The Very Last Passenger Train to Sea Lake in Victoria - R707 Operations.

[@patrickbryant5224]

Great video Brenden. It's a pity that some of the negative more recent commentators didn't bother to look at when it was made before commenting about whether this was the last passenger train or not. These country towns are great pockets of Australian history and it's good to see them preserved in this type of video.

[@Schony747]

Well it was the last passenger train when filmed anyway. The retention of the broad gauge while not totally unexpected wasn't officially announced at the time the train ran either

[@kellyswoodyard]

I fired on T413, once, when I was relieving at Wodonga. Got sent there quite often, never enough firemen there to run the standard gauge. We took the old T up to Cudgewa and back. It is the only T that was fitted with dynamic braking. It came from the cement works at Fyansford, near Geelong. You were glad of the dynamic, coming back from Cudgewa, it got your full attention, that bit of track. Pity it wasn't kept open, for a heritage line.

[@Schony747]

I've seen so many photos of tours on that line. Like so many other lines, this would have made a great heritage line. Bright and Mansfield is another one.

[@robbruggink8937]

Great Footage again , Thank You..Rob

[@Schony747]

Thanks again 😃😃

[@RailwaysOfDoom]

Great chase and great seeing you *again*

[@Schony747]

Likewise Lachie. You photos were great.

[@Muggar62]

Would have been sad if there were no passengers on the train. Good to see people out and about . . .

[@Schony747]

The train was pretty well sold out for this tour.

[@Muggar62]

@@Schony747 Loyalty :)

[@aussiejeff8391]

Pity you did not record at the point on the hwy where train leaves station and turns onto Calder, magnificent sight.

[@Schony747]

Can't film everything. In one of my other videos I have the SSR Grain leaving the highway turning left into the station.

[@Muggar62]

That was awesome . . .

[@lachlantrainvideos]

Awesome shots. Great video 👍

[@Schony747]

Thanks. I enjoyed putting this one together.

[@smitajky]

Most other lines that are converted to Standard Gauge are closed shortly thereafter so it looks as if Sea Lake is doomed now.

[@Schony747]

Sea Lake like all other lines will survive as these lines are important for grain traffic. They won't see regular use but will survive none the less.

[@bushranger51]

It won't be "doomed" so to speak, there will be trains still going to Sea Lake, Manangatang, Robinvale and all along the North Western lines, just as soon as the line is converted to SG. It just means that any heritage trains which still are BG won't be able to run on these lines ever again, unless Steamrail Victoria or R707 Operations wish to convert all their heritage rolling stock to run SG. I know I'm going to get caned over this, but there hasn't been enough public outcry from the towns along the route from Maryborough to Mildura to warrant Spring Street ordering V/Line to convert more passenger rolling stock to SG, to service these communities, don't forget that the further out from Melbourne, the deafer they become. After all it did take V/Line a couple of years to put passenger services to Albury back, after the North-East Line was converted.

[@lachlantrainvideos]

bushranger51 ah the Robinvale line is booked out beyond manangatang.

[@darylcheshire]

Pity about the Kulwin line, but if it was underused...? Sometimes it's the chicken or the egg, was the Kulwin line starved of maintenance to discourage it's use or did the actual need fade away. I recall reading about the Cudgewa line which was the biggest sheep freight centre and towards the end, farmers complained about not being able to order sheep wagons under two weeks. Apparently they went by road and then the VR said the line is underused.

[@ceebee23]

sounds so typical... you do wonder what games were/are played ...

[@robbruggink8937]

Great footage but I am disturbed the 707 Operation failed to display a Tail Disc on the rear.

[@Schony747]

Thanks Rob. I didn't notice the tail disc missing either.

[@ianbutler5036]

Love Sea Lake and the Mallee I went there many times camping at Green Lake and travelled through there for years working on a farm in Euston etc. I remember giving way to trains in Wycheproof I found it fascinating. In my younger years I started out as a signalman and became friendly with Neville Gee. Thanks for recording I'm glad someone did. By the way who was the crew.?

[@Schony747]

I don't know many crew. I always enjoy a visit to the Mallee.

[@callumbinyon723]

Wow. Amazing Chase. My Nan used to live right opposite the railway line in railway ave. Many memories visiting her and chasing the granies. Any grain trains seen on the way also?

[@Schony747]

No grain trains on the way to Sea Lake. On the way home I went across to the Robinvale Branch and saw PN loading at Boort.

[@robbruggink8937]

This Line is not yet closed to BG services. There is still a possibility for more Heritage Services to run....Rob

[@Schony747]

The line closes on April / May 2018 so there won't be anymore BG heritage trains.

[@gusbennett6562]

I heard about this and I wanted to go but couldn't find it! Looks good though!

[@Schony747]

By all accounts it was a great trip. R707 operations has their facebook page for any updates.

[@gashy1000]

great footage, of the train as well as terrific countryside, well done.

[@Schony747]

Thanks. 680km round trip but I enjoyed ther drive and putting this together.

[@gashy1000]

I see in the comments below, the train was running at 80 kph most of the time, she even seemed to by sailing along, right to Sea Lake, looked to be riding reasonably smoothly, also. Cheers.

[@kristiebeals3]

3:47 is that a EMD GP9 and a EMD CF7 behind it?

[@nickrowe7451]

Mechanically yes! Both are Victorian railways T classes (H5 is part of the H class, a sort of subclass) both have EMD components with H5 having a 645 and T413 sporting a 567

[@raymondwelsh6028]

One of the main differences between t an h class apart from larger engine for the H class, was that the were ballasted up to give a much higher axel load for grain work. Also different controls for extra slow yard hump work. Each was only about 1000 hp, 8 cylinder.🇦🇺

[@WayneKline]

Excellent video, well done 👍

[@Schony747]

Thankyou. As we all now know, it wasn't the last and won't be either now the line isn't being converted to SG.

[@jessesands4099]

I remember receiving a pamphlet about this tour would have fantastic to go on but wasn't cheap if I remember rightly!🙂🚆🚇🚞🛤️🌾🌾🌾

[@Schony747]

Yeah I really enjoyed the chase that day as well

[@iiigraghu]

Excellent Presentation

[@Schony747]

Thanks. Ad we all know now, it wasn't the last as the upgrade is taking so long!

[@paulcartlidge751]

Great filming , bet you had to motor a bit to get ahead of it

[@Schony747]

It was a 80km per hour runner in most parts so it wasn't hard to keep up with the train. This was a fairly easy chase.

[@pvda64]

Last Broad Gauge Passenger Train, you never know what might happen when the Standard Gauge upgrade is completed.

[@Schony747]

Yeah I know you never know. In the short term I can't see it happening but with about half the state probsbly SG after completion, there maybe a case for SG rolling stock.

[@stephenhunter70]

Seymour has some passenger cars on standard gauge too

[@patrickbryant5224]

@@stephenhunter70 plus diesel locomotive S303 has now been converted. We await developments with bated breath. :)

[@robbruggink8937]

I hold back when I hear this terminology used, ie. Last Train. Sometimes DERMPAV have a plan to Run before closures.

[@Schony747]

R707 are running another tour as the shutdown is running late so sometimes plans change and this is a great opportunity and will be the last as the line closes in the next 5 weeks.

[@robbruggink8937]

@@Schony747 Still open now......

[@moistie]

Was this a communal effort for the footage or were you hooning down the Calder highway to get in front of the train at a bunch of level crossings?

[@Schony747]

80 km per hour runner so a very easy drive compared to some tours. One thing I won't do is take unnecessary risks for the sake of a train. I get your point though as I see some pretty ordinary driving and risk taking out there.

[@robbruggink8937]

Please tell us All, your Prediction on, What to Expect, When it becomes Standard Gauge and a Whole New Type of Rolling Stock can Transverse the Line, and provide a Different Experience for the Enthusiasts. I think it will be a Major Draw card. We need more Stops at Places of Interest and, with the end of the Pandemic, a Economic Boost to Regional Towns....

[@Schony747]

Manangatang won't go SG. It's unfortunate but cost blow-outs will put a stop to that. You will find NRs running on the Mildura SG when the track between Maryborough and Ararat is upgraded.

[@darylcheshire]

When SG, there's still a possibility of a pair of CPHs

[@robbruggink8937]

It is Still BG and there are further possibilities....

[@Schony747]

Like the next final tour weekend May 18th.

[@raymondwelsh6028]

How did the T class end up being the lead engine on the return trip as well, did we miss the switcheroo.🇦🇺

[@Schony747]

The locos were re arranged in the yard at Sea lake. So much for being the very last broad gauge as well.

[@Muggar62]

Sad. All that history thrown out the window . . .

[@Schony747]

Not quite yet. The line still hasn't been converted yet!

[@begnamo7]

I was on this trip.

[@Schony747]

Everyone I know on the trip enjoyed themselves as well.

[@begnamo7]

Oops! Just realized I was on a more recent trip to sea lake. My mistake.

[@robbruggink8937]

I am a bit concerned that I could not detect a White Disc on the rear of the Train, maybe it was dirty and I could not see it.....

[@kendale2847]

Why couldn't H5 be leading loco going back

[@Schony747]

No idea. Could be no radio, 707 wanting the T to lead. Any number of reasons.

[@johncoyle4211]

Be careful saying the word LAST, when the Sea Lake line is converted to Standard Gauge, you can be sure a tour train will run that line.

[@Schony747]

Shouldn't have used last it was a Government project! It's staying broad gauge for the next 10 years it looks like.

[@robbruggink8937]

What we need to do is get All those, who want to take Photos, to get a Track Awareness Certificate and Wear proper PPE. This is easily obtained from Skilled Rail Services. This would Stop People being Classed as Trespassers.

[@matthewdempsey6583]

sure would make it better and they got to remember to wear orange hi vis not yellow it confuses drivers

[@VictorianRailHeritage]

This is not the last train to sea lake there is another one

[@Schony747]

It was when myself and many others filmed it. You're right with delays to the upgrade etc there will be more as well

[@matthewdempsey6583]

oh well time to search for sg bogies

[@Schony747]

or SG rolling stock both which probably won't happen soon.