Old EMD's, epic struggle and stall : Australian trains 

Call me an old dork, but I LOVE these EMDs. When I was a kid, we'd spend hours by the tracks just to watch them go by. Gorgeous. And the rumble and the sound? Heaven.

It's cool seeing smoke from the stacks from all of them simultaneously when notched up.

All of them are still in use. There are a lot of very old 567's still operational down here.

What a ripper video. I watch repeatedly for the stunning display of power and those engines!!! They almost made it first run. No humiliation for these heroic engines. Man I love them👍😀😀😀

I find myself coming back here every now and then.. great video.

Bless it's heart. It put everything it could into it.

I've watched this clip many times since it was posted. To me, no other clip captures Australian railroading as this one does - beautiful Australian landscape, antiquated 2nd gen museum pieces in mainline operation, infrequent train movements, broad gauge track and the train stalling out. I grew up with Australian trains. Once I learned about US railroading, it was hard to look at my beloved Victorian trains the same way. Many decades later I guess things are gradually changing with the introduction of more modern power and intermodal operations. Yet for me, Aussie railroading will never be far from unturbocharged VicRail EMD's slugging it out in obscurity. Who'd have thought you can still see what I grew up with still running today much as they did in the '60s and '70s. Thanks for sharing.

To hell with the criticizers, Rod. I put this on my favorites, and watch it every now and then just for the sound of 567s in the "old guys". This was well documented, and I thank you for posting this. GREAT WORK, Rod Williams!!!!

Around 4:58 onward you get an idea of just how hard the engine is working by the exhaust blowing the overhanging tree branches around. My opinion only, but I like to see these glorious old machines doing real work rather than becoming museum pieces or scrap.

Chances are, I've watched this and many others of yours 30 or more times. To an old hogger like myself, "raised" on EMD 567's in F units, GP-7's and 9's, I still enjoy the sound and action. Rod, I for one am very VERY thankful people like you share this stuff. Memories are made of these videos! PLEASE keep them coming!!!

First time seeing a loco power to a stand. thanks for sharing!

Very nice video, that's too bad they didn't make it on that run, even after laying a beach! You were in the right place at the right time!

These sound so much like the engines I knew as a kid - what I later learned are Roots-blown 567s. The smoothest sound in railroading!

Who would win? A load of grain ¦ Some noisy bois

Fab footage from Down under, Beautiful sounding Loco ❤

I wondered how could the electrical system inside that old EMD withstand that struggle for that long? That electrical system must be very strong.

Nice video Rod! Altough this train had a lost battle trying to climb this hill, we had such a great chance to hear this amazing sound coming out of those engines. made me remember my childhood, when I could here diesel engines like these echoing through the valley where I used to live.

This has to be , hands down, one of the best sounds in the world! F**king amazing! It never gets old - especially with surround sound cranked!

Why am I just now seeing this? This is absolutely wonderful!

I don't care, I just love the sound of e units.....I could sit there along that right of way and listen to them fail to make that grade for hours....I could sleep to the sound of these locos...

I remember the GM back in the mid 1950's, the two stroke locomotives and the sound,It is the best video on the GM F7's, or the F9's that brings back so many sound's and memories.Great pro filming, with good sound.Thank you so much for that.Looking forward to so many moreBob

That's awesome, too! It's a lovely location, and the freight-trains are just massive. Nice hard work for the good looking and time-honoured EMD's climbing up that hill with their inspiring engine roar.

I never ever get tired of looking and listen to this old E-unit locomotiv working.... fantastic sounding two-stroke 567 engines and i know its not good for nature with old two-stroke but its so reliable engine nothing can kill such an engine think about it over 70 year old and still working hard👍🔥🔥

Can’t beat the sound of a 567 prime mover in notch 8!

Good to see 567 prime movers still earning their keep in hard freight service! This is great!

This is undoubtedly the most impressive video I' ve ever seen- or let's say: devoured!- as far as diesels are concerned. Thanks for sharing! It's truely great stuff!

Ahhh, EMD 567's absolutely the finest!!!

This video reminds me of when , as a boy, I would watch the f-units struggle up Fejervary hill in Davenport, Iowa, USA., on the Rock Island RR. They would often stall and would have to be cut in two to make it over the hill. Thanks for the memories!

those streamliners would look much more at home pulling some silver bullet passenger cars, than they do trying to haul freight.

Most excellent, love that EMD sound.

She is a beauty and she is giving all she's got. Not enough for the hill, but more than enough for us to enjoy her. Thanks a lot for this video. Very appreciated.

!2 years on and still a good video, will pass this on.

