Random observations around the network ...

[tazzer9]

Hi guys, Long time reader, first time poster.

Driving along the gateway this morning I noticed that there were two guys what looked like to be the qr high vest workwear on the gibson island branch mowing and hacking down the long grass around the line. 

I thought that this branch and associated sidings had all shut and is out of use.    So it wouldn't matter if the grass overgrows the line, the line is red boarded and has permanent reds.

[ozbob]

Hi guys, Long time reader, first time poster.

Driving along the gateway this morning I noticed that there were two guys what looked like to be the qr high vest workwear on the gibson island branch mowing and hacking down the long grass around the line. 

I thought that this branch and associated sidings had all shut and is out of use.    So it wouldn't matter if the grass overgrows the line, the line is red boarded and has permanent reds.

Welcome!  Thanks for the observations.  You never know what might happen hey?

Cheers!

[brissypete]

Quite a bit of surveying at Fairfield station this morning, maybe a bridge upgrade might be imminent.

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

[kram0]

Quite a bit of surveying at Fairfield station this morning, maybe a bridge upgrade might be imminent.

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

I spoke to one of the surveyers today at Fairfield station and he confirmed they are surveying for a station upgrade but he did say he can't see it being built for 2 years.

[brissypete]

Thanks for the info, will be interesting to see what happens.

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

[Stillwater]

I just had to share this.  Noosa Council has begun a trial of a solar-powered rubbish bin that compacts the rubbish inside, requiring less emptying, and 'phones home' when full so that a passing council garbage truck can empty the contents.  It can even double as a Wi-Fi station.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-11/solar-bins-launch-in-qld/7240332

[verbatim9]

Yeah its pretty good, some councils in NSW and Vic doing the same.

[BrizCommuter]

Saw a 3-car EMU coming "wrong way" through the "hole in the wall" into Bowen Hills yesterday (Sunday) at around 9:30am. A normal movement?

[red dragin]

Saw a 3-car EMU coming "wrong way" through the "hole in the wall" into Bowen Hills yesterday (Sunday) at around 9:30am. A normal movement?

4x4 show train

[petey3801]

Saw a 3-car EMU coming "wrong way" through the "hole in the wall" into Bowen Hills yesterday (Sunday) at around 9:30am. A normal movement?

As in, is the Hole in the Wall signalled for that? Yep, it is bi-di, as is p4 at Bowen Hills. Points are on the City side of the station around the overhead bridge.

[dancingmongoose]

Hi guys, Long time reader, first time poster.

Driving along the gateway this morning I noticed that there were two guys what looked like to be the qr high vest workwear on the gibson island branch mowing and hacking down the long grass around the line. 

I thought that this branch and associated sidings had all shut and is out of use.    So it wouldn't matter if the grass overgrows the line, the line is red boarded and has permanent reds.

Have heard the points were ripped up earlier today

[tazzer9]

Hi guys, Long time reader, first time poster.

Driving along the gateway this morning I noticed that there were two guys what looked like to be the qr high vest workwear on the gibson island branch mowing and hacking down the long grass around the line. 

I thought that this branch and associated sidings had all shut and is out of use.    So it wouldn't matter if the grass overgrows the line, the line is red boarded and has permanent reds.

Have heard the points were ripped up earlier today

It would be a shame if they had.  Qr constantly goes on about lack of stabling space and there is a massive shortage of sidings around brisbane for emergency uses.    It would have made sense to keep some of these sidings (the ones near KSD, wacol, wamuran, old beaudesert line) so we can put a few of the soon to be retired emu's incase something serious happens to the NGR's.    NSW is pretty good at retaining short sections of closed lines for storage.

[red dragin]

Quite a bit of surveying at Fairfield station this morning, maybe a bridge upgrade might be imminent.

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

Surveyor's all over Albion this afternoon. Plenty of painted lines marking out underground utilities too.

[Golliwog]

Hi guys, Long time reader, first time poster.

Driving along the gateway this morning I noticed that there were two guys what looked like to be the qr high vest workwear on the gibson island branch mowing and hacking down the long grass around the line. 

I thought that this branch and associated sidings had all shut and is out of use.    So it wouldn't matter if the grass overgrows the line, the line is red boarded and has permanent reds.

Have heard the points were ripped up earlier today

It would be a shame if they had.  Qr constantly goes on about lack of stabling space and there is a massive shortage of sidings around brisbane for emergency uses.    It would have made sense to keep some of these sidings (the ones near KSD, wacol, wamuran, old beaudesert line) so we can put a few of the soon to be retired emu's incase something serious happens to the NGR's.    NSW is pretty good at retaining short sections of closed lines for storage.

As I understand it though, QR doesn't own that siding. Privately owned by Incitec I believe.

[red dragin]

What looked like the Yank (back of a black tender) and water gin in one of the sheds at Mayne.

Sitting behind the partial ICE set that has been in the sheds, nearest Bowen Hills Station, for over a week.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Sound of Music delights Brisbane train passengers

[aldonius]

Just passed by the Rockhampton Tilt at Bowen Hills north (it was heading north, I was heading northwest). Almost empty... except for Car D, which looked fairly well loaded. Weird...

[tazzer9]

Gold coast train leaving south bank at 5:20 (late runner) is being operated by a set of smu 220's.  Thats going to be a fun trip.

[Arnz]

Quirk-y sighted at QUT KG busway station with media cameras around 3:30pm.  Guessing he's talking about his "Metro" to the media.

