Last day of Electric trains to Gippsland. Saturday 5th December 1998. Sorry, sound in left channel only due to a problem with an audio lead in video capture.
Hi bud, lot of memories here for me, I started at warragul as a fireman, progressed to driving. still driving today. The L class was a great engine, my father in law was a driver at warragul, thats how I met the missus. thanks for posting the video ! cheers
I used to live in Traf and spent most of my spare time watching these magnificent engines shunting. I was devastated to go back home to find they had removed all the electric lines and dismantled the L class engines with their beautiful blue and yellow VR colours. I think this was the one engine that was modified for a reason I cant remember. I spose that change has to take place and these beauties just didn't make the grade. But it isn't the same driving along the tracks without the great power lines standing and even our old overhead bridge has gone. At least I have the memories of steam trains and the L's dragging many wagons loaded with coal.
Very good video mate. Thanks heaps for uploading, the L's are really good, it is a shame that L1162 can't run out on the mainline these days. But she will return some day, sometime.
It would've helped if you explained that the first time. We'd still need a time period though. I spent a lot of time there through the 1990s taking photos and video. In 1981 I caught the Warragul school train to Warragul Tech until that was replaced by buses. I did know some of the staff, but unfortunately didn't know them by name. I was there regularly enough that they knew who I was and what I was doing.
The lack of electrified mainline for it to run on will be the most serious impediment to that happening, but I know what you mean. I guess high-speed runs to Pakenham may still be possible in the future. I lived at Longwarry in the 1980s and saw the Ls in their final 7 years of operation.
It's like a race between 2 former electric class ghost greats as they both tear through the melbourne's stations of pure ownage and statesmanship. With zero rules, zero regulations, only memories (feel their speed & the wind in your hair) as they tear down the the track with the need 4 vintage speed! Both racing back through into years gone by but who will be the winner in the rail graveyard in the sky?! But just for now, these 2 warhorse own it all without a care in the world for just a while as a sad destiny awaits both..There was no real winner in the end, we the consumers/passengers lost in the end of what was once great about our now DULL railway network.......
Our Government are so stupid to get rid of country railways, especially Warburton, Mansfield, Wonthaggi and many other lines. With the high cost of fuel, car registration, insurance and running/keeping cars, it would have been better and cheaper if people used trains instead. Without country towns trains the cost of travel is passed on the people with their own cars. So, people thought who needs trains when we can buy a car and travel wherever we like? Yes, exactly right, but given the cost of buying and running a car is sky high (depending on the car, engine size and weight), one needs to ask is it worth spending money buying a car and then spending more to run and maintain it? Cost of running a car to get to work daily, which includes all expenditures, e.g. yearly registration, insurance, tires, brakes, petrol, oil, service and repair is close to 10-15 thousands. Travelling by train is around 1000 to 2000 dollars, depending on distances travelled. It could be more or less than 1000 or 2000 dollars yearly. A massive saving that could see you paying mortgage and debts in no time. These days are not like the 40-50's with steam trains, nah, they have faster and cleaner trains with heater and air conditioners. But then, if people want to own cars and keep the Arabs richer, that's their business. However when people are in deep debts, they are refusing to realise that it's two things that drain them out of money, 1) it's their cars, large fat shit boxes that eat you out of house and home. 2) It's the people's heavy lead-foot driving habit, always pushing the pedal flat to the floor Jack Rabbit style, without a care in the world that bad driving habits waste more fuel, brakes, tyres, engine wear at tear, etc. Nah! They don't think about these things. They get up in the morning and trash the fat shit box to work, or drop kids to schools, then rush to work or shops at flat-out revs. In the afternoon, finish work, flat out to pick up kids, then flat out - rush home, then flat out - rush to women's gym, rush home to feed the family. And so are the men, in utes in particulars with and without trailers loaded with heavy tools, excavators, etc., flat out - to get home, only to be stuck bumper to bumper with other lead-foots, not giving a care about the handling behaviour of a loaded vehicle and trailer. Hard acceleration and hard braking, causing premature wear and tear of engine, brakes, tyres, etc., and an increase in fuel wastage. What would have the fuel lasted you at least a week, you're back at the bowser 3 days later. I am on the road 2-3 times per week, I watch all these stupid people who rush flat out to and from like bats out of hell, brain bead maniacs who have no consideration about being reasonable on the use of an important resource, petrol. Nah, flat out they go, then they have accidents, them they have to pay insurance premiums because it's their faults. Bloody hell, is this what every racing driver can do these days. The question is, how do they manage to keep themselves and their families when the car guzzles down half their income? Better go back on trains and work in factories like the good old days when jobs were plenty (and now they're all in China). In my days thousands of workers walked to work and thousands went by train. Only a few living away from stations and work took their cars. Think about it, how much you pay for yearly registration, insurance, other expenditures, etc., you will understand. If you dont, then you have no brains, probably fried omelette as brains. Don't own a car, like my friend did 2 years ago, see how much money you can have. Try 10 years without a car and you will soon have 100,000 in saving. 15 years and you will have your home paid off.
