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jm1941 (164 posts)
Jan-08-02, 05:47 AM (EST) "Want to drive a REAL Aussie diesel" Tuesday 8th January 2002.
Was just watching THE GREAT OUTDOORS on TV here in Australia. A segment of it was this and may interest someone to have a REAL go at driving a Victorian diesel, still in its old Victorian colours. READ ON......

Korumburra, VIC
If you love trains but have grown out of your old toy train set, (or MSTS, I added this bit ) then how about playing with a real one?Located a one-and-a-half-hours’ drive south east of Melbourne, Korumburra is home to a very unique one-day course where you will get to learn how to drive a diesel locomotive.Before you get to the driver’s seat though, it is regulation that you stop in at the 100-year-old Korumburra train station for a few lessons in safety and signals. In total it takes about four hours to go over all the theory.Once that’s out of the way, the fun starts. This is the only train that uses these old South Gippsland railway tracks so it is perfectly safe. The speed limit is only 40km an hour, and the average time spent driving the train is four hours. Only 30-minutes away is the little village of Loch, which is a place full of historic buildings and quaint shops.
It is also a great destination for a weary train driver to rest up!The factsIn Korumburra you can stay at the Coal Creek Motel where rooms are available from $74 per double per night.
As a special offer, if you mention the Great Outdoors you will get 10 per cent off the regular price.The one-day experience on the diesel locomotive costs $550 per person, which includes lunch.
Courses are run on demand for anyone aged 18 and over.South Gippsland Tourist Railway
Tel: 03 5658 1111
===========================================================IF your not from Down Under, (Australia) here is your one off chance to put some icing on your holiday cake. Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
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Subject Author Message Date ID RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie die... angus987 Jan-08-02 1 RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie die... Boweavel Jan-08-02 2 RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie die... ozinoz Jan-08-02 3 RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie die... jm1941 Jan-09-02 5 RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie die... derekmorton Jan-09-02 4 RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie die... jm1941 Jan-09-02 6 RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie die... steady1 Jan-09-02 7 RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie die... derekmorton Jan-14-02 8 RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie die... jm1941 Jan-14-02 9 RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie die... steady1 Jan-14-02 10 RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie die... jm1941 Jan-15-02 11 RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie die... steady1 Jan-15-02 12 RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie die... jm1941 Jan-16-02 13

