Buffers on the dead end siding at the eastern end of Ballarat yard

 

638 ZL pushed off the end of the dead end siding adjacent to Ballarat East signal box, uprooting the buffers. 

An incident happened this afternoon when Ballarat yard pilot Y152 pushed two ZL guards vans through the dead end siding adjacent to Ballarat East signal box. The force of the impact uprooting the buffers and resulting in the one of the ZL's ending up in the dirt.

638 ZL rests in the dirt at the end of dead end siding.

Y152 remained to assist with rerailing the guards van with W250 taking over yard pilot duties. Once rerailing was complete Y152 slowly towed 638 ZL to Ballarat North workshops for assessment of the damage. Gangers bolted a sleeper to the top of the rail and left the buffers lying on the ground adjacent to the signal box.

W250 has taken over yard pilot duties, allowing Y152 to be used to assist with rerailing of the ZL guards van.

I don't actually know how or when these buffers were pulled out of the ground but a photo from Noel Bamford on Mark Bau's Victorian Railways website shows that they were lying on the ground in May 1984. I photographed them in the same spot adjacent to the signal box in the mid 1990's, and assume that they probably remained there until the recent removal  of these tracks in Ballarat yard.  

Enlargement of a Noel Bamford photo from Mark Bau's Victorian Railway's website showing the buffers lying on the ground in May 1984.

638 ZL rests in the dirt at the end of dead end siding adjacent to Ballarat East signal box.

W250 rests between yard pilot duties in the dead end siding. A sleeper has been secured to the top of the rail and the old buffers left lying on the ground.