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| A85 rattles through the junction at Ballarat C Box with the Up Vinelander. |
My first journey on the Vinelander was in November 1984 when my family travelled to and from Mildura by train. The return journey was behind A85, seen arriving at Ballarat early on the morning of 11th November 1984.
This morning's Vinelander has a consist of CD-AZ-BRS-BZ-BS-Sleeper x2-VMAP(Motorail).The consist is part way through the transition to orange, with one blue and 3 orange steel cars, a combination of blue and orange sleepers trailed by a blue motorail wagon. The train has a CD as the guards van, on hire from Australian National. After a pause at platform 1 for a couple of minutes, A85 accelerates out of Ballarat yard and begins the climb up Warrenheip bank.
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| A85 arrives at Ballarat station with the Up Vinelander. |
The journey to Mildura was behind A85. Unfortunately I have lost my notes from this period but the consist was most likely what I have modelled. When booking we had organised for a compartment in the BS car, allowing some privacy, plus the ability to stretch out and sleep. My dads work car (a Holden Commodore) travelled in the VMAP Motorail wagon.
Lights out was shortly after departing Ballarat. I recall a cross with a block grain with a couple of T class somewhere on the way to Maryborough, the Up Vinelander at St Arnaud behind an X, and a cross with the Fast Goods behind an X at Watchem. I slept for a bit before waking up just before arrival at Ouyen. The return journey was a few days later and again with A85 in charge.
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| A85 accelerates out of Ballarat station. Melbourne is still over 90 minutes away |
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| A blue VMAP brings up the rear of the Vinelander. |
On the layout one set is used for the both the up and down services, although I usually change a number of the cars to make the consists different, Usually I run one set half way through the transition from blue and gold to orange, and the other almost all orange with a CD as the guards van.
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