Random observations around the network ...

[ozbob]

Both Goodna and Riverview have reversed platform numbering.

Riverview UP platform (2)



Interior SMU228









Photographs R Dow 1st October 2011

[somebody]

Interesting.  Because of RAILBoT posts??

[SurfRail]

I wish they had taken the opportunity to replace the seating with the same configuration found in the 160/260 series sets - especially on the refurbished IMUs.

[ozbob]

PID onboard SMU228, waiting for departure from Ipswich

R Dow 1st October 2011

[ozbob]

Onboard EMM6151 A  9.33am Gympie North  - heading to Cooroy for the day





Photographs R Dow 4th October 2011

[ozbob]

Around 1 minute adrift, the speed restrictions around Glasshouse are bit of an issue ... although have caught up.

Very pleasant run north though. Passed a couple of freighters heading south.  Palmwoods.

[Fares_Fair]

Ahh yes, Palmwoods.
The shortest passing loop in the 1680 km from Brisbane to Cairns.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

Nambour 11.30am, on time.  Cooroy here we come!

[ozbob]

Excellent luncheon at Cooroy.  On time departure on board ICE 156, 2.03pm.  Nice new car park at Cooroy and full too.

Talk around that station could be attended during the midday period when Tilts, Sunlander the Gympielander are all around.

[ozbob]

Palmwoods,  12 minutes burnt.  Backwards to go forwards, pass down PASS,  dance of the trains alive and well ...

[somebody]

Palmwoods,  12 minutes burnt.  Backwards to go forwards, pass down PASS,  dance of the trains alive and well ...

How's this done?  Is there two crews on the train or does the driver have to get out and get in to the other cab?

[ozbob]

Palmwoods,  12 minutes burnt.  Backwards to go forwards, pass down PASS,  dance of the trains alive and well ...

How's this done?  Is there two crews on the train or does the driver have to get out and get in to the other cab?

The crew remain where they are as far as I can tell. Train is just slowly reversed to clear the points/signals, then  moves forward onto the loop.  Opposing train then passes, the train then just resumes forward travel as the passing train clears.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Yep, its just reversed from the drivers cab. The same is done at Nambour.

[ozbob]

10 minutes adrift at Caboolture, some time made up, the HS run in from Beerburrum is showing its worth ...

The line north of Beerburrum is a worry ...

[Fares_Fair]

10 minutes adrift at Caboolture, some time made up, the HS run in from Beerburrum is showing its worth ...

The line north of Beerburrum is a worry ...

It could be worse, with 44% of daily services (26 in total per day) being rail buses used in lieu of trains that take up to 3 times longer  ... hang on, they are ! 

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[HappyTrainGuy]

The high speed run isn't that much of a speed increase as the ICE units are speed limited by the ATP 20kph below the posted speed boards. Any time gained would have to be in the single line/dwelling/passing loops.

[p858snake]

Excellent luncheon at Cooroy.  On time departure on board ICE 156, 2.03pm.  Nice new car park at Cooroy and full too.

Talk around that station could be attended during the midday period when Tilts, Sunlander the Gympielander are all around.

Is Cooroy attended at all anymore? I know they used to have property for that station attendant up there years ago but that got sold.

[colinw]

The high speed run isn't that much of a speed increase as the ICE units are speed limited by the ATP 20kph below the posted speed boards. Any time gained would have to be in the single line dwelling/passing loops.

What are they limited to, 120?

Years ago I had a cab ride in an ICE between Gladstone & Rocky, and it comfortably hit 132. This was permitted by the old ATC system (120 + 10% overspeed).

[somebody]

10 minutes adrift at Caboolture, some time made up, the HS run in from Beerburrum is showing its worth ...

The line north of Beerburrum is a worry ...

It could be worse, with 44% of daily services (26 in total per day) being rail buses used in lieu of trains that take up to 3 times longer  ... hang on, they are ! 

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

Personally, I'm more worried about the shuttle services.  These should all extend into Roma St.  As it happens I have a need to travel to the Sunshine Coast on the weekend.  As with other trips, I will not be using PT, even as a PT enthusiast.  Not only is the train service a joke, the bus connections from the train are quite awful.  I'll either rent a car or get a lift.  

How often do you use the Rail Buses?

[Fares_Fair]

10 minutes adrift at Caboolture, some time made up, the HS run in from Beerburrum is showing its worth ...

The line north of Beerburrum is a worry ...

It could be worse, with 44% of daily services (26 in total per day) being rail buses used in lieu of trains that take up to 3 times longer  ... hang on, they are ! 

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

Personally, I'm more worried about the shuttle services.  These should all extend into Roma St.  As it happens I have a need to travel to the Sunshine Coast on the weekend.  As with other trips, I will not be using PT, even as a PT enthusiast.  Not only is the train service a joke, the bus connections from the train are quite awful.  I'll either rent a car or get a lift.  

How often do you use the Rail Buses?

Never, avoid them like the plague. They are way too slow to be of good use.
Duplicate the line and make them trains at the very least ...

The journalist I spoke to said that 2 people got on the 7:07am Rail bus from Nambour.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

From memory, Cooroy staffed for about two hours in the morning, not just serving the Gympielander, but tilts and Travel Trains (transfers here to Noosa).  Staff member comes from Nambour.

[somebody]

Never, avoid them like the plague. They are way too slow to be of good use.
Duplicate the line and make them trains at the very least ...

