391 Ballarat - Skipton Goods

 

This morning's Y152 is in charge of the 391 Ballarat - Skipton Goods, conveying wagons for Pittong, Linton and Skipton. By the early 80's there was only two outward sources of traffic remaining on the Skipton line, Kaolin from the plant at Pittong and grain from the silos at Skipton. The only regular inwards loading was superphosphate.

Today's train includes shipping containers loaded on a VFDA flat wagon and in VOAA open wagons for Pittong, a VOBX loaded with drought fodder for Linton and 5 GY's loaded with superphosphate for Linton and Skipton, with a ZL bringing up the rear..  

The 1982 Western and South-Western District Working Timetable had times for 3 conditional (as required) services to Skipton, Monday to Friday, 391/392, 393/396 and 395/398.  Train No.391 was scheduled to depart Ballarat at 06:35am, arriving at Skipton at 09:50am. The return journey, Train No. 392 was scheduled to depart Skipton at 10:35am arriving back in Ballarat at 2:25pm. Y or T class were used on services on the Skipton line, with occasional double heading when loading is heavy.  

Although the Skipton line isn't part of the modelled section of the layout, Skipton line services are included as part of the operating sequence. A drawer below the layout with containers for destinations on the line is used to store wagons and the loco between outward and inward services.