Introduction of 930's on goods trains

X48 leads 952 elephant style on 9130 Adelaide- Melbourne Express Goods at Ballarat on the 25th February 1984.

Although 930's had been operating as second unit to third series X's on the Overland since November 1983 it wasn't until early 1984 the 930's were approved for through working on interstate express goods.  Initially all of the single ended 930's (930 to 935), and 937, 938 and 940 were approved to work into Victoria. 

X48 and 952 run past Ballarat East locomotive depot and begin the climb up Warrenheip bank on 9130 Adelaide- Melbourne Express Goods, 25th February 1984.

Interestingly a number of other 930's made their way across to Victoria as trailing units prior to the radio-fitted pool being established. Both 952 and 966 were regular visitors as trailing units while 949 (which was temporarily on Broad Guage), 950 and 962 ran through to Victoria at least once. It would be interestingly to know if there were any other random 930s made their way across as trailing units prior to the radio-fitted pool being established. 

Some observations of early workings were:

C504, X51 and 966 on an up Jet on Ingliston Bank on 14/01/84.

X51-966 on Up Jet, overtaken by X49-934 on Up Overland at Box Bank Loop, 16/01/84.

X51, X54 and 966 on a late running 9130 Jet at Beaufort on 26/01/84. 

X54 with 952 on 9130 Up Jet at Bacchus Marsh on 25/02/84.

X48 & 966 on an up Jet at Bacchus Marsh, 17/03/84.

X48 and 950 on an Up Jet at Melton, 12/04/84.

930-952 Down Jet via Geelong at Warrenheip, 2/05/84.

C508 and 933 on up Jet on Warrenheip Bank, 14/05/84.

X48 and 940 on Up Jet at Ballarat East, 25/05/84.

X45-966 down goods, X46-949 Up Jet, 930 Up goods, 25/05/84

954-C504 Up Jet, 26/05/84.

C504-X51-966 glide down grade across the junction of the Serviceton and Maryborough lines on an Up Jet. 

Initially X/930 Jet workings occurred three days a week, when only 2 x C class worked through to South Australia instead of the previously agreed 3 x C class. On certain days, 3 x 930's were allocated to Victorian through workings. One of the services that regularly saw X-930's was the 9130 Adelaide - Melbourne Express Goods. At Ballarat, if you made an early start, it was possible on some mornings to see X-930 combinations on 9130 and the Overland. 

X50 and 934 run past Ballarat C Box on the Up Overland, 25th February 1984.