{"id":270224,"date":"2025-08-25T13:36:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T03:36:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=270224"},"modified":"2026-02-10T12:06:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T02:06:24","slug":"enjoying-the-overland-train-plus-interesting-events-on-the-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=270224","title":{"rendered":"Enjoying  the Overland Train plus interesting events on the way"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">I shuffled in Southern Cross station formerly known to me as &#8220;Spencer St. Station and watched out for 0805 hrs train service  &#8221; The Overland&#8221; to Adelaide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">I checked my luggage in for storage in PCO3 to Adelaide. And went to platform 2 to await the docking and couple up of the train.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">It normally arrives from Nth Dynon yard near Pacific National siding\/workshop areas where its normally stored overnight during its brief stay in Melb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Observed at Platform 1 next to 2 which is the only platform at Southern Cross currently has <strong>&#8220;dual gauge&#8221;<\/strong> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The tracks <strong>5 ft,3 inch Broad Vic Gauge <\/strong>with  <em><strong>4ft, 8 1\/2 inch Standard Gauge<\/strong><\/em> <strong><em>NSW,SA and NT <\/em><\/strong>are in use on the flyover.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Many years ago dual gauge served both<strong> BOTH <\/strong>SA and Vic for the passengers trains:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Overland &amp; Daylink <strong>via Ballarat, Ararat etc. <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spirit Of Progress <strong>via Tottenham Yard, Craigieburn etc<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Southern Aurora <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inter capital Daylight<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Twin City Ltd.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Melb Ltd<em> [private co. Tourist train]<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Do note: these former train services interstate are not chronological  order.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">The XPT and Broad and a number  of Standard Gauge Freight train operators still use the line to NSW and around Vic although old Tottenham yard is a shadow of it&#8217;s former self now track siding torn up here and there and the old tower seems to be disused currently now stables a few SSR, PN and ex v\/line loco &amp; freight wagons, some disused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Y class shunter running train movements from the yard in &amp; out of no.1 with VN14 07:17 hrs after Overland shunted in no.2 at 07:07 hrs before the XPT from Sydney arrived<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>I checked in for my seat allocation and 07:30 I was well settled in &#8220;Car D seat 9&#8221; behind the powervan PCO3 and loco NR13<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Observations on route<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em><strong>Departed 08:00hrs on time<\/strong><\/em>, past Melb Yard VN14 and another N set. no. hidden from view<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>08:55 hrs Express way SG route from Newport <\/strong>rough sections present in metropolitan areas toward <strong>Werribee<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>50 &#8211; 55 peg it really shook up the train!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One of main light in the carriage I was riding in the &nbsp; fluro tube&nbsp;blew and went out! \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The vibrations of rough riding conditions of the track&nbsp;must being quite severe on board as it  occurred at 09:14hr before<em><strong> Nth Shore<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ararat <\/strong>the weather was mushy light drizzle\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Murtoa &#8211; Horsham<\/strong> was very brutal on those bogie spring underneath!!! \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Was having lunch on board and meal service and it was shaking up the crew who was going back and forth 1242 hrs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">After Vic\/SA border off Kanvia the riding conditions changed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>It seem the train was not shaking so badly and was not as rough whist moving through the train as we made our way to the Adelaide Hills after Murray Bridge.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-text-align-center is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>A noticeable<strong> &#8220;kick&#8221; <\/strong>was felt toward the left&nbsp;in Adelaide Hill sections whist leaving one of the two tunnels whist approaching Belair Station after 1726 hr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I wondered if it was kink in the rail or something else that caused that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the time it happen were rolling  toward our destination the former Adelaide <strong><em>&#8220;Keswick&#8221; <\/em><\/strong> Terminal or Adelaide<strong> &#8220;Parksland&#8221; <\/strong>Terminal<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>After a short stop over for Fri and Sat night and sampling more the EMU&#8217;s in Adelaide I rode this train all the way home again! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">I enjoyed the same service on the homeward leg, The Matilda Car buffet on this consist was nice surprise as normally it RBJ, but I understand it having it regular maintenance program done on it as it get used quite often!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Observation the riding quality on route<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li> Noticed heard the<strong> &#8220;shuddering&#8221;<\/strong> in the train phyical structure in the carraiges  whist rolling on route to and at odd times during the journey to and foe\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I felt  that not from it the carriages itself as when it heard when it occurring whist rolling on route it was very<strong> localised and short in duration.