1983-84 grain harvest

 

T321 and T370 run past Ballarat C box with a long rake of empty GY's for loading at overflow silos on the Robinvale line.

With the forecast of a record grain harvest for 1983-84 of over 4 million tonnes, a steady the procession of grain trains have been running through Ballarat daily on their way to and from the port of Geelong. 

In order to move this seasons record crop, the Grain Elevators Board of Victoria reorganised the grain receival system. The plan involved the establishment of 14 Central Receival Points (CRP's) and 70 overflow stations to be serviced by daily trains. The CRP's were to be service by block hopper trains with the empty wagons being returned from the port to the silo's for reloading within a 24 hour period. The balance of the silos in Victoria wouldn't receive any trains until after the harvest period. Together with new grain unloading facility on a loop completed at Geelong, the GEB and V/Line hoped to move more grain from these points than would have traditionally be moved from almost 300 silos during the peak harvest period.

In the second week of the harvest, the following grain trains were observed passing through Ballarat on the afternoon of the Friday 2nd December 1983.

B81-S303 lead a rack of empty GH's upgrade out of Ballarat bound for loading at the silos at Donald. 

S313-S305 slow for a crew change at Ballarat station. The VHGY's had been loaded at the Wycheproof Central Receival Point on the Kulwin line.

X31 and T367 rumble through the junction at Ballarat C Box with a empty train of GY's for loading at overflow silos on the Mildura line.

T386-T358-Y151 hauls a long rake of GY's off the Maryborough line and past the Macarthur St gates. Y151 was being returned from pilot duties at Dunolly. Y class on Dunolly pilot duties are regularly returned to Ballarat for servicing.

T361-T381 haul a rake of empty GH's past the Doveton Street sidings bound for loading at silos on the Mildura line.