The Ferny Grove Heritage Railway

[BrizCommuter]

A satirical look at the railway line the NGRs forgot, the Ferny Grove Heritage Railway:
https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-ferny-grove-heritage-railway.html

[ozbob]

Ha ... well done!     

Facebook ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1397930832149372939

[JimmyP]

In fairness, the Ferny Grove line has usually been the first to get new suburban trains, so it's about time! 
Up until the NGRs arrived, the Ipswich - Caboolture line was always the EMU dumping ground!

[#Metro]

Well.

Clearly haven't traveled on the Doomben line.

[ozbob]

The point mentioned by Briz re the absence of NGRs on the Ferny Grove line appears to due to problems with some of the stations.

Queensland Rail have always been evasive when questioned on this.

Eg.  https://www.facebook.com/QueenslandRail/posts/3135559079795764?comment_id=3135616553123350

Martin Witchard
Is it the case that the NGR can't operate on the Ferny Grove line due to platform issues?

Queensland Rail
Hey Martin, the NGR trains have been designed for the SEQ train network. While there are no immediate plans to deploy NGR trains to the Ferny Grove line within our current scheduling, we will keep our customers informed should this change. With the ongoing phasing out of the Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) fleet from our network, the Ferny Grove line is being progressively serviced by the newer Suburban Multiple Units (SMU) or Interurban Multiple Units (IMU), some of which are less than 10 years old.

[ozbob]

But personally I hope EMUs keep running to 2052!   

[BrizCommuter]

But personally I hope EMUs keep running to 2052!   

They might still be running on the Ferny Grove Line. As far as I'm aware the platform curve and rear guard position at Gaythorne is the problem for the NGRs.

[ozbob]

But personally I hope EMUs keep running to 2052!   

They might still be running on the Ferny Grove Line. As far as I'm aware the platform curve and rear guard position at Gaythorne is the problem for the NGRs.

[ozbob]

Oxford Park might be a problem too, but it is moot if they cannot get past Gaythorne ...

[ozbob]

[Cleveland Line]

But personally I hope EMUs keep running to 2052!   

They might still be running on the Ferny Grove Line. As far as I'm aware the platform curve and rear guard position at Gaythorne is the problem for the NGRs.

I thought QR implemented longer station staffing hours for other lines to allow NGRs to operate because of the rear guard and accessibility issues. Couldn't the same be done for Ferny Grove line for the curved platform and sight line issues?

[ozbob]

But personally I hope EMUs keep running to 2052!   

They might still be running on the Ferny Grove Line. As far as I'm aware the platform curve and rear guard position at Gaythorne is the problem for the NGRs.

I thought QR implemented longer station staffing hours for other lines to allow NGRs to operate because of the rear guard and accessibility issues. Couldn't the same be done for Ferny Grove line for the curved platform and sight line issues?

Yes it could, but I think there are some clearance issues with the NGR fronts as well. 

[ozbob]

Interesting, the plot thickens.

Found a photograph of NGR 703 at Grovely 26 Jan 2018

>> https://www.flickr.com/photos/mgbrowne/39905847611

NGR 703 at Gaythorne 26 Jan 2018

>> https://www.flickr.com/photos/mgbrowne/39905847071

According to the notes on the photographs this was a test run to Ferny Grove.  ??

Does anyone know if there has ever been a revenue service to Ferny Grove using a NGR?

[SteelPan]

The real funny thing is, both the Ferny Grove and Doomben lines are golden opportunities to help drive SEQ economic growth in the post Covid decade, with two very doable projects:

1) Newgen Doomben line to Hamilton/Northshore...with future cross river capacity! [proposed Games Village feel good factor MIGHT get this over the line....repeat MIGHT]
2) Newgen Ferny Grove line seeing the return of rail to a robust growth Samford region - tunnel right through the mountain. [future capacity to take the line around to BOOMING North Coast regions, where state govt is preparing to pour hundreds of thousands more people into].

Over to you Anna MkII.......[anyone else hear crickets?]   

[BrizCommuter]

Interesting, the plot thickens.

Found a photograph of NGR 703 at Grovely 26 Jan 2018

>> https://www.flickr.com/photos/mgbrowne/39905847611

NGR 703 at Gaythorne 26 Jan 2018

>> https://www.flickr.com/photos/mgbrowne/39905847071

According to the notes on the photographs this was a test run to Ferny Grove.  ??

Does anyone know if there has ever been a revenue service to Ferny Grove using a NGR?

I've seen quite a few out of service NGR trains, notably on weekends with track closures north of Bowen Hills, and Mitchelton gets used as an extra turnback location. I don't think there has been a revenue NGR service on the FG Line.

The real funny thing is, both the Ferny Grove and Doomben lines are golden opportunities to help drive SEQ economic growth in the post Covid decade, with two very doable projects:

1) Newgen Doomben line to Hamilton/Northshore...with future cross river capacity! [proposed Games Village feel good factor MIGHT get this over the line....repeat MIGHT]
2) Newgen Ferny Grove line seeing the return of rail to a robust growth Samford region - tunnel right through the mountain. [future capacity to take the line around to BOOMING North Coast regions, where state govt is preparing to pour hundreds of thousands more people into].

Over to you Anna MkII.......[anyone else hear crickets?]   

There is no way the FG Line will be re-extended out to Samford.

[SteelPan]

Why?   :conf

[#Metro]

Samford extension is a goer IMHO. Would direct development away from far flung areas on the southside. Could be funded with a windfall gains tax like Victoria.

