Royal Melbourne Show specials

During September 1983 V/Line ran extra services from country locations to the Royal Melbourne Show. Extra cars were found to provide double sets on some scheduled trains, while empty cars were worked to Traralgon, Geelong and Ballarat to provide extra services to Melbourne. On Saturday 17th September 1983, X40 ran light engine to Bacchus Marsh and then hauled commuter set of CW-AW-BPL-BW-BPL (that usually wasn't used on weekends) to Ballarat to form the show special. This was a rare working of PL's cars away from their captive short distance commuter runs at that time to Werribee, Sunbury and Bacchus Marsh.
X40 passes Ballarat East locomotive depot with the empty cars from Bacchus Marsh which will form the show special to Melbourne. The consist is 4CW-3AW-89BPL-44BW-73BPL.
X40 has run around the cars at the platform and now waits departure time with the show special to Melbourne.
The special weaves its way through Ballarat yard.
The consist of this train is based on photos of taken at Bacchus Marsh on 2nd April 1983. At 7:33am B66 leads 8116 Up Bacchus Marsh pass around the curves near Bacchus Marsh. Consist is 4CW-3AW-89BPL-44BW-73BPL. The PL cars were restricted to short commuter runs to Bacchus Marsh, Werribee and Sunbury. This set was only used to Bacchus Marsh and spent the day sitting in the Dudley St sidings at Spencer St before returning in the evening peak.

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