I arrived Southern Cross Wed 22/10 weather was poor, it was starting drizzle, sky looked very menacing and cloud patterns show signs unstable conditions with wind squalls.

information gathered was the train left from 3 B and VN17 and N460 was leading 07:39 Swan Hil down.

I was happy to see N460 after its undignified failure at the platform the I last rode her!

• When the train shunted in it was VN17 she has being out shopped recently
• I listened to the loco she sound better on Idle without HEP active not so rough between moving parts some spiking of frequencies from within not very obvious intermittent.
• The shunter hooked her up and activated the HEP it the intermittent spike were a little bit more noticeable.

After safety checks PA for board call was made I shuffled on board BZN252

I observed a few interesting things on route as I often peering out the window whist munching packed breakfast.

1. I peeing out the window when 07:44 electrical spike noticed in fluro tubes of train whist on the flyovers sections
2. 07:52 Quad header PN SG freight seen off Footscray heading toward Dyon yard?
3. I saw the rain cloud developing and the wind was strengthening outside whist rolling along and I saw the rain on the windows it was that light rain which was wind driven and I dozed off and woke near Kyneton and cold change has move in and was taking affect.

This in my opinion, seemed the perfect weather conditions for the driver to work N460 through her paces!

As light rain make the rails a bit greasy at times in more hilly leafy areas of the route as understand some the route after Kyneton toward Castlemaine has trees, wattle trees etc flanking the railway corridor on route!

Arrived to Bendigo 10:00 slightly late drinks and peered out my window watching the country sides and townships wizz by one the joys of train travel as you can’t do that driving a car!

Mmm my train needs a rubella shot as my window got black measles!!!

It was cleaner before beside the muck from the rain and I notice suddenly black sticky spotting streaks on the carriage windows.

I always like to see things like that with little humour, a life can be very dull without seeing things from the funny side.

I shuffled off the buffet for some drinks and strong black coffee for morning tea!

1. BRN door played up…..It was sticking it there was lag opening , which from my experience if it doesn’t open after 2 attempts at pushing the button one has no choice but give a tug or shove and us it like older carriages that don’t have self opening and closing operated doors.
   • After a little tug the sticking communication door started operating properly again until those carriage builders get at her
2. As BZN252 is one the rare carriages still currently in service with hand operated open/ close sliding doors for communication doors majority are hand operated.
3. Later on saw at 330 pegs toward Lake Boga a v/line 4WD and workers standing by the trackside

Arrived at Swan Hill 12:32

Whist standing on the platform whist waiting for crew to prep the train and rest of passenger caught their bus transfer to Robinvale and Mildura. There was good crowd getting off the station.

• For some odd reason I noticed extra V/Line staff around, the last I saw this happen was at 1st Oct with N452
  • 2 conductors getting off, they will return with the early morning’s sleepy eye Swan Hill Service that tabled with the train service later that arrived late that night
  • 2 conductors getting on Swan Hill one hope off for Conductor change at Bendigo
  • 2 drivers one who got on Bendigo that took the train to Swan Hill getting off and the driver rostered to take the service back to Bendigo from Swan Hill
  • Plaform staff x2
  • Now this one staff stood out he had lighter blue greyish shirt compared the others with wore darker blue or navy shirts white V/line embodied on his shirt and navy slacks and hi vis vest like the driver and station staff
  • this staff stood around the locomotive and the drivers and conversing mainly with the drivers and crew when I saw this person.
    • I wonder if he was a locomotive inspector or Railway Train Investigator?

Train pulls out on time the wind strength was currently approx 20-25kts min at Swan Hill.

I could see the trees swaying in motion and the big pole and antenna on the platform swaying slightly and clouds were moving fast from W to E as my train pointed in S direction.

The trip very relaxing and laid back I notice toward Dingee while outside the wind had pick up in strength and clouds were rolling in, more rain and wind was coming for the evening

• noticed the temperamental BRN communication door was isolated by crew on the return trip.
• Raywood we pull out on time well were rolling nicely on route after Eaglehawk after the cross out of town until….

I smelt a hot greasy smell & train came abrupt halt mid section.

It was not normal and realised a “Emergency Braking” application has taken place!

PA annoucment was made at 15:59 advised there was a obstruction on the track

the driver was going see if he could move it…..

16:00 we lost light & power in whole train for moment, a clicking sound was heard at time!

OYE,LIGHTS OUT!

