Out 'n' about in Alice Springs

Secret Agent · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 5:12 pm Post subject:

Glad to see you have your priorities right there Frozen Squirrel! Beer!

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Somebody · The Peanut Gallery Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 304

From what I have seen on various boards, it looks as if the NT isn't a bad place to be for a train spotter. Not a great deal of traffic but good scenery and only two NRs a week.

Thanks for posting the updates on here, Squirrel.

frozensquirrel · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 8:00 am Post subject:

Maaaark · Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 54 Location: Hangar 18

frozensquirrel · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:08 pm Post subject:

From the middle of somewhere:

Motive power on the Ghan has been single NR from Adelaide to Alice, then pick up the AN as the second loco for the run to Darwin. The AN has been AN3 in recent weeks since AN2 went back down south.

Freight services have been a mix of VL, ALF, FQ & SCT class. One DA2 service had 2 ALFs on it, the SCT is usually SCT003 which gets the lead when it runs.

The yard shunter is currently a bit of mystery here with FQ105 replaced by 701, then 701 can't be seen in the yard which supposedly has gone back down south. AN3 has been doing some freight shunting when not running on the Ghan, may have a sticky on the weekend to see whats happening.

All in all, the Masters Games have been a success again with the town overun by old folk running, walking, swimming, bowling, drinking and fucking their little hearts out, God bless them. Can't wait for their return in 2010, put a lot of life into the town.

Weathers good here, low 30s during the day, high teens overnight.

See ewes soon for another update (and hopefully some fucking photos too...)

BH160159 · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:59 pm Post subject:

frozensquirrel · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:02 pm Post subject:

frozensquirrel · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 11:01 am Post subject:

Quick roundup from the Centre:

NR36 in its new paint job got the lead on 4AD8/7DA8 last week with AN3 the second loco for the Alice-Darwin-Alice leg.

FJ104 back as yard shunter after its trip down south to EDI Pt. Augusta for maintenance.

Freights have the usual suspects-FQ, ALF, CLP, VL & SCT classes at the pointy end, some double stacked containers in the consists also.

Weather warm, lots of dust, supposedly its going to rain on Wednesday smile

Maaaark · Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 54 Location: Hangar 18

Another successful trip, arrived in Alice Springs on 5DA2 with FQ03 (traction motor cut out), VL354 (very low fuel, attached at Katherine from 3AD1), and CLF6 (hauled dead, water in sump). The last 100 or so k's to Alice were done with only FQ03 powering with about 2,500t in tow. ARTC also gave us a royal shafting after leaving Tarcoola. Home now and time for a beer.
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Drivers are like mushrooms; Kept in the dark and fed shit!

Foamer_1 · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 10:59 am Post subject:

Maaaark · Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 54 Location: Hangar 18

frozensquirrel · Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 10:08 pm Post subject:

From the Red Centre:

We had rain. Shitloads of rain, enough to make the Todd River run.

6DA2 came a cropper south of town at the 16 mile creek crossing on Saturday morning on the run from Tennant Creek to Alice Springs. VL360 didn't fare too well with flat spots on the wheels, it still in Alice Springs yard after being detached from the train.

Further to the north was the drama where 3DA2 came unstuck and lost some of the wagons earlier in the week.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/04/2410258.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/05/2410597.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/04/2410072.htm

Ghan still single NR from Adelaide to Alice, then picks up AN3 for the Alice-Darwin-Alice run. NRs 74,75 & 109 have had ago at the pointy end in recent times.

AK cars came & went. Solo 22 class in the lead both ways.

Freight still ALF/FQ/CLP/CLF/VL class, but todays 7AD1 had FQ/ALF/GM12 at the pointy end. SCT003 had some engine drama and no idea when it will (or if it will) return to the Alice.

FQ104 yard shunter.

Besides the rain and the fucking huge duststorms, all quiet here.

Have a good week. Wink

Stick that one up your arse!.

Maaaark · Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 54 Location: Hangar 18

frozensquirrel · Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 5:29 pm Post subject:

Still here, still drinking beer

The Ghan is down to one service a week now due to the Christmas break so 1AD8/4DA8 runs whilst 4AD8/7DA8 doesn't run. AN3 has a four day sleepover whilst not on the Alice-Darwin-Alice leg of the service. NR class members 74, 75, 84 & 109 amongst the engines in the lead.

Freights have had the usual mixed bag of motive power of CL/ALF/FQ/VL/GM12/700s at the sharp end.

FJ104 the yard shunter.

Rain has eased off in the last couple of days, been unusually cool also, summer is around the corner with the mid 40s during the day.

Thats it for me for now, I'll be here over Christmas but odds on the freights will be reduced during this period so it'll be real quiet here.

Stick that one up your arse!!

frozensquirrel · Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 10:28 am Post subject:

All fairly quiet here, 4AD8/7DA8 not running so AN3 stays in the yard from Thursday lunch until Monday evening. AN3 is parked with FJ104 near the old refuelling point. NR 67 got a guernsey as the lead on the last 1AD8/4DA8 service.

Only seen one freight since last time, FQ/ALF combo at the sharp end.

Around a dozen RMBY wagons are being scrapped here in Alice Springs, not too sure where they come from or when.

All in all, the years as good as done, see ewes next year!

Stick that one up your arse!! Wink