The number of people who didn't read the solution but decided to crap on with daft comments about loco age is a worry. Two problems: 1. Dead loco2. No sandFix: 1. Get loco going2. Fill sandboxesPretty simple for those who bother to read.

Amazing you were at just the right spot at the right time. Bet you knew something - he he.. Great video - turned the base up on my speakers and got my desk rattling in harmony!

Beautiful video. Gorgeous loco. Thanks for uploading.

The most sick trainvid I ever saw!!!! Until the sand was gone there was not really much wheel slip, but the power of the working 5 engines just wasn't enough to maintain uphill speed. A great word can be said about the build quality of these 50-60 years olds, being in notch 8 at low speed for at least double the recommended time. I know that these loco's can take this punishment from when I saw their European sisters still in use in Belgium, where they ran on heavy grades at 50 years of age.

I don't know what the load was but it was within their capability if they had all been powering. One had been left off line by accident.

Being an old EMD baby, I look at this poor performance as simply poor maint. My dad worked at EMD in La Grange, Il until 1976. I grew up with EMD as I was born in 1943 just a few weeks after my dad started working at the plant. Of course that was during WW II and they did engines for PT boats and other and other applications. Later years in the late 40's and thru to the 70's they specialized in locomotive work. They had the best locomotives that were know for their durability and reliability and still look good.

They had a go still love old bangers they have style ,never get tired of watching them cheers

Sounds just like the Geeps and F units of America. What a beautiful sound and sight.

I love the sound of those engines. Gorgeous stuff.

Great footage, love the engine sound after they stall and the engines are denotched from 8 to 1. Wonder hot hot the traction motors were under those strenuous conditions.

i OWE you a big THANK YOU, I have not herd that sound for many many a years. I used to watch freight being pulled up out of the yards by a mix of EMD'S, Alco's, and Fairbanks Morse. With Sparks of slipping wheels, smoke belching from the stacks and the ground shaking, I really miss those days as a kid, but you just made my day. Thank you on the great filming, with great sounds. :) Greg from Long Island New York. LIRR

I love the sound of 567's...it brings back memories from my childhood of trains of the B&O RR pulling out from the siding in town. Puts a big smile on my face!

Love it. what a beast.

I saved this video to my classical music favorites :-)

Love the powering down and back up, great show and slick paint job in the streamliner.

I've watched this video about 10 times now, the sound is incredible! Thanks for Sharing Rod!! You legend!

The whole crew are probably leaning as hard as they can on the throttle.

emd two stroke sounds f ing amazing

An amazing video to watch Rod, it had me on the edge of my seat all the way...You were certainly at the right place at the right time...a fantastic location by the look of of it....Bob

GREAT video!!! You can really hear the music as that old girl sings her heart out.

what a Hauling power :) and what a beautyful Sound and beautyful movie ;)

Well I think I screamed my voice out. Someone else help the train out by cheering please.

Excellent footage! That's what we called being in the right place at the right time! Superb footage :)

Just awesome Rod, well done.

Well, you can't say the old girl didn't try. She had her ears pinned back the whole time.

Wow, motors screaming and current meters pegged im sure! That's a lot of wattage being disappated! Can you say "glowing" traction motors!

Fantastic video. Love watching locomotives hard at work. Proper thrash😁

The saying " Beat it like a rented mule" comes to mind watching this. Great vid. thanks.

wow, they're are beating the hell out of those old 567's

Love those E units!!!!!!!

Wow, most impressive! Those ol' girls still got it, can't fault 'em for style or guts! Thanks for showing.

WOW What a beautiful sight!!! Look at all that wonderful VR!!! I need to do some gunzelling out west.

I had an engineer, back when I was a conductor, who one day was getting stalled on a hill with a big train and not enough power. He wasn't running the train but he was the conductor or brakeman. Can't remember which. I wasn't on this train and this takes place in the United States, the state of Iowa, not Australia. (Sorry) Anyway, so the engineer running that train was about to give up because they were going under 1 mph. So my engineer took the engineers seat and applied the train brakes while keeping the throttle in notch 8. Unlike what anyone would think, the train moved and picked up speed. It was a technique that he was taught during engineer training. Not sure why it moved the train; one would think that it would make the train stop, not move. Thought I'd throw that story in, it kinda fits in with the video.

What would have solved it would have been having all of the units powering in the first place

Epic doesn't begin to describe this! Most amazing stall I've ever seen in video of in life for that matter.

Man the sound is wicked Rod. It neat to listen to it through headphones. That GROWL is unmistakable EMD.

In the US trains that have to travel up a steep grade usually have some engines on the back (helpers) that push it over the grade.

They should fit the locomotives with some kind of winch so they can loosen the winch, move forward, break, and then winch all the carts back. And that cameraman should have helped by pushing.

Pleