Roster N19

B79 on Down Albury pass (8334) departing Albury on 22/3/1984 with a consist of 1CD-8AZ-1BRS-213BS-4BE. This is run 25, runs 23 to 25 were listed as having a consist of CD-AZ-BRS-BZ-BS but variations were common, in this case a BS for BZ as car C and BE(a/c) substituting for a BS as car D. The mixed colours of this consist typical of the Z sets at this time, Maroon CD, Blue AZ, Orange Teacup BRS, V/Line BS and Blue BE(a/c).  

40 years ago today, carriage roster N19 commenced, corresponding with the entry into service of the last N set (55BN-56BRN-57ACN). I've recently put together a timetable for operating sessions on my Ballarat layout and thought that the makeup of each of the carriage sets in use might be of interest. 

It's based on the Western and South-Western Districts Working Timetable (State Transport Authority - May 1984) and the first two carriage rosters issued in 1984,  Carriage Roster N19 (effective from 15th April 1984) only lasted for just over a month, being replaced with Carriage Roster N19A (effective from 20th May 1984). 

The roster had 16 N sets scheduled in daily service (with 3 sets in for servicing or held as spares). 

The sets for each of the runs relevant to services through Ballarat on the western line were: 

Runs

1-16 ACN-BRN-BN (Ballarat & Dimboola)

23    CD-AZ-BRS-BZ-BS (Dimboola - Sun only)

27-28 CE-AZ-BRS-BZ-BS (Mildura)

Since roster N12 which commenced on the 20th December 1982, N sets had been rostered on all intercity trains west of Ballarat.  Roster N19A replaced the N set on the Sunday's Dimboola service with a Z set consisting of CD-AZ-BRS-BZ-BS.

B68 on a Down Ballarat pass. at Ardeer 29th May 1984 

All Ballarat services were now rostered as N sets. The last service to use wooden cars being the Friday evening 8145 pass, and Saturday 8134 pass, runs 19 & 20, with a consist of CW-AS-BK-BEL-BEL. 

The two Mildura runs (27 & 28) were formed by sets with a consist of CE-AZ-BRS-BZ-BS. These sets no longer formed a Bendigo service in the afternoon/evening before running to Mildura, but now ran to Swan Hill during the day (Mon-Sat).

B on Up Ballarat pass at Ardeer on 29/5/1984

There were obviously varriations in the consist of some sets from those listed in each of the runs in the official roster. The AZ's were still being converted to ACZ, with the first ACZ completed, entering service in March 1984. In the absence of the ACZ, the majority of the Z sets were running with either CE-AZ or CD-AZ. 

The other main variations were with the exchange of guards vans between sets (CD, CE and CW) and the exchange of the fourth car in sets on runs 21 to 28 (BS, BE(a/c), BE or BWL) while the last of the S and Z cars were being refurbished.      

The next changes occurred in mid 1984, when the A class and P class commenced revenue services, and then with the delivery and entry into service of the first of the H sets.

At this stage due to the limited number of locos in V/Line colours, the absence of an ACZ in my fleet and that I prefer the teacup era and to run a mix of steel and wooden bodied passenger cars, I'm not intending to model or run operating sessions beyond mid 1984. I'll run an Autumn 1984 timetable for the next month or so and then I'll be going back in time to the winter of 1982 with roster N9. If there's interest I'll post on the details of this timetable and the carriage roster (that was in place) when I make the change.