The last regular use of railmotors through Ballarat were on services to Donald, which were withdrawn in March 1981. I wanted to include these railcar services but how to incorporate this into the operating sequence on the layout with the significant service and timetable changes that occurred between 1981 and 1983 with the New Deal for country passengers?
Before its withdrawal, the Donald railcar operated 6 days a week, Mon to Sat. The 1975 public timetable shows that the service operated as a connection, utilising the 12:55pm Down Ballarat pass. which arrived at Ballarat at 3:10pm, with the railcar departing at 3:30pm arriving at Donald at 6:55pm. The railcar was at Donald overnight with the service to Ballarat departing in the morning at 8:35am, reaching Ballarat at noon and operating through to city, arriving at Spencer St at 2:20pm.
280hp Walker railmotor were employed on the services prior to there withdrawal in the late 70's, with the 600hp DRC's then taking over.
Implementing a 1982 Labour election commitment, services were restored to Cobram on the 14th August 1983. On the layout, I have used this as a date for restoration of services to Donald, assuming that it was another election commitment and coinciding it with DRC43 return to service after refurbishing.
On the layout all services to Donald operate from Ballarat, connecting with Ballarat passenger trains. The DRC makes one return trip a day, Departing Donald at 0755, arriving at Ballarat at 1115 where it connects with 8134 Ballarat - Melbourne pass which is scheduled to depart for the city at 1145. The railcar is then idle at Ballarat until mid afternoon, when it operates as a connection to 8115 Melb-Ballarat pass. which arrives in Ballarat at 1420. The railcar departs Ballarat at 1440 arriving at Donald at 18:05 where it rests overnight.
Whilst in Ballarat the railcar usually runs to Ballarat East Locomotive Depot to refuel and then returns to the station to stable in the dock or carriage shed sidings. Mark Bau's website includes this image of the Donald railcar. https://www.victorianrailways.net/photogallery/westsou/ballarat/ballarat.html
The reality for the DRC's in 1983 was very different. At the start of the year, both DRC 40 and 43 were in Bendigo North Workshops, with DRC 41 and 42 in service, but prone to failure. DRC 42 failed just before Easter and was subsequently sent to Bendigo North for repairs. Solo DRC41 continued in service. Roster N15 which commenced on the 30th April 1983, only had one 600 roster, run 38, which consisted of an early morning run from Seymour to Melbourne (0550 Up), two trips to Kyneton and return (on the 0805 and 1510 Down services), returning to Seymour in the evening on 1855 Down service. During this period DRC 41 wasn't very reliable with passenger trains with scratch sets often having to be substituted.
DRC43 emerged from the workshops in June, with sides and ends painted orange contrasting with its stainless steel panelling and with a grey painted roof. The interior of the car was refurbished to match standard of the S and N cars. It was the only DRC to receive Victorian Railways tea-cup symbol, 40, 41 and 42 all emerging from the workshops after the launch of V/Line in August 1983.
DRC43 began operating scheduled services in July, taking over run 38, with DRC41 being rostered for running services scheduled for a DERM. Late in 1983, DRC41 entered Bendigo North Workshops for refurbishing.
I have fond memories of DRC43 running Kyneton services and stopping at the old Up platform at St Albans which backed onto a showrooms where my dad occasionally worked. My first encounter with refurbished DRC43 was on a wet and windy Melbourne winters day watching trains from overpass at Spencer Street station. DRC43 sat in the railmotor sidings with a couple of DERM's and railmotor trailers, its paintwork gleaming in the wet conditions.
DRC43 is scratch built from styrene sheet and is powered by a can motor.
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| DRC43 crosses Doveton Street on an service to Donald. |
Before its withdrawal, the Donald railcar operated 6 days a week, Mon to Sat. The 1975 public timetable shows that the service operated as a connection, utilising the 12:55pm Down Ballarat pass. which arrived at Ballarat at 3:10pm, with the railcar departing at 3:30pm arriving at Donald at 6:55pm. The railcar was at Donald overnight with the service to Ballarat departing in the morning at 8:35am, reaching Ballarat at noon and operating through to city, arriving at Spencer St at 2:20pm.
280hp Walker railmotor were employed on the services prior to there withdrawal in the late 70's, with the 600hp DRC's then taking over.
Implementing a 1982 Labour election commitment, services were restored to Cobram on the 14th August 1983. On the layout, I have used this as a date for restoration of services to Donald, assuming that it was another election commitment and coinciding it with DRC43 return to service after refurbishing.
On the layout all services to Donald operate from Ballarat, connecting with Ballarat passenger trains. The DRC makes one return trip a day, Departing Donald at 0755, arriving at Ballarat at 1115 where it connects with 8134 Ballarat - Melbourne pass which is scheduled to depart for the city at 1145. The railcar is then idle at Ballarat until mid afternoon, when it operates as a connection to 8115 Melb-Ballarat pass. which arrives in Ballarat at 1420. The railcar departs Ballarat at 1440 arriving at Donald at 18:05 where it rests overnight.
Whilst in Ballarat the railcar usually runs to Ballarat East Locomotive Depot to refuel and then returns to the station to stable in the dock or carriage shed sidings. Mark Bau's website includes this image of the Donald railcar. https://www.victorianrailways.net/photogallery/westsou/ballarat/ballarat.html
The reality for the DRC's in 1983 was very different. At the start of the year, both DRC 40 and 43 were in Bendigo North Workshops, with DRC 41 and 42 in service, but prone to failure. DRC 42 failed just before Easter and was subsequently sent to Bendigo North for repairs. Solo DRC41 continued in service. Roster N15 which commenced on the 30th April 1983, only had one 600 roster, run 38, which consisted of an early morning run from Seymour to Melbourne (0550 Up), two trips to Kyneton and return (on the 0805 and 1510 Down services), returning to Seymour in the evening on 1855 Down service. During this period DRC 41 wasn't very reliable with passenger trains with scratch sets often having to be substituted.
DRC43 emerged from the workshops in June, with sides and ends painted orange contrasting with its stainless steel panelling and with a grey painted roof. The interior of the car was refurbished to match standard of the S and N cars. It was the only DRC to receive Victorian Railways tea-cup symbol, 40, 41 and 42 all emerging from the workshops after the launch of V/Line in August 1983.
DRC43 began operating scheduled services in July, taking over run 38, with DRC41 being rostered for running services scheduled for a DERM. Late in 1983, DRC41 entered Bendigo North Workshops for refurbishing.
I have fond memories of DRC43 running Kyneton services and stopping at the old Up platform at St Albans which backed onto a showrooms where my dad occasionally worked. My first encounter with refurbished DRC43 was on a wet and windy Melbourne winters day watching trains from overpass at Spencer Street station. DRC43 sat in the railmotor sidings with a couple of DERM's and railmotor trailers, its paintwork gleaming in the wet conditions.
DRC43 is scratch built from styrene sheet and is powered by a can motor.
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