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angus987 (120 posts)
Jan-08-02, 07:37 AM (EST) 1. "RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie diesel" Yeah I saw that too, I think a trip to Victoria is on the cards in the new year! Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Boweavel (1444 posts)
Jan-08-02, 08:35 AM (EST) 2. "RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie diesel" Oooooh yeah.. I never usually watch that show..Spewin i didnt now but thanks for letting us know...Trip to Vic might have to be on the cards Catchya Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
ozinoz (121 posts)
Jan-08-02, 09:16 PM (EST) 3. "RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie diesel" For those that want a REAL experience, contact the Goldfields Railway in Castlemaine in Victoria. They do STEAM driving weekends - I think from memory the cost is about $800.00 each if there is 2, and about $1200 if only one. Includes 2 nights accomodation locally at Maldon. Not sure if you can pick which loco - J or K, but it is a nice line (was there at their steam freight weekend last year), friendly people. Definately worth a look if funds allow...OZ Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jm1941 (164 posts)
Jan-09-02, 02:34 AM (EST) 5. "RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie diesel" One guess who the trial engineman was at the helm for that day?
Our old cobber Ernie Dingo.Liked his hand signals for after knock off time. Beauty one. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
derekmorton (271 posts)
Jan-09-02, 02:32 AM (EST) 4. "RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie diesel" I am booked in, I will let you know the date.DerekEngMod@leder.com.au Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jm1941 (164 posts)
Jan-09-02, 02:54 AM (EST) 6. "RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie diesel" Hey don't forget to give me, I mean us, a run down on how you went and FELT....Will this be your first drive of an locomotive.
If so, you WILL........ be over the moon.
It will be worth EVERY CENT, believe me and a memory forever.
Tell us how you feel when you first sit in the hot seat and release the skids and open that throttle even to notch one and it actually MOVES.... YES...... and your the man.
From what I saw last night by all accounts there are passengers cars behind your engine as well.
ENJOY.....I still remember my very first drive years ago now. FAN-TAS-TIC. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
steady1 (10 posts)
Jan-09-02, 06:54 PM (EST) 7. "RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie diesel" LAST EDITED ON Jan-09-02 AT 06:58 PM (EST)Been there, done that!And strongly recommend it. I was taken on an early series T Class Diesel (a high hood, flattop loco), hauling 4 wooden bodied passenger carriages.It was a terrific time, the line is in continuous curves and gradients so you really have to work the horn, throttle and brakes. I was most impressed with the smooth ride of the loco, The driver definitely have the best seats.The 'drive a train' days happen on weekdays, and so ther trains are unexpected by the locals, hence the sounding of the horn at every curve. I have always enjoyed the sound of the two stroke GM diesels, its even better from the drivers seat, with enhanced sensations as you apply power or braking. 1:40 being the ruling gradient. The driver and fireman who conducted my training were excellent, taking great care over safety issues and backing off the instruction when they saw how I followed their instructions. Boy do they have a life! Both were 'retired' railwaymen, who spent their time working on preserved railways, Puffing Billy (narrow gauge Baldwin steam railway in hills near Melbourne), The Maldon railway (J & K Class Steam) and the South Gippsland Railway at Koorumburra. Rotating between them each week, they love it! The Driver displayed his skill and experience with precision positioning of the loco on the manual turntable at the end of the day.The trip was 21 Km each way, and seemed a fraction of the time it takes to go the same distance by car. The South Gippsland scenery is great, not that I noticed anything whilst operating! I only know this because I saw it from the car as I drove to and from. Its an opportunity not to be missed by any rail fan.Peter Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
derekmorton (271 posts)
Jan-14-02, 03:04 AM (EST) 8. "RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie diesel" I have ordered my train, a double header. One loco is an F7 made in Australia and called a "T" class here. Second loco is an SW650 built in Australia and called a "Y" class.
Total horsepower is a mind blowing 1700.I will keep you posted.Derek EngMod@leder.com.au Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jm1941 (164 posts)
Jan-14-02, 04:28 AM (EST) 9. "RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie diesel" Great stuff,That will be great fun and enjoyment.
I think your engines would be T342 and Y159.
Haven't got a photo of a "Y" as they never came across the border on the main line into South Australia.
We use to get heaps of "T" "X" "G"s and the odd "S" classes up to the early 1990's
Here is a photo of T342 the engine I think they have that you will get your chance in the hot seat of.
The 930 in photo is our main freight that had just come in from Keswick in Adelaide and the 2 "T" were doing their air test getting ready to depart to Heywood over the border, then onto Melbourne. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
steady1 (10 posts)
Jan-14-02, 11:17 PM (EST) 10. "RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie diesel" That double header sounds great Derek, I suggest you try the Y Class leading on at least one leg, the forward view from the flattop T Calss is atrocious, with the Y you will better appreciate the scenery.At the time of my 'dream experience' the Y had been freshly painted in Vic Rail Blue and Gold, the T was pretty clean, but paintwork not quite as fresh.You will have a terrific time.Peter
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jm1941 (164 posts)
Jan-15-02, 03:29 AM (EST) 11. "RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie diesel" My cobber found and just sent me this picture of the "Y159" class.
Here she is. Now you can see what Peter is talking about.

I agree with Peter, but if the "T" travels long end, it will give you some idea what steam Locomotive drivers had to contend with, but with far less view of the track ahead. I remember my first drive in a Beyer Garratt and I wouldn't have it any other way. With Diesels travelling long end first is better in my book, looks good looking along the engine that you are in control of and the glances in the mirror and behind you is the second engine etc.
Hell I'm going green, or maybe the green writing reflecting from this post. As Peter said, You will have a terrific time.
Enjoy. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
steady1 (10 posts)
Jan-15-02, 06:42 PM (EST) 12. "RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie diesel" There is no turntable or triangle at Nyora, which is the terminus for the Dream Drive trip, just a loop run around so I got to run the long and short ends leading on my trip. Yes the sound and engine visuals are better long end leading, but on this tight twisting track you don't get as much time to appreciate it as you are constantly blowing the horn and checking with the fireman for his view. Still that just adds to the intensity.Peter
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jm1941 (164 posts)
Jan-16-02, 03:26 AM (EST) 13. "RE: Want to drive a REAL Aussie diesel" Sure does.....After driving the real diesels, it will certainly put a whole different slant when he uses MSTS next time.
Derek is in for the time of his life. Great to see you have, and his is, giving it a go. It would also be interesting to see what he thinks of MSTS after his jaunt in real diesels. He will never be the same again as it will be very hard to take the smile of his face. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

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