The last dinosaur

Following the withdrawal of loco hauled services on the Warrnambool, Bacchus Marsh,  and Bairnsdale corridors over the last year, (See my post here) the Swan Hill line is now the only line in Victoria where the N classes still haul 'classic' passenger trains.

The 340 km trip is serviced with two trains a day in each direction, supplemented by road coach (busses) connecting with trains at Bendigo.

I was heading to Bendigo on Thursday 27 November, so took the opportunity to get a handful of shots of both the down train - 7:39 out of Southern Cross, or Spencer St. in old money, and the up train - 6:54 departure from Swan Hill.

I stopped at Elphinstone, the northern end of the Taradale crossing loop to see if there was a potential to get a shot of the up Echuca Vlocity and down loco hauled crossing there. It was a long shot, but if you don't try, you won't know.

Framed by the old Calder Highway overpass, the up Echuca Vlocity passes through Elphinstone.

I went to the Old Calder Highway overpass and climbed a convenient pile of dirt to catch the Echuca as it roared through the closed station on the main, or west line, formerly the down line in double track days, with no sign of the N class creeping up to the home signal.

This gave me the opportunity to move locations back to the station, and set myself up leaning over the fence to capture a portion of the derelict station, and brick goods shed.

I only had a couple of minutes to wait before the throaty GM could be heard, then a blast of the horn as the train hauled by N 458 came around the corner.

The abandoned up side station building on the cut back platform is beyond tired as it bears witness to N 458 and its train rushing past.

After watching it disappear towards the Elphinstone tunnel, and Castlemaine, I hoped back in the car, and onto the freeway.

While the railway swings west to Castlemaine, the freeway cuts a straighter path to Harcourt, where the two meet up again.

This gave me time to get to Porcupine Hill, the summit of one of the two climbs between Castlemaine and Bendigo. The cutting is dug out of granite, Harcourt being a notable source for this stone, with large quarries in the area.

From here, the line drops down into the Bullock Creek valley, and Ravenswood loop before the last climb to Big Hill, and descending into Bendigo.

I actually had more time to spare than I thought, so was able to scope up a shot for the down, before thinking about what I wanted for the up. It was cloudy, actually raining a bit on and off so harsh shadows weren't a problem.

It's a long straight to the top of the hill for down trains, so went for a head on shot, before moving to the old highway bridge for the train starting to dip and curve. The points for the loop are less than a km from here, and as the train was being put into the loop to allow the up to have a clear run, was starting to slow for the 65kmh diverge.

Cresting the grade at Porcupine Hill. Having grown up with the line as double track, it still looks somewhat wrong to my eye with only one track.

Past the home signal for Ravenswood Loop, the train is starting to slow to take the diverge.

Another smooth cross had N452 come through under the old highway bridge and continue on the way south, while I walked back to the car to continue my journey.

163 years of exhaust smoke has stained the Porcupine Hill bridge, which at one time carried the Calder Highway. It sees little road traffic these days, but the Main Line is busier now than ever.

One of the many rumours doing the rounds concerning this last loco hauled corridor is that by mid next year the Ns will be confined to the Bendigo to Swan Hill section. Time will tell if it’s true or not, but the end will inevitably come, so I'll be making some more outings to catch more shots of trains operating on the 'Main Line'

Regards,

Scott