8121 Ballarat pass

In 1983 the longest non-stop run of an intercity passenger train was 8121 pass. Departing Spencer Street at 1550, 8121 pass took 2 hours and 10 minutes for the express run to Ballarat via North Geelong. 

After an express run from Spencer Street, B72 glides downhill past Ballarat East Locomotive Depot on 8121 pass. T388, W243 and C502 rest around the turntable.

At 1800 the 8121 pass slows to a stop at Ballarat station. 

B72 pulls forward past the Lydiard Street gates and Ballarat B Box to clear the points. The B then reverses down no.2 road to run arounds the cars at the platform. 

The B then couples to the cars sitting in platform 1. 

B72 waits departure time in platform 1. The train examiner checks the brakes while the crew have a 20 minute meal break. Perhaps the fireman has taken the billy to the refreshment rooms for a refill of railway coffee.

A couple of trains pass on the adjoining tracks. At 1822 C507 on a late running 9133 Melbourne - Adelaide Express Goods glides past on No. 2 Road. 

Y151 runs down the No. 3 Road stopping at the signal gantry near Lydiard Street gates. 

Yard pilot Y150 shunts the loading for 383 Ballarat - Ararat Roadside Goods onto the Y151. 383 will depart at 1900 following 9133 westwards. 

At 1845 B72 departs Ballarat station on 8150 pass and snakes through Ballarat yard crossing from the Down to the Up line. 

Yard Pilot Y150 continues shunting in Ballarat yard making up a block grain train for the Mildura line and the 9170 Ballarat - Melbourne Through Goods.

B72 is about to start the climb up Warrenheip bank as it crosses Humffray Street with 8150 pass. At Warrenheip 8150 will take the straight via Bacchus Marsh to return to Melbourne.