The west bound Indian Pacific, has arrived at GRASS VALLEY. To allow, the Prospector to overtake.

Every Saturday afternoon, the Indian Pacific, 5AP8 ex Adelaide. With scheduled arrival time of 3.00pm at East Perth Terminal. Has to be delayed, on its journey through Western Australia's wheatbelt region.
This is to allow the Prospector rail car service from Kalgoorlie, to bypass the Indian Pacific passenger train. As the Prospector, has to arrive at the platform, at East Perth Terminal first.
Giving enough time, for passengers to alight. And empty Prospector to depart for the PTA Rail Car Depot in Kewdale
In most cases, the Indian Pacific, generally is halted at a crossing loop, on the eastern side of Avon Yard. With a lengthy wait, dinner is served to passengers, whilst the IP is stationary. A real bonus, for the people on board! With the Prospector, then overtaking. Timetable delays etc, changes this arrangement. And crossings can be anywhere, even using the loops in the picturesque Avon Valley
Video taken at Grass Valley crossing loop. Saturday 27 January 2024.
With the Indian Pacific, arriving at 11.09am .To stop, and the Prospector passing by, approx 12.05pm.
East bound PacNat 7PX4, with NR 84 up front. Crosses the IP at 12.24pm. That's an hour & 15 min stop so far. I didn't hang around to grab the IP on the move.....I went chasing 7PX4. :-)
Always have been my mission, to get a video of the Prospector overtaking the Indian Pacific, parked at one of the closer loops, east of Avon Yard, Seabrook, Grass Valley, Meckering or Cunderdin. Today's video, is the closest yet. Though just the roof top of the two railcar set is seen above the Indian Pacific carriages.
Of interest, tabled times are shown for the Indian Pacific as against the Prospector. Ex Kalgoorlie.
5AP8 Indian Pacific. Saturdays ex West Kalgoorlie yard. 3.05am.
7484 Prospector Saturdays ex Kalgoorlie station. 7.08am.
5AP8 West Merredin. 9.38am. 7484 West Merredin. 10.44am.
7484 Avon Yard. 12.19pm. 5AP8 Avon Yard. 1.10pm (The Prospector overtakes the IP)
7484 arr East Perth Terminal. 1.45pm.
5AP8 arr East Perth Terminal. 3.00pm.
The CBH Group, wheatbin at Grass Valley, is no longer used for grain receivals.
The siding tracks, have over the years, been used for storage of wagons etc.
With Watco, using the yard as a standard gauge shunting school. for their new employees.
Rolling stock seen in this video, includes stored ex WN class nickel wagons.
Once used for BHP Nickel West transport of nickel residue from Leonora to Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter.

[@partymeeple5633]

Thanks for taking the time to write an explanation of all of this. Especially the times and service codes.

[@westernaustraliatrainscene5689]

Thank you. Yeah, I've been meaning to add details for some time now. Of the Indian Pacific and Prospector running times on Saturdays. How timing is important for the Prospector. To clear out of East Perth Terminal, fairly quickly. Next year, 2025. Things will be different. The Indian Pacific will be arriving on Saturday afternoons. And returning back after a few hours layover on Saturdays. And not at East Perth Terminal anymore, apparently. But at PacNat's Kewdale Freight Terminal. No more waiting around for a conflicting Prospector train service.

[@paulburgess-qr9rx]

@@westernaustraliatrainscene5689why kewdale the most inconvenient place to embark and disembark passengers I did that a few years back because of track work at east Perth terminal it would be like starting the train from a freight yard in Sydney

[@vsvnrg3263]

@@paulburgess-qr9rx , i'd heard about kewdale being the new terminal. the comparison with a sydney freight yard is accurate. are they going to build a new terminal, all 1+ kilometre of it?

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Well that was cool! Very nicely done captures! (Dave).

[@westernaustraliatrainscene5689]

Many thanks, Dave. I was happy to get the Prospector overtaking the Indian Pacific.

[@8888transportpix]

Interesting scene! The WN nickel wagons have since been relocated to Leonora for storage.

[@westernaustraliatrainscene5689]

Yes thank you, that's where they once were operating from. Moved them back there!🙂

[@alleywatch22]

I was wondering why the prospector went ahead of the IP. Good they served passengers dinner while they waited.

[@westernaustraliatrainscene5689]

@alleywatch22 Yep, it is mentioned somewhere in the Indian Pacific's itinerary. 'Experience Western Australia's wheatbelt region'. Not sure if all passengers get the luxury of lunch time meal, in that one sitting? Whilst the IP is stationary. Thanks for watching.

[@patkelly6349]

Looks very hot

[@westernaustraliatrainscene5689]

It's been a long dry spell with little rain about. Very warm and sunny days. We need the rain. Thanks for watching.

[@patkelly6349]

@@westernaustraliatrainscene5689 Hope you get some rain soon

[@allychat8496]

No friendly cows 🐄 today?

[@westernaustraliatrainscene5689]

Nah, none at all. Had some sheep clips, I was thinking of posting up, but!🐏🐑🐑😀

[@Mick_4591]

What's wrong with the video? Looks " Watergate the beginning and through the video in places

[@westernaustraliatrainscene5689]

Sorry to incovienence you.Thanks for watching.🙂

[@vsvnrg3263]

i think you are talking about the heat haze. this is western australia and its summer. and some of the filming is of trains a long way away.