By the early 80's, roadside goods trains had largely disappeared on the Victorian Railways. On the Western mainline through Ballarat, there was one scheduled Roadside Goods to Ararat a day, Train numbers 383 and 362. It was scheduled to depart Ballarat each weeknight at 7pm, with the return working scheduled to arrive back at Ballarat at 4:15am.
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| Y150 on 383 Ballarat - Ararat Roadside Goods. Tonight's load includes a VOBX loaded with fodder, a VFBA and M trailed by a ZL van. |
Roadside Goods undertake a range of shunting, pick up and set-out moves between the two destinations. The Roadside Goods usually only consisted of a few wagons, often a couple of open wagons and lourve van. Regular power for these workings were Y class. Occasionally T class were used.
When loading was light, the Ararat Roadside Goods was often combined with the Horsham Block Oil. The Ararat loading was either placed at the front or rear of the block oil in Ballarat yard.
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| S313 on the Horsham Block Oil has added Y151 and the Ararat loading to the front of the safety wagon and oil pots. Today's Ararat loading only consists of a VOBX and VLCX. |
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| S313 with Y151 grind uphill through Ballarat North with the combined Horsham Oil and Ararat Roadside Goods. |
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