After engine problems the previous night, train 72 was combined with wagons left at
Boco and ended up with 4 locos. Shown here at the "Old" Goodwood siding, 13:14
DQs 2002 and 2009 hauled train 71 to Primrose earlier this morning, and DQs 2010 and 2008
travelled light engine to Boco, where this train was made up. Here at 31km, with Valentines Peak in the low clouds. 13:50
The usual train consist is 2 DQs, 1 QR and 18 X wagons. Shown here at
Highclere Road, 14:09. Arrival in Burnie was at 14:51
7th Aug 2003 Rare to see the full 12 wagon rake of ballast wagons on the Melba line. These pictures were taken at the 33.5 km marker.
Among the pine trees
To view a video of this train CLICK HERE|
DQs are back on the Melba line. Their most recent appearances had been to take train
loads of rails to Rosebery for shipment on to the ABT railway at Queenstown. At Moory Junction, 29th Jan
2002, DQ2009 and QR2062 hauling DQ 2007 and empty X and log wagons have just reached the highest point on the line.
Crossing the Stitt River bridge at Rosebery.
After leaving the empty trucks at Rosebery station, the engines continued through to Melba,
to check clearances on this section, especially through the Argent tunnel. Here we see 2009
passing under the Murchison highway about 2 km north of the tunnel, the first time the GMs have ventured here.
Here the engines are arriving back at Rosebery. The logs,
trucked in from Strahan, are destined for Boyer and Scottsdale.
This road overbridge is at the northern end of Rosebery yard.
The X wagons were then pushed over to Primrose where they were loaded. This scene of GMs
in the loading area will soon become the norm once all the X wagons are converted to air brakes.
Primrose, 29th January 2002. The southern leg of the wye has been partly lifted, and the points frog removed.
This section of the wye is not used in every day operations but the points have now been replaced.
The track has been removed and these bogies left behind due to a recent derailment
The DQs are digging in as the train starts on the Boco hill. The load is
2 X wagons and 17 of logs.
26 minutes and 9 km further on, the train arrives at Boco siding.
At Moory Junction, 68.5km
The points at Moory have also been straightlined, this spur line was also
used by the last Don River excursion to cross train 72, the Primrose ore train.
Coming up to Goodwood siding at North Bunkers Road.
The log trains are expected to run 2 or 3 times a week, using the engines off train
36. On this day because of the extra time taken
in running to Melba and filling the X wagons, the engines were late back into Burnie.
After servicing, the engines took a very late No. 35 on to Hobart.
Todays run would have been the first "Mixed Goods" on the Melba line for quite a few years
Back in Burnie, a close up of the load sensor on X68
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MELBA LINE 10th August 2003
Wagons with the plough following
MELBA LINE 29th January 2002
