Railcar services returned to Donald on 14th August 1983 with ceremonies attended by the Transport Minister, Steve Crabb and railway officials at Ballarat, Maryborough and Donald. The Transport Minister and his party of guests and officials were conveyed from Melbourne to Ballarat in a refurbished BS car attached to the N set on regular pass hauled by B68.
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| B68 arrives with the official party for the relaunch of railcar services to Donald. |
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| DRC43 is about to break through the ceremonial ribbon as it departs Ballarat for the official relaunch of railcar services to Donald. |
DRC43 was decorated with the headboard and broke through a ceremonial ribbon on departure for Maryborough.
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| DRC43 is about to pass under the Armstrong Street Bridge with the official relaunch service. |
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| DRC43 crosses Doveton Street. |
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 1805 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.
DRC43 is scratch built from styrene sheet and is powered by a can motor. The headboard and ceremonial ribbon was made on the PC. I based the design and wording on the ribbon from that used for the return of services to Cobram (which occurred in August 1983).
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