Drivers eye view, Ballarat to Geelong

Travel with the train driver as we travel from Ballarat to Geelong on an empty transfer train in the west of the state of Victoria, Australia. We are transferring a Vlocity set. April 2023
#train #driverseyeview #traindriversview #driversview #vline #vlocity

[@joeswanderings]

Thanks for this video. It is another part of the network that we the public would not ordinarily get to see.

[@driver667]

Very happy to bring it to you and happy to hear you enjoyed it 👍 😊

[@andrewmelbournetransport]

pretty sure the overland goes down through this line doesn’t it?

[@driver667]

@@andrewmelbournetransport only between North Geelong and Gheringhap. 👍😊

[@joeswanderings]

@@andrewmelbournetransport Well spotted. I forgot it went that way. 🤔 I would like to see a regular daily train though.

[@driver667]

@@joeswanderings you never know what the future holds. 👍😀

[@alfsphone]

And yet another great video. Thank you I enjoyed every km.

[@driver667]

You're welcome. I am happy to hear you enjoyed the ride 👍 😀

[@iulian9608]

Great video ! Thanks !👍🤙

[@driver667]

Very happy to hear you enjoyed the ride 👍 😀

[@robinsadedin2238]

If velocity trains are already using the Ballarat Geelong line it would seem common sense to re open it for public use. It would take a lot less to upgrade than say the Mildura and Horsham lines and would allow commuting between our two biggest regional towns. Great video and wish there were more trains on our country network

[@driver667]

There are people pushing for a service across there but I guess we shall see what eventuates in the future. Glad to hear you enjoyed it 👍 😊

[@jonbartels7612]

day trips between geelong, ballarat and bendigo by rail without going through melbourne would interesting.

[@driver667]

@@jonbartels7612 yes it would. Who knows what the future holds 👍😊

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

You travel it on the Overland.

[@jonbartels7612]

@@lizziebkennedy7505 not all the way. I believe that the over land turns west somewhere between Bannockburn and gerringhap.

[@delmon.mp4]

great to see this video!!! it's a line i've been very interested in for a while, especially historically, and it's wonderful to see what it's like travelling on it 💙

[@driver667]

Glad to be able to take you for a ride along the line 😀 👍

[@kevinsharp6323]

Thanks for undertaking this, its a great video. From a kiwi train buff.

[@driver667]

@@kevinsharp6323 thank you. I need to get back over to NZ sometime with my camera. Glad you enjoyed the ride 👍😀

[@dontown-lb5ke]

I traveled all over Australia by rail for 1 month in May 1987. I remember seeing triple-gauge track in Peterborough,SA. I'm a "Train-a-holic" & have traveled over 250,000 km since 1955 mostly here in Canada (51x on "The Canadian") & the UK June 1990. Cheers from Vancouver.

[@southaussiegarbo2054]

Sadly peterborough is almost never used now. And the roseworthy to Peterborough line closed in 1988.... 😔

[@southaussiegarbo2054]

U should return to Australia tho imo

[@driver667]

That certainly sounds like a lot of train travel. You would have seen a lot of interesting places. Train travel is a great way to see the world. 👍😊

[@jed2055]

My brother and partner just returned from a x Canada train journey. they met some folk who had not long before stepped off the Rocky Mountaineer. You been on that one dontown? I've heard its expensive as train trips go.

[@dontown-lb5ke]

@@jed2055 Yes I went both ways Vancouver-Calgary in Gold Class.

[@kspokesphotographyandvideo4190]

Not a sight you see often! Great video!

[@driver667]

Thank you. Very happy to hear you enjoyed it 👍 😊

[@tincanboat]

the tracks are sooo smoooooth. and the land is so clean.

[@driver667]

Happy you liked it, thank you 👍 😊

[@ghostfiregamings6878]

Thanks for the full upload! Absolutely love it! Your content is outstanding! Keep it up!

[@driver667]

Thank you. There will be more full uploads every so often. Glad you enjoyed it 👍 😊

[@kenlittlefield2292]

Thanks for the video it would be more interesting if you read out the various speeds along the track please thank you

[@driver667]

@@kenlittlefield2292 glad you enjoyed it 👍 😊

[@DomQuartuccio]

Enjoyable journey, thanks for posting. Quite unusual to see and hear a V/Lo on that section of track between Warrenheip and North Geelong I imagine, how often are they transferred via this way?

[@driver667]

It does not happen often. Usually only when the tracks are closed in Melbourne. 👍😊

[@driver667]

@Hooly Dooly thanks, glad you enjoyed it 👍 😊

[@AndrewWillox-u5l]

Surely this would be a popular passenger route?

[@driver667]

It gets it's fair share. It also connects with the bus to Mildura at Swan Hill. 👍😊

[@tylertobin]

another great video, not sure if you remember but i got a photo with you at southern cross the other day, absolute honour to meet you!

[@driver667]

Yes, I remember. Nice to meet you 😊 and happy to hear you enjoy the videos 👍😊

[@MrSeebsy]

Love your channel.... When you came into Gelong area on the 'Anakie Loop' over Thompson road crossing....brings back great memories, I worked on the Nat Rail Standard gauge signaling in 1995....When I look at the points on the dual gauged tracks it still blows my mind....

[@driver667]

Thank you. Glad you enjoy the videos. Dual gauge point work can be a little complex for both the track work and the interlocking 👍😊

[@MrAzza22]

Are running train from Ballarat to Geelong

[@driver667]

@@MrAzza22 this was an empty transfer train 😊👍

[@debshipard1664]

Great video. I didn't realise there is a track from Ballarat to Geelong still operational

[@driver667]

It mostly sees freight with some heritage and empty transfers at times. Glad you enjoyed it 👍 😊

[@andrewmelbournetransport]

@@driver667u were doing an empty transfer right?

[@driver667]

@@andrewmelbournetransport correct 👍😊

[@williamwallis1]

I was a signaller in the 70's and this bought back memories, Worked North Geelong A, B and C and all those stations to Ballarat. So many changes. Things were so much busier back then.

[@driver667]

A different world away from today. 👍😀

[@qjtvaddict]

What happened??? Why no longer busy? Busy with people or goods

[@driver667]

@@qjtvaddict it's just a freight route from Ballarat to Geelong now. It does not see many trains. 🤔👍😀

[@mels1811]

Great video

[@driver667]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it 👍 😊

[@garygeorge7035]

another good video. track looks in good condition for the amount of traffic it carries these days. looks as though the crews upgrading the major road level crossings were working from drawings one facing ballarat and one facing geelong as the rail for the 4'8 gauge track is on different sides at crossings.

[@driver667]

Yes, it does look like they didn't coordinate it at all 🤣 glad you enjoyed it 👍 😊

[@FanelParaschiv-g1l]

Superb!

[@driver667]

Very glad you enjoyed it 👍 😊

[@jimcrawford5039]

This is very unusual, is’nt it? Love your vids. Cheers from Wagga.

[@driver667]

It is a rare move for a VLocity. Glad you enjoyed it 👍 😊

[@sarahhenley5126]

I'm going on a holiday to Geelong in like 2 and a half months

[@driver667]

@@sarahhenley5126 great 😀 I hope you have a wonderful holiday and an enjoyable train trip if you travel by train. 👍😀

[@peterfrazer1943]

So many miles of straight track, makes us realise how big a Country Australia is.

[@driver667]

Very big indeed 👍😊

[@jed2055]

Something about watching train journies is quite relaxing for me. Keep 'em comin' Drive667. Any Americans or Brits watching, do you have "Slow TV" on free to air TV? I have watched the Perth to Sydney, Indian Pacific 4,352km about 2,704m journey, and the Ghan, from Adelaide to Darwin both on SBS (one of our broadcasters here). I loved 'em. Each went all day so not all the journey for the IP but the Ghan was complete. Couldn't watch all of course but a fair chunk of both. Ah yes the Brits do have it. I recall watching a slow punt journey on the Kenet and Avon canal. Hard to break away from that also.

[@driver667]

Very happy to hear you enjoyed the ride 👍 😊

[@daniellewilson7374]

Never knew there was a ballarat geelong line i thought it was only coaches

[@driver667]

It is a freight line that is sometimes used to transfer vlocity trains between Ballarat and Geelong. There are no scheduled passenger services across it at this point. 👍😊

[@makenicerhombus]

@@driver667 One day, hopefully we can see passenger services return!!

[@driver667]

@@makenicerhombus you never know what the future holds. 🤔👍😀

[@robprovoice]

Why can’t we have a regular service from Ballarat to Geelong? Lots of people do the road trip but hate the road particularly Dawn and dusk when the Roos are busy. I know several folk who prefer shopping in Geelong to going into Melbourne.

[@driver667]

@@robprovoice I think a service between Ballarat and Geelong would have decent patronage. We will see what the future holds 🤔👍😀

[@BleuJurassic]

very nice video why the three rail system at the end narrow gauge for some reason ?

[@driver667]

The broad gauge (5' 3") is the state system and the narrower standard gauge (4' 8.5") is the interstate system. We are cursed with different gauges in Australia. 👍😊

[@andrewmelbournetransport]

⁠Australia is very confusing

[@driver667]

@@andrewmelbournetransport it's a shame that it wasn't thought out properly in the first place 👍😊

[@ageprevention]

Thanks. Much appreciated 😀

[@driver667]

You're welcome. Glad you enjoyed it 👍 😄

[@petergregory7199]

It’s a bit of whistle with a lot of hoot, it’s a WOOT!

[@driver667]

🤣🤣👍

[@neilforbes416]

24:05 Lal Lal - where where they they talk talk like like that that!! 😄😄

[@driver667]

🤣🤣👍😊

[@top40researcher31]

@neilforbes416 its enought to send a person insane 😀

[@neilforbes416]

@@palamco LOL LOL

[@neilforbes416]

@@palamco We in NSW have our own too, of course. Wagga Wagga, Woy Woy, Kurri Kurri!

[@driver667]

@@neilforbes416 everyone wants to get in on the act!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣👍

[@sj-qn4uy]

hi there ! i played the start of the journey at 0.25 speed and i paused the video at 0:28 , and if you look you will see the track is not set correctly!!, how does the train not derail?? the left track we are on has no gap,the right track we are on is not joined to the furthest right track ! at 0:38 the opposite is again wrong, this time the right track we are on has no gap, but the left track we are on is not joined to the outer left track!!, how does this work please? does the train force the tracks over?? many thanks

[@sj-qn4uy]

i looked on wikipedia and found this about points! "For many types of switch, a train coming from either of the converging directions will pass through the switch regardless of the position of the points, as the vehicle's wheels will force the points to move. Passage through a switch in this direction is known as a trailing-point movement and switches that allow this type of movement are called trailable switches.[1]" so im guessing this is what is happening here! i hope lol

[@driver667]

Those points you refer to in the video are in the yard. They are hand throw points that are held in position either way by a spring. (WSa points) The train can trail through those. 👍😊

[@sj-qn4uy]

@@driver667 Many thanks for the reply, keep these videos coming please, as an ENGLISHMAN on the other side of the world , i love seeing how other countrys run their train systems!!

[@driver667]

@@sj-qn4uy I will keep them coming 👍😊 One day I will get over for a visit to your part of the world also 👍😊

[@MarkyDav]

It's a crying shame there isn't an active passenger service using the line :(

[@driver667]

Maybe one day... who knows. 👍😊

[@chrismcdonnell1695]

What’s with all the speed restrictions after Gerringhap (dual gauge) all the way till joining the up, and also why didnt they run the train direct from North Geelong C Box thru the yard to North Geelong Station. (As I type this I’m wondering if there is no crossover to the down line at N.G. station)

[@driver667]

Trains can run via the yard. The vlocity units would be facing the opposite way to the others when they arrive at Ballarat if they ran via the yard. This would cause problems during servicing. 👍😀

[@robertlannon]

Really nice trip the Ballarat to Geelong one, as a US fan of the Cats I had to watch, one question, why the sand seemingly spilled at the terminal location, or just leakage ?