[STB]

Eh, I live on the Ferny Grove line, and hate the NGRs.  The longer the NGRs stay off the FG line, the happier I am.  Long live the EMU!

(NB: I see far more SMUs and IMUs than EMUS on the FG line TBH )

[BrizCommuter]

Why?   :conf

Have you seen the topography between Ferny Grove and Samford? Also, Samford would not generate enough demand to make it cost effective. Much bigger fish to fry in SEQ!

[Stillwater]

A city the size of Rockhampton is on the drawing board for Caboolture West, basically between Caboolture and Mt Mee.

[#Metro]

Topography is an issue, but that's why we have narrow gauge in Queensland.
This is also why it should be cheaper to build rail here than elsewhere.

Trains in the past ran from Ferny Grove though Samford and all the way to Dayboro.

[Cazza]

And there is a reason why it closed...

[ozbob]

Bowen Hills (Mayne) - Dayboro

[SteelPan]

It's the 21stC - these days they can actually build this stuff, to both work and last! Stop hiding behind ideas your grandfather may have got away with! Set a 10yr Plan and get on with it!   

Also I specifcally said, the line should be taken further around to the north to service what will be HUGE communities in the years ahead!

Something rail supporters in Qld should remember, unless you aim for Pluto, you'll never get to the Moon!

[JimmyP]

To be honest, there are so many more worthy rail projects around that should be funded before an extention of the Ferny Grove line that it'll be a very lomg time before it happens (or even should happen to be honest..).
Including, but not limited to:
- Cleveland line duplication
- NCL duplication and realignment
- CAMCOS line to at least Caloundra
- Gold Coast line extention to Cooly
- Extention of Springfield line to Ipswich
- Trouts Rd corridor
- Beaudesert line
- New line down the M1 corridor for Gold Coast line
- Beenleigh corridor enhancement
- Metro's Capalaba/Vic Point line would be higher priority and much better patronised than a Ferny Grove extention.

Just because someone is pro rail, doesn't mean they should support every single rail based proposal. To retain any credibility, you need to be able to distinguish foam from feasible.

[#Metro]

Ferny Grove extension isn't as urgent as many other projects, but that said, has good opportunity to generate land value uplift that can pay for its construction.

[Gazza]

Topography is an issue, but that's why we have narrow gauge in Queensland.
This is also why it should be cheaper to build rail here than elsewhere.

Trains in the past ran from Ferny Grove though Samford and all the way to Dayboro.

Of course, narrow gauge trains are good for hilly topography...at the expense of speed.
Passenger trains once ran to Toowoomba too, but because it's such a slow and winding journey up the range on the resulting narrow gauge alignment, it's not time competitive with driving.

So there is little point building something like that.
You'd have to tunnel such an extension to avoid curves, especially if you were contemplating an even longer line beyond Samford, since it would be dumb to introduce a slow section on a longer 'new' line.

[ozbob]

To be honest, there are so many more worthy rail projects around that should be funded before an extention of the Ferny Grove line that it'll be a very lomg time before it happens (or even should happen to be honest..).
Including, but not limited to:
- Cleveland line duplication
- NCL duplication and realignment
- CAMCOS line to at least Caloundra
- Gold Coast line extention to Cooly
- Extention of Springfield line to Ipswich
- Trouts Rd corridor
- Beaudesert line
- New line down the M1 corridor for Gold Coast line
- Beenleigh corridor enhancement
- Metro's Capalaba/Vic Point line would be higher priority and much better patronised than a Ferny Grove extention.

Just because someone is pro rail, doesn't mean they should support every single rail based proposal. To retain any credibility, you need to be able to distinguish foam from feasible.

+1 on the money JimmyP !

[BrizCommuter]

Due to a broken down EMU on a Ferny Grove to Beenleigh service this morning, had to do the Central station shuffle again.

[ozbob]

Due to a broken down EMU on a Ferny Grove to Beenleigh service this morning, had to do the Central station shuffle again.

I think it is getting increasingly difficult to keep the few EMUs left running reliably as well as the SMU200s.

Does not bode well for the future fleet numbers.   Big mistake cutting the original order from 200 x 3 to 100 x 6 then 75 x 6.

Idiots.

[SteelPan]

To be honest, there are so many more worthy rail projects around that should be funded before an extention of the Ferny Grove line that it'll be a very lomg time before it happens (or even should happen to be honest..).
Including, but not limited to:
- Cleveland line duplication
- NCL duplication and realignment
- CAMCOS line to at least Caloundra
- Gold Coast line extention to Cooly
- Extention of Springfield line to Ipswich
- Trouts Rd corridor
- Beaudesert line
- New line down the M1 corridor for Gold Coast line
- Beenleigh corridor enhancement
- Metro's Capalaba/Vic Point line would be higher priority and much better patronised than a Ferny Grove extention.

Just because someone is pro rail, doesn't mean they should support every single rail based proposal. To retain any credibility, you need to be able to distinguish foam from feasible.

And how many of these rail projects will come fruition in the next...ohhhh 10yrs?
As I said, aim for Pluto or noone's getting to the Moon!

[BrizCommuter]

Loads of out of service NGRs on the FG Line this weekend.

[ozbob]

Loads of out of service NGRs on the FG Line this weekend.

How far out do they go?  Mitchelton and turnback?

[BrizCommuter]

Loads of out of service NGRs on the FG Line this weekend.

How far out do they go?  Mitchelton and turnback?

I'm assuming they are turning back 4tph at Mitchelton. Observed the trains from Newmarket Pool (during hours of kids swimming lessons).