The journalist I spoke to said that 2 people got on the 7:07am Rail bus from Nambour.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

That's what I suspected.  Other than the part where they serve Australia Zoo, I expect these buses to carry air.  Open to correction though.

Then would you agree about getting rid of the shuttles being important?

[ozbob]

Platform 2 Roma St, Shorncliffe service waiting for departure





Photographs R Dow 4th October 2011

[Arnz]

That's what I suspected.  Other than the part where they serve Australia Zoo, I expect these buses to carry air.  Open to correction though.

Then would you agree about getting rid of the shuttles being important?

If you want to talk a waste of bus, check out the 3:15pm and 5:52pm railbuses ex-Caboolture to Nambour.  Loads usually vary from the Air Parcel All-Stops service to 2 people per day.  There are Nambour trains that leave Caboolture at 3:23pm and 5:58pm.

Those buses would be either better utilised elsewhere, or at least run it express Caboolture-Beerwah-Landsborough-Nambour to save time and to position the buses for the afternoon counter-peak railbus services.  Nobody is going to catch a railbus when theres a rail service within minutes of each other.

[SurfRail]

Courtesy of the magic of technology - IMU179 and a newer unit at BNE Domestic this morning.



Off to Sydney for a few days to visit, amongst other things, the Sydney Bus Show, where our friend the Bustech double decker will be exhibited along with several other local (to Qld) designs. 

[somebody]

Last night, the 19:17 Ferny Grove train arrived at Park Rd #3 a couple of minutes before the 19:15 Bowen Hills train arrived on #2.  What was annoying about this is that the 19:17 train was held for the 19:15 train, even though the FG train was first on the list of next trains to depart.  No announcement was made that the Ferny Grove train would wait for other train.  FWIW, DG was being used by a freight.  One shouldn't have to check the scheduled departure time to know which train will leave first.

And surely the on time train could have priority over the other train, even if it messes with timetabled order!

[HappyTrainGuy]

And surely the on time train could have priority over the other train, even if it messes with timetabled order!

Depends what the Bowen Hills terminator was scheduled to do once it finished the service. It could have been racing into Mayne to beat a scheduled freight train cross via Normanby, a train returning from the peak run mixed with new services on the mains which sounds like the most logical reason. Otherwise you got a unit dwelling on the subs at Bowen Hills waiting for the Caboolture train, post peak trains, new services or a freight train before crossing into Mayne with the Airport/Bowen Hills service most likely stopped between Bowen Hills and Brunswick Street. Another reason why I think Cleveland trains will soon be running to Shorncliffe.

[HappyTrainGuy]

What are they limited to, 120?

Years ago I had a cab ride in an ICE between Gladstone & Rocky, and it comfortably hit 132. This was permitted by the old ATC system (120 + 10% overspeed).

ATP trips the breaks IIRC.

[Golliwog]

And surely the on time train could have priority over the other train, even if it messes with timetabled order!

Depends what the Bowen Hills terminator was scheduled to do once it finished the service. It could have been racing into Mayne to beat a scheduled freight train cross via Normanby, a train returning from the peak run mixed with new services on the mains which sounds like the most logical reason. Otherwise you got a unit dwelling on the subs at Bowen Hills waiting for the Caboolture train, post peak trains, new services or a freight train before crossing into Mayne with the Airport/Bowen Hills service most likely stopped between Bowen Hills and Brunswick Street. Another reason why I think Cleveland trains will soon be running to Shorncliffe.

Don't trains running to Mayne from the suburbans usually just use the FG flyover though?

[HappyTrainGuy]

Ah sorry, yes, your correct. There aren't even points to access the mains before the yard. Nothing like a little brain fade after a long day of work.

[somebody]

So the upshot is that what I was suggesting was easily achievable?

[ozbob]

Oxley in the morning peak.  Platform 3 deserted as expresses on the main down.

The all stoppers on platform 2 are frequent though.













Photographs R Dow 6th October 2011

[Arnz]

162 was paired with 184 assumably for this specific morning peak Gold Coast - Airport run and Airtrain trading hours extension promotion by the Minister.  

After this morning's announcement,  Both were later sighted operating the 11:30am Brisbane - Nambour service, and was onboard 184 this afternoon on the 4pm Brisbane-Nambour service.

[Arnz]

PID onboard SMU228, waiting for departure from Ipswich

R Dow 1st October 2011

In comparison, here's a pic of a PID onboard IMU165 (along with a auto-announcement) operating this morning's #U986 service to Roma Street.  For all new or irregular readers, or for those browsing through.  Those PIDs can be found on the IMU160/SMU260 series trains in general.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Just before 8am at Roma Street this morning.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert_Dow
Just spotted a 'train' of DELs UP Corinda (about 7 locomotives) last locomotive 4037 ( a rare visitor to Brisbane ..)
45 seconds ago

[Golliwog]

Haha, that reminded me, on Saturday night at around 10.45pm, an out of service 12 car new SMU/IMU train went through Fortitude Valley heading south.

[Stillwater]

Today's daytime Gympielander was 20 minutes late into Pomona, due it would seem to a bushfire and heavy smoke around Black Mountain, between Cooroy and Pomona.

[somebody]

All trains on the suburbans at Roma St around 11am this morning.

[ozbob]

Morning tilt arrival platform 3 Roma St  (SOTO in platform 10)







Photographs R Dow 11th October 2011