[@driver667]

During getting the trains ready to head out of the depot for the day, everything is tested including the sanders. This leaves sand on the rail. Over time it builds up in that location. 👍😊

[@brushy1953]

Really enjoyed the video from a drivers perspective, it would be great if this line could be returned for passenger travel. Is part of this line utilized by the Overlander?

[@driver667]

The overland runs on the standard gauge and uses the section from North Geelong to Gheringhap were the broad gauge and standard gauge go in different directions. Glad you enjoyed the ride 👍 😊

[@brushy1953]

Thanks

[@driver667]

@@brushy1953 👍

[@samshublom8761]

Are the switches (points) at 0:30 and 0:38 spring switches, or "flop overs" as we call them in the midwest US? It looks like they were lined against you in trailing point movement.

[@driver667]

Yes, they are 'WSa' points. Hand points in the yard that are held by a spring in whatever direction you put them to and will throw over with the passage of the trains wheels. 👍😊

[@samshublom8761]

@@driver667 We have similar points in some of the yards on the railway where I work in the US. However, the management's policy is that we are not allowed to run through them and we are supposed to stop and line the route by hand. If you run through one and flop it over, they make a big deal about it. I never have had the reason why adequately explained to me.

[@driver667]

@@samshublom8761 we can run through them but some of the freight companies here have told their drivers to line them by hand. I want to get back over to the states one day and get some video from over there. 👍😊

[@gregthompson3274]

I wonder if any of the locals along this line got excited seeing a Velocity passenger train passing through their midst instead of the usual freight,would Geelong being a port have helped this line to survive

[@driver667]

There were a number of locals out watching the train run past. 👍 A fair bit of broad gauge grain runs down to Geelong via this line so it could be fair to say that helped keep it open. 👍 😊

[@alanoliver535]

Not many sighnals or pulse checks on this line do they communicate by radio.

[@driver667]

Yes, communication is by radio as there is virtually no signalling or manned stations across here.

[@andrewmelbournetransport]

@@driver667thats very interesting

[@driver667]

@@andrewmelbournetransport 👍😊

[@prakat1082]

Funny . Track crossing points are the other way but still the train cross ahead at 0.32 and 0.40 seconds.

[@driver667]

They are hand throw points in the yard. The train can drive through those and they will change as the wheel pushes the point blades across 👍😊

[@PhucMi1]

Do Vline drivers receive route knowledge training on this route, since they dont normally drive on it

[@driver667]

Yes, there are a handful of us that are qualified to run across here. We run heritage trains across this line as well as other freight lines. 👍😀

[@PhucMi1]

@@driver667 woah cool. i wanna be train driver but im only 15 :(

[@driver667]

@@PhucMi1 study at school, get good grades and in a few years, apply to vline for a trainee driver position. Sounds like a good plan. 👍😀

[@PhucMi1]

@@driver667 sure will, tho i am in sydney so it will be sydney trains

[@driver667]

@@PhucMi1 good luck. I hope it works out for you. 👍😀

[@ghostfiregamings6878]

Any chance of some videos from Warrnambool to Geelong/Melbourne?

[@driver667]

Yes, I will be getting down there to video that line. It will be along in the future 👍 😊

[@ghostfiregamings6878]

@@driver667 awesome! Cannot wait! Thanks so much! The videos are amazing! 🙂

[@driver667]

@@ghostfiregamings6878 thank you 😊 👍

[@hamzairfan-ej2wb]

was this the first way ballarat was connected to melbourne via geelong

[@driver667]

Ballarat was first connected via Geelong in 1862. The connection via Bacchus Marsh was completed around 1889. 👍😊

[@afs5609]

Is this section of broad gauge line still classified main or branch line status, & what is the max speed 80 or 100 KPH?