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As if the issue was from the train it&#8217;s self it the shuddering in the train it self would being <em><strong>constant though out the whole trip. <\/strong><\/em>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For example: The carriage I was riding in was suffering wheel flats, very slight but the banging noise of the wheels will be persistent whist the train was in motion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I wonder if it was the <strong>track conditions<\/strong> that caused it, ie:<strong>&#8220;scolloped rails&#8221;<\/strong>?\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Is it possible potential issue occurring when the hard casing of the rail head is grounded away after a period of time after re profiling the rails?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As eventually when the harden steel layer of the railheads removed could it eventually expose the softer steel to friction and wear?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>I understand due to wear and weight of various trains ie: freight &amp; passenger rail heads may eventually loses it&#8217;s shape in accordance to conical flange <\/strong>of trains<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">The main  fluro light tube of the old carriage I was riding was shaken so badly on route it was blown mid trip, not once BUT twice!!!!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li> as I happened to be rolling past on board Adelaide Metro EMU to Seaford the day after I arrived\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I sighted the empty rack of carriages was stabled at the platform at Adelaide Parksland Terminal <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>At Sun when I was returning back to VIC I noticed after boarding their train.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I  was thinking their maintenance team had fixed it on the day after Friday<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vic leg was rough as on the Ararat Section Vic toward Horsham really shook her up badly.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>this occurred at 15:55hrs when the light blew again!!!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li> Strangely it was the same area as before when travelling from Southern Cross above seat no.9!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>The train was on time and the service exceptional<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>The train may be old and outdated compared to some overseas countries BUT was comfortable and fit for its purpose: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Designed by mechanical rolling stock engineers who climbed the ranks of the railways &amp; manufacturing was overseen by carriage builders of VR&amp;SAR era locally<\/summary>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Designed to cater for  a long distance rail travel &#8220;Interstate&#8221; Rolling stock<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">By some trades that are no longer in widespread use the railways ie: boiler making, carpenters and upholstery ie: stuffing the leather seats with horse hair etc. and few more old trades I  may not have listed used in that era. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">A shadow of its former self with had sleepers, passenger cars, buffet, Club Lounge Car and you could even take your car on it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">I understand there&#8217;s banter from pro VoLcity crowd that a standard gauge VoLcity could be done that route from Melb and extend from Ararat to Horsham within the Vic Border.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>From what I have experienced on route on board top standard rolling stock available on the pecking order at the moment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">I can&#8217;t see it happening at the moment for now, As the states\/AUS is heavily in debt and the current track conditions may not allow its operation without damaging the lighter built for speed modern VLocity rail cars!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">  <strong>it is very long distance &amp; time from Melb 3-4+ hrs for people to spend on board this type of rollingstock as it is not fit for purpose<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em><strong>As it&#8217;s just one up the rolling stock design&#8217;s pecking order<\/strong>:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em> <strong>&#8221; CMU aka Commuter Multiple Unit<\/strong>&#8221;  Metro suburban commuter train  <\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Compared with &#8220;<strong>Inter Urban Multiple Unit<\/strong>&#8220;<\/em> aka VLocity currently used as blanket one size fits all concept!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">The<em> <strong>&#8220;lowest of the low&#8221; <\/strong>to cater to the various boundary conditions required to carrying passengers on board for X amount of time and distance<\/em> via rail <em>which much slower then air travel!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Do you feel our MPs &amp; their PTV or PT Advisors who make decisions on newer trains at the moment on rail user&#8217;s behalf are confusing Rail Travel with Air Travel?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I checked my luggage in for storage in PCO3 to Adelaide. And went to platform 2.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":193645,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,9183,16033],"tags":[265,993,7527,10486,8],"class_list":["post-270224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rail-news","category-rail-travel","category-railway-operations","tag-adelaide","tag-melbourne","tag-south-australia","tag-the-overland","tag-victoria"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270224","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=270224"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270224\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":272723,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270224\/revisions\/272723"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/193645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=270224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=270224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=270224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}