Railway Digest Magazine February 2021 Back Issue

Ballarat line upgrades complete
Over the last 15 years since the Regional Fast Rail improvements were introduced, Ballarat has become a thriving regional centre. It is little more than 100km from Melbourne, and is well served by a freeway as well as the railway. Whether using the railway for work or leisure, it remains in high demand, with passengers returning to the railway in significant numbers since COVID-19 restrictions eased in Victoria during the latter part of 2020. David Campbell explains how the completion of the recent upgrades will further enhance this.

The Apex Train
The Apex train (aka the Hanson Quarry train), that runs from Apex Quarry’s crushing plant at Kilmore East on the north-east line, to the Hanson Australia plant at Brooklyn, in Melbourne’s western suburbs, has long been a favourite subject of Victorian – and particularly Melbourne-based – rail photographers. We present a selection of photos of the Apex train, taken over the past 12 months.

NO SMOKING
In the transport world, cars and other small vehicles tend to have a short life and fleet replacement brings better fuel economy and lower emissions. To some extent the same process applies to railway vehicles but locomotives are the slowest to be replaced. Some of the oldest that are still operational date from the 1950s. Colin Butcher takes a look at this issue, and particularly how it relates to the venerable and still very useful Goodwin/Alco 48 class and 830 class locomotives.

The Southern Nights Heritage Tour
On the eve of more lockdowns and in the shadow 12 months of angst, the 2020 rail tour year ended in NSW on 19 December with an unusual evening tour of Sydney utilising heritage electric rolling stock. Dominik Giemza reports.

ZA6 takes the Midland Highway

Railcars of the Pichi Richi Railway