[@driver667]

It is 80kph and still classified as a primary corridor, (main line)

[@andrewmelbournetransport]

maybe in future if i ever get a job with V-line i might start uploading this type of content Maybe Warnambool to Melbourne via Ballarat that would be a nice long video

[@driver667]

Sounds like a plan 👍😊

[@cozofcat9170]

Why is it going back the way it just come from,when it hasn’t reached Geelong

[@driver667]

@@cozofcat9170 if it went straight into Geelong, it would be facing the wrong way compared to all the other units. This causes problems in the maintenance sheds. 👍😀

[@RichardFelstead1949]

How long did it take to upload this video to You Tube?

[@driver667]

Around 11 hours to upload. About 10 hours to render it to a usable video before hand and 3 or 4 hours to edit to start with. The long ones are a journey, pnewwwww. 🫣😀👍

[@andrewmelbournetransport]

@@driver667so this took 25h to upload?

[@driver667]

@@andrewmelbournetransport 11 to upload but about 25 from start to finish including everything involved. 👍😊

[@nealc.6927]

00:28 Are those Sprung Points that they're allowed to be set against you? And again at 00:38 . . . ?

[@driver667]

Yes, they are spring points that will throw over when a train trails through them. 👍😊

[@matthewhaywood7411]

​Driver667 I was wondering about that looking at the Geelong end of warrenheip loop, I was thinking to myself those points don't link quite right

[@driver667]

@@matthewhaywood7411 trailable points. Warrenheip loop has them at both ends. 👍😊

[@JoshTheGamerOfficial]

Is that you at 1 hour and 43 min?

[@driver667]

Yes it is. 👍😊

[@gregorygherkins1884]

If this was a passenger service would it be viable?

[@Detrabot]

I think this was a passenger route once but now it isn’t. In my opinion there should be a service to ballarat or Marlborough via geelong.

[@driver667]

I think it would be worthwhile but I guess that is for the people further up the line from me to work out. 👍😊

[@mitchul]

It's been a point of discussion in Geelong for a while.

[@joeswanderings]

All those who vote for a passenger service, raise your hand. 🤚

[@driver667]

@@joeswanderings 👋

[@frankfreeman1444]

They could have at least set the switch at 0:38 correctly!

[@driver667]

🤣🤣 we can't have everything set perfectly 🤣🤣👍😊

[@unknown-ho3kt]

What is the longest route V/line does?

[@PaulNoake]

Traralgon line

[@therealsammyvee888]

I would think either to Albury or Warrnambool, but not sure.

[@emdB67]

@@PaulNoake what about Albury and Swan Hill? Further if we include road services.

[@driver667]

Swan Hill is the longest 👍😊

[@therealsammyvee888]

@@driver667 Yeah that makes sense, I just remembered Swan Hill after posting the other comment.

[@jonbartels7612]

I thought you would of gone straight to geelong station instead of going the route that you did.

[@driver667]

If we went straight in via North Geelong yard, the vlocity would have been the wrong way around compared to all the other vlocity railcars 👍😊

[@lextaylor5661]

Yeah I was wondering why they went all the way to Corio before turning around. Surely there would have been a closer place to do it... 🤔

[@driver667]

@@lextaylor5661 there is if you only have 3 cars but this was 6 cars. You need to exit the train to change ends so you need a platform. The first platform that the rules allow change of direction is corio. 👍😊

[@RobynWard-p4s]

let me drive

[@driver667]

Lol, you're in the drivers seat already 😀👍

[@Darrenraitt]

The rail infrastructure doesn't look great I would say that is one of the reasons it's not viable

[@driver667]

The track is actually not to bad. The stations would need platforms built from scratch. The track speed is 80kph and rides well at that speed. Time will tell if a service is to be provided across here. Thanks for watching 👍 😊

[@IMFKNLAGGINGGGGG]

@driver667 I have a question wondering if you can help me I've been doing my research for a while now and been studying on becoming a vline train driver and I just wanted to ask do vline prefer older more experienced people like in the workforce or younger people say fresh out of high school Tafe or Uni and would you need a prior certificate in train driving before you apply or do they train you to obtain the certificate (very determined to drive trains)

[@driver667]

There is no preference for age or any experience in the rail industry. Just apply. There is a lot of competition to get a position but just give it your best shot. 👍😄