S304 - George Bass

S304 and S301 on the Overland at Sunshine, 22nd September 1983.

The fifth member of the S class, S304, builders number 57 - 168 enter service on the 15/10/1957 and was named after explorer George Bass. 

Recently I added two more S class to the locomotive fleet from my dad's layout, these being numbered S303 and S304.  

S303 is still on the workbench having some repairs made to it. S304 was in better condition, and with a mechanical service, touch up to the paint work and replacement of coupler has entered service on the layout first. I added George Bass name plates from VR models. I have also weathered the locomotive further to more closely match its appearance in photos from 1983-1984. The loco retains brass numberplates although I will change these to printed photo ones in the future.

S304 crosses Lydiard Street with the Up Dimboola pass.

During 1983-84 the S's shared duties with the 3rd series X class on the Overland and on Dimboola passenger trains. The S class (in multiple with other classes) were also regularly rostered on Express goods and grain trains.

Some observations of S304 during the period modelled are:

16/01/83 - S304 noted shutdown at Ararat locomotive Depot.

Mon 24/1/83 - S304 Up Dimboola pass with N set and van

Mon 31/1/83 - S304 Up Dimboola pass N set only (no van attached)

19/03/83 - S304 Up Seymour pass at Kilmore East.

31/03/83 - X47-S304 arriving on the Up Overland at Spencer Street station.

15/05/83 - S304 at Ararat loco depot.

18/07/83 - X50-S304 Up Overland at Sunshine.

12/08/83 - S312-S304 Up Overland (13 cars + Motorail +2 vans) at Sunshine.

22/08/83 - S302-S304 Down Overland (12 cars) at Ballarat.

27/08/83 - S304-S303 Up Jet (30 wagons) at Parwan.

22/9/83 - S304 and S301 (back to back) on the Up Overland at Sunshine.

06/10/83 - S304-S312 Down Ballarat pass at Parwan.

18/11/83 - S305-S304 5:55pm Dimboola pass at Spencer Street station.

10/01/84 - S304-S302 on Portland bound block grain of VHGY's at Batchica

18/01/84 - S303-S304 stabled on the former Casterton Line at Braxholme for a cross.

02/02/84 - S304-S302-T397 Up grain at Stawell

??/02/84 - S302-S304 block grain of VHGY's loading at Hopetoun silos.

08&15&27/02/84 S304 Up Dimboola pass.

??/02/84 - S304 on 9122 Goods at Cressy.

??/02/84 - C502, L252, B80 and S304 noted at back of diesel shops at South Dynon Loco.

05/07/84 - S304-T400 ex Apex quarry at Kilmore East

Sun 26/8/84 - S304, B63, B64, T335, T360, Y151 and W250 stabled at Ballarat East Locomotive Depot.

29/10/84 - S304 on 9334 Goods ex Albury (Lyshart slab steel loading).

09/12/84 - S315-S304-C506-X47 on west bound Jet at Parwan.

 

S304 rattles through the junction at Ballarat C Box with the Up Dimboola pass.

I only recall travelling behind S304 on one occasion, on a Dimboola pass in Feb 1984.  I did photograph the locomotive on a few occasions, some of which are included in this post.

Fittingly S304 first revenue working on the layout was on the morning Up Dimboola pass.

S304 slows on approach to Ballarat station with the Up Dimboola pass.

S304 was withdrawn on the 16/2/1988 and stored. It was eventually scrapped  in March 1992.