[red dragin]

On Facebook QR has shared QR traveltrains post regarding one of the tilts hitting 2 million Km's using a photo taken by one of the driver's ....

whilst doing 98km/hr....

Considering one driver just got disciplined for taking the photo of the other driver on the hood of a diesel loco at speed, seems hypocritical to them promote another driver doing something similar. (taking a photo whilst driving)

Also on that post, someone pointed out the poster of the diesel tilt with the Glass House Mountain's in the background has had all the overhead photoshopped out. 

[Stillwater]

The QR lost property office at Roma Street Station has a sign on the door stating that the office has relocated temporarily to its old location.
 

[aldonius]

Caught bus no. W1599 today. It's a bit special. (Number plate is just 'Citaro') 
Although... It feels less spacious (or just smaller?) than the average bus. Not sure why.

[Arnz]

Garden City depot was running MAN rigid 1353 on the 66 runs this morning and having boarded this bus this morning from KGS it was crammed as heck.  Rigids from the depots that normally operate the 66 (Sherwood and Garden City) aren't usually common practice, as generally both depots normally allocate either tag buses (14.5m) or articulated buses on this route.

[tazzer9]

The 7:15am gold coast train from eagle junction is being led by emu 78.  A few unimpressed travellors.

[ozbob]

The 7:15am gold coast train from eagle junction is being led by emu 78.  A few unimpressed travellors.

[aldonius]

Caught a P332 from Lakes through to RBWH this afternoon.
I can report that a grand total of four people got on.
Having said that, only 12 passengers on the next 333 to leave RBWH, so it must be a pretty quiet time of day once core peak has passed.
Edit: just saw a 77 heading past (southbound) at Fed St! Had a few pax onboard.
Edit2: outbound train is more than half empty at Windsor. Everyone has already headed home...

[nathandavid88]

Not sure if this should go here, as it isn't really regular network news, but it might be of interest to some people. I did the tour of the Railway Workshops on Saturday, and the QR tour guide mentioned that this coming Steam Train Sunday (May 1), the train will be heading out to Pinkenba. I don't know how often they run out there, but anyone fancying a trip to Pinkenba should look into it.   

[red dragin]

2013 ARHS Christmas trip was the last time I know of. It's a nice trip, especially beside Eagle Farm Racecourse. A staff was still in use passed Doomben and the level crossings had to be activated by a key.

[tazzer9]

probably to keep them up to date with traditional staff and ticket.    Very few other places in SEQ in which QR drivers go into have staff and ticket

[Stillwater]

Today's Brisbane-bound GympieLander at lunchtime performed a dance of the trains at Cooroy Station.  Train was a five-car ICE set.

[petey3801]

Regarding STS to Pinkenba, it does happen usually a couple times a year, although I can't recall offhand when the last trip out that way was. Sometime last year by memory.
Staff and ticket is also in use on the Box Flat branch I believe, which is used for QPSR as well as QR ballast trains.

[red dragin]

Regarding STS to Pinkenba, it does happen usually a couple times a year, although I can't recall offhand when the last trip out that way was. Sometime last year by memory.
Staff and ticket is also in use on the Box Flat branch I believe, which is used for QPSR as well as QR ballast trains.

It was when I did driver for a day. The Staff for the loop is locked away near the points.

[tazzer9]

There was a non revenue ICE through roma st platform 9 around 4:50am this morning.  Is this a normal run, I believe the nambour-caboolture shuttle stables at caboolture overnight or is this some odd run due to the public holiday,

In an even more amazing piece of railway particularities, the XPT arrived in brisbane 10 minutes early.  Despite being delayed 20 minutes out of maitland.   Gotta love that padding.   

[Stillwater]

What's happened to the cleaners who were on the job while the trains were moving and in service?  Has anyone seen them of late?

[petey3801]

ICE travels empty to Caboolture early every morning to form the NBR shuttle service. It then travels empty back to Mayne after the second (last) shuttle service in the afternoon/early evening.

Onboard Citytrain cleaners went during the Newman era cuts.

[Arnz]

Sighted a 5-car ICE on the loop around Normanby heading towards the Roma Street Junction at about 2:15pm this afternoon.

[Stillwater]

Spoke to Cubic maintenance fellow today.  He opened up an electronic ticketing unit and showed me his handiwork.  He explained that direct sunlight heats up the display reader and makes the screen hard to read.  For units in direct sunlight, Cubic is installing a plastic tube and fan within the unit, with cooling air directed to run across the screen beneath the exterior glass.  I wonder how many readers are affected?

[ozbob]

Spoke to Cubic maintenance fellow today.  He opened up an electronic ticketing unit and showed me his handiwork.  He explained that direct sunlight heats up the display reader and makes the screen hard to read.  For units in direct sunlight, Cubic is installing a plastic tube and fan within the unit, with cooling air directed to run across the screen beneath the exterior glass.  I wonder how many readers are affected?

No kidding huh?  We have been pointing this issue for years and years ....  it is a testament to the disconnect of TransLink from punters that fixes are finally being attempted ...

[mufreight]

What became of the modified reader that Cubic installed at Oxley a couple of years ago that was supposed to solve the problems of unreadable card readers?

[ozbob]

What became of the modified reader that Cubic installed at Oxley a couple of years ago that was supposed to solve the problems of unreadable card readers?

Still there, working fine.  They just abandoned any notion of rolling out more.  Stuff the punters hey?