The workshops at Ballarat North provides a variety of traffic on the layout from red-carded wagons conveyed to the workshops for repairs, wagons sent for scrapping and departmental HR and HD wagons transferring materials to and from Newport, Bendigo and Jolimont workshops. A full time pilot is based here to shunt wagons and cars in and out of the workshops.
Why a F class in Ballarat?
I have a fond spot for English Electric locomotives, and although Ballarat was a stronghold of W class on pilot duties an F class did operate at Ballarat North workshops for a short period in 1974 (recorded in Newsrail May and July 1974 issues). F211 was sent from Geelong to be overhauled and repainted at Ballarat North. On the 29th April with a fresh coat of paint it was put into service at the workshops replacing K159 on pilot duties. However the F failed on 17th May and was pushed back into the workshops by K157 for repairs. K159 was retrieved from storage and returned to service, sharing workshop pilot duties with K157. It's not recorded what happened to the F after the repairs were completed. Did it take up pilot duties at the workshops again or was it transferred back to Geelong?
In the period I model, the F class were living on borrowed time, with the majority of class having been withdrawn during 1981 and 1982. At the start of 1983 the only F's in active service were F201, F208 and F215 at Dynon South, F202 and F216 at Newport Workshops and F211 and F212 at Geelong. By April F215 had been set-aside for scrap leaving only 6 in service.
In my alternate version of history, F212 which was stationed at Geelong was transferred to Ballarat North in early 1983 replacing the reliable W class as the workshops pilot.
In reality F212 spend the majority of 1983 based in Geelong. On 27th December 1983, F201 caught fire at Dynon and was set-aside for scrap. F212 was subsequently returned to Melbourne to replace it. F211 followed shortly after, returning to Melbourne on 16th January 1984. F211 being the last F class to operate outside of Melbourne in regular service.
On the 11th November 1984, I visited Newport workshops. One F class (number unknown) had started to be overhauled in 1981 but this was subsequently cancelled and it had pushed into the scrapping line. The F's motor and generator weren't reunited with the body, becoming a source of spare parts to keep others in service. I've replicated this scene at Ballarat North with a spare F body, cutting the body so that you can see the empty engine compartment through the open panels.
At the time both F202 and F216 (which was still in SECV colours) were operating as workshop pilots. Below are poor quality photos taken with Kodak 104 instamatic camera that I was using at the time.
Why a F class in Ballarat?
I have a fond spot for English Electric locomotives, and although Ballarat was a stronghold of W class on pilot duties an F class did operate at Ballarat North workshops for a short period in 1974 (recorded in Newsrail May and July 1974 issues). F211 was sent from Geelong to be overhauled and repainted at Ballarat North. On the 29th April with a fresh coat of paint it was put into service at the workshops replacing K159 on pilot duties. However the F failed on 17th May and was pushed back into the workshops by K157 for repairs. K159 was retrieved from storage and returned to service, sharing workshop pilot duties with K157. It's not recorded what happened to the F after the repairs were completed. Did it take up pilot duties at the workshops again or was it transferred back to Geelong?
In the period I model, the F class were living on borrowed time, with the majority of class having been withdrawn during 1981 and 1982. At the start of 1983 the only F's in active service were F201, F208 and F215 at Dynon South, F202 and F216 at Newport Workshops and F211 and F212 at Geelong. By April F215 had been set-aside for scrap leaving only 6 in service.
 |
| From Newrail June 1983 |
 |
| F201 and F215 on the turntable at South Dynon 20/02/1983 (photo Ken Coram) |
In my alternate version of history, F212 which was stationed at Geelong was transferred to Ballarat North in early 1983 replacing the reliable W class as the workshops pilot.
In reality F212 spend the majority of 1983 based in Geelong. On 27th December 1983, F201 caught fire at Dynon and was set-aside for scrap. F212 was subsequently returned to Melbourne to replace it. F211 followed shortly after, returning to Melbourne on 16th January 1984. F211 being the last F class to operate outside of Melbourne in regular service.
On the 11th November 1984, I visited Newport workshops. One F class (number unknown) had started to be overhauled in 1981 but this was subsequently cancelled and it had pushed into the scrapping line. The F's motor and generator weren't reunited with the body, becoming a source of spare parts to keep others in service. I've replicated this scene at Ballarat North with a spare F body, cutting the body so that you can see the empty engine compartment through the open panels.
At the time both F202 and F216 (which was still in SECV colours) were operating as workshop pilots. Below are poor quality photos taken with Kodak 104 instamatic camera that I was using at the time.
 |
| F212 shunting a HR wagon loaded with reconditioned bogies outside Ballarat North Workshops. Behind the F and HR is a refurbished BRS recently repainted in tangerine and silver. |
Very nice. Thanks
ReplyDelete