10/12 N12 the 4 car set to was rostered for Swan Hill.The loco heading the train N453 was late on coupling up due to issues getting 3B.
I shuffled in sat at 3B and watch the train action before the train was due to shunting in making the Swan Hill 07:39 for the day and watched some interesting things beforehand.
- 06:54 I turned around and saw N453 moving light engine to platform 6A
- Then the locomotive went behind the grey Building, where, drivers, crew etc. sign in
- It sat in siding near by beside the Sprinters rail cars which I understand was most recently retired from us ie: Seymour and Stony Point line
- 07:04 N458 leading shunts in with the N12 the 4 cars set to 3B empty cars from the yard
- N453 was late to couple up to the train
- After safety checks was done we were boarded promptly and I settled in BZN265 the one with metal rivets on the rolling stock outline.
- 07:40 electrical fluctuation observed in fluro tubes in carriage lights
We departed promptly as soon people were settled the in the carriages
I had my breakfast and had to dozed off a bit and was woken up abruptly by severe bump before Gisborne as on area I seated was nearly directly over bogies the carriage!
I felt the train jerking, back and forth it on whist rolling along and was bought to stand still shorty after
09:04 PA on board advised “A Safety Inspection of the train will advise when more info come out.
From the window I saw the marker 77 pegs we were located before Woodend
- 09:17 I saw from the window two V/Line staff walk next the carriage stop and bend down and looked at the bogie of the carriage and walked back the locomotive.
- the train suffering brake issues?
- At 09:43 from the window I saw the two V/Line staff with big shifters in hand heading to adjust the brake rigging on the carriage bogie on BZN265 after had train passed through.
I wonder if they were adjusting the brake travel with the slack adjuster on it or did something shake loose from it after that bump before Gisborne?
At 10:09 advice on V/Line website came out.
Live Disruptions
Service Delay – Bendigo line
07:39 Southern Cross – Swan hill service is delayed by 35 minutes due to a train fault. We are sorry for the delay in your journey. [09:25 10/12]
- Was cleared to proceed to Woodend onward at 09:52
- PA on board advised the Brakes rectified.
- I was aware that BZN265 brakes were fixed by adjustments made on site on the rail corridor
- Train Control would be aware as part of the chain of command to say ya or nay to this.
- Arrived Kyneton late 10:14 and saw with VN14 on the up and returning service from Swan Hill. and we were cleared to proceed beyond Bendigo.
- 11:02 arrived at Bendigo eta Swan Hill 13:30
Rolled onward, I can say we totally lost our path!!!
245 pegs the train slows down nearly stopping briefly & driver was blasting the horn of the locomotive!
It sounded at least 3 times!!!
PA sounds again advising live stock on the rail corridor!
I understand the driver is trained to take evasive action to avoid hitting them. As I understand in total darkness this might be tricky.
PA & crew advised problem with braking system of the train as we pulled in Swan Hill 13:43
- After quick run round and couple up at 14:07 I was on board again for the homeward leg.
- after good smooth run to Bendigo we were at least 44 Min behind N12 was fairly empty on the return
- as I guess being so late the peak hr students and workers at Bendigo went for another service as 16:01 is the normal scheduled time for N12’s arrival!
- 18:32 BZN 265 scraps Albion’s platform again passing through and there goes the paintwork, that will shine up those rivets again! What a rotten noise!!!
- Missed seeing the evening service……by seeing VN17 & 10 in the yard…..VN14 is missing again before arriving at 18:58 that day back at Southern Cross
Conclusion:
The knock effect on the service was bad we lost our path and delayed other services that morning due the fact we stopped mid route to address a issue with the brakes.
- In VR days Before cost cutting and outsourcing to other transport company via tender or contracted to maintain the trains.
- The running gear repairer who once worked under the supervision of train examiner would of picked up the emerging issues beforehand as part of their preventive maintenance program.
I would never thought I would see this in board daylight where the driver had to actually get out and rectify something on the brakes on the train in the middle of the rail corridor!
Much rain around over spring probably caused the mud holes.
Are there regular maintenance cycles on the Bendigo Line?
Hi Micheal,
From what I understand and observed I understand Metro does maintenance as well as v/Line on the rail corridor…..how often I don’t know but some more versed with way and works Dept of track works might be able to give their input as well if they reading this too….
From what I understand the weather being a bit mushy in the Spring perviously on top of areas near Digger Rest is having extensive rail work currently in progress whist at it with crossing removals etc?
I guess that could be contributing factors as well as the mushy weather perviously with the rough riding conditions and mudholes!
before Cup Day Nov this year I recall they had serious of storm rattling through the state when I did the sleepy eyed special that period when the weather was poor!
I understand V/Line want to put VoLcity/ Loco to Swan Hill but that can messy for train service as it not clean service if they do, as the people will have make a connection mid route at Bendigo for the loco hauls!!!
I done this way once as ran into this operational experiment by accident on my rides from Southern Cross a VLocity and Loco Haul to Swan Hill one way on 8/15/25,the dwell time killed it!!!
VLocity arrived Bendigo on time 09:57 and the time it took for staff and crew to transfer the passengers and getting their luggage on board after setting up the Loco haul for it’s run it was 10:13 departing from Bendigo as we had late few train ahead going to Southern Cross it arrived late by 1/2 hr 13:01 and this was the weekend timetable!
I don’t know this will work with a weekday time table…..tba for now!
Great update thanks.
Hi Sydney Toff,
No problem….Hope you had good rest during festive season
Several cancellations of V/Line services today nothing seems to go right. One is particular to Ararat would have left many stranded.
Why are there so many cancellations?
It seem to me that those steep grades after Bacchus Mash and grease rails before Ballarat, plus those unwelded track join are messing up the VLocity rail cars…..as they go faster then the older classic fleet…..and they were design for shorter 1-2 hr routes to terminating stations, not places like Ararat or Warrnambool etc!
Animals strikes mess them up and it look there’s rolling stock shortage due to the backlog of trains out of action as from checking out the big Melb yard it bad news on weekday to see so many VLocity in the yard not being used…..I can understand weekends less trains and longer durations between services but weekdays?
I seen few trains being taken out service before leaving out of the stations before scheduled run….I can understand refuelling and maintenance but abruptly before the time it’s due to depart with passengers on board?
Like last week I saw Standard Gauge VLocity being taken out the platform before departure with crowd of passenger waiting to board and shortly another VLocity takes it board the passenger promptly and got her out of Platform 1 pronto!