenger train from Bacchus Marsh to Southern Cross climbs out of the valley, and up towards Woolpack road.

There’s been more since, but with more Vlocities due, they won’t last forever.

There were a few Vlocities to practice on before the N and its train departed at 07:26, so after going for a bit of a walk, and climbing up the side of the road cutting found a spot I can't recall seeing a photo from, which gave a nice hilly backdrop, and a sweeping curve. There was no shadows to speak of due to the extremely overcast day (I almost hadn't bothered driving out there it was that gloomy), but decided it was worth it for what was expected to be the last ever.

Shortly after departure time the familiar chatter of N459's 12 cylinder 645 GM-EMD engine could be heard as the train climbed out of the station, and through the deep cutting as it swung into view.

The climb continues through the gentle S bend up under Woolpack road towards Parwan, so I listened to the sound as it faded out before heading back to my car, and off to work for the day.

There's been a couple of ad-hoc loco hauled operations since, so there's still opportunity to see and hear, or travel on the loco hauled services, but they won't be around much longer.

The January 2024 issue of Newsrail magazine has an article on the last of the Bacchus Marsh loco hauled services with some of my photos in it, as well as the front cover which I'm quite pleased with.

To finish the month off, there was quite a bit of interest in a grain train operated by Southern Shorthaul Railroad from southern NSW to Appleton dock for unloading. The locos on the train were two former Victorian Railways C classes, dating from 1977, and a former NSWGR 49 class built in 1960.

It was great to hear the big Cs, with the 49 piggy in the middle cross the Maribyrnong river bridge, rumble through the Bunbury St. tunnel, and notch up for the climb to Tottenham.

C507 was blowing a bit of smoke, but all three units sounded on song!

C506, 4911 and smoky C507 climb out of the Bunbury St. Tunnel, and under the Williamstown, Sunbury and Regional rail link lines in Footscray on the way from Appleton dock back to NSW for another load of export grain.

I hope you've enjoyed reading about my fun week out chasing trains, and as always, please let me know what you think.