Midday mishap

A mishap occurred today at 1224 on the workshops pilot when Y170 was propelling wagons into the Ballarat North Workshops for repairs. The Y was pushing a FJ flour hopper, a VLCX lourve van, M cattle wagon and GY open wagon when one wheel on the FJ and the front bogie of the lourve van ended up in the dirt at the gates into the workshops. After much swearing, cursing, and head scratching, the crew decide to leave the derailed wagons where they were and return the wagons that were still on the rails back to Ballarat yard.

Y170 pushes wagons for repairs towards Ballarat North workshops.

The leading two wagons derail after the points leading into the workshops.

The derailed VLCX and FJ are left in the dirt at the workshops gates.

The Y returns to Ballarat yard with the M and GY and then returns to the workshops to assist with re-railing.

Railway staff discuss the best method for re-railing the wagons.

At 1330 Y150 on the 83 Redan Pilot runs past the workshops with Y170 still assisting in re-railing the wagons. The wagons were re-railed by mid afternoon allowing Y170 to push the offending wagons into the workshops for repairs. Y170 retrieved a rake of repaired wagons from the workshops and returned to Ballarat yard.

Y170 pushes the re-railed wagons into the workshops yard. The W workshops pilot waits to pull the wagons into the shops so that repairs can be carried out. A short rake of repaired wagons wait in adjacent siding.

The Y couples up to Q and QH flat wagons and a VHSF sand hopper. These will be taken back to Ballarat yard and attached to the evening 9170 Ballarat - Melbourne Yard Goods.

Y170 departs the workshops for Ballarat yard.