It was not normal for train to lose power without warning after doing heavy braking unless the train ran over something and damaged something underneath…

In this case we didn’t run over the tree as the train was slowing down for the Rail crossings further down past the area where the tree fell on the tracks on the way to Bendigo.

1. The crew quickly reset something and restore the lights & power in the carriages
   • When one hears the “click” it sounded as though electrical circuit tripped cutting power in the carriages.
   • Before departure from Swan Hill I heard very faintly metal on metal rubbing in AG in BRN whist AG active, was the AG moving parts underneath in need of lubricant or readjusting in it?
2. Since the train was stopped abruptly due to obstruction on the tracks I wonder if the electrical connections somewhere got shaken loose in the proccess?
3. 16:03 PA come out to advise passengers that the tree blocking the track was too big for driver to remove so now waiting on chainsaws 10 Min wait
4. 16:28 tree was removed we rolled on shortly and we past the way and works workers ie: V/Line 4WD the workers standing next the big tree now in several pieces by the rail corridor!

V/Line put out their advice on the website 16:10

The 13:Swan Hill-Souther Cross is delayed by 30 min Track Obstruction

But this didn’t hit X until 16:28 after we got the go ahead from the rail fetters on V/Line Bendigo X

By chance there was dirt road next and along the line where their track workers could drive their 4WD and access to the fallen tree blocking the tracks blocking the train’s path quickly!

As the train’s location was not far from the Bendigo Railway Workshop and Bendigo Station so I gather the driver radio call for their assistance getting the work order out to the dept responsible to the clear tracks.

As the waiting period maybe shorter than a train problems located near Swan Hill

Arrived at Bendigo 16:32 where lots people was waiting to board but as we pulled out 16:35 another electrical spike!

While rolling out the station I notice N452 in the sheltered siding off the mainline with a red flag on the front coupler!

I can see they are doing something to it…..

Are they fixing it or are they rebranding it so SSR [Southern Short haul Railways] can use it at Tottenham Yard for Vic Freight service where most V/Line Locomotive has being allocated since the management, replaced all Warrnambool and Gippsland loco hauls with those VLocity rail cars?

Peak hour has commenced school bag’s special was amongst the workers who boarded at Bendigo!

• The train is was late and that stuffed up the timetable and at that time we should of being at Castlemaine pulling out.
• Euchca VLocity passed us at Kangaroo Flat

It seems that the emergency brake application for that tree across the track put flats spot on every carriage!!!

Now it not rolling but clunking along!

This is very same happened a train I rode last year when we went over a big Kangaroo to Colac!

Not only, the heavy braking or “dumping the air” gave every carriage wheel flats when the driver of our train did this for Kangroo on the track but it too buggered up the main brake reservoir and brake pipe on the locomotive and render the train not fit to carry passengers!

• Driver was really putting her through her pace as we were over 30 min behind and other services was impacted by the Obstruction that held up our train ETA was at advised 18:50 at Southern Cross.
  • The train electrical current spiked again at Diggers Rest and more frequent intervals toward the homeward leg to ground zero Southern Cross
• Swan Hill UP 13:35 advised 18:50 at Southern Cross. t
• Notifications flashed the train services were severely being impacted all up and down services were terminated at Bendigo both directions Euchca and Epsom
• 18:37 Kelior Plains the down Swan Hill 18: 08 service was seen rolling past

Pulled in 19:02 in Southern Cross and saw VN10 sitting in the yard.

Conclusion:

The train rolled well but did the rough riding conditions has undo all the work that was done in fixing N460?

• About the quality control of the work carried out on it as it seem to the very show similar symptoms earlier before Castlemaine some electrical connection working loose somewhere within either loco or the train or both question remains: was it repaired properly or was it patch up job?
• Did the odd riding conditions play a role of undoing the work that was carried out?
• Do you think the wet,windy weather might of being the right working condition and testing conditions for N460 for experienced personnel to diagnoses emerging issues and give advise how to rectify it?

for if my guess is correct and one the people I saw IS a train Investigation Engineer or Locomotive Inspector

In the thick of the action on board I think he/she collected enough data and a good footprint from the Loco N460 working in most trying track and weather conditions on the route on the system whist riding the cab with the driver!

In doing so he/she in their role would advise and discuss what went wrong and how to rectify it to the managers and workers carrying out the work on them.

When the “quality control” of the work is thorough and the locos and trains can handle these poor weather conditions with little issues then with milder conditions it would be just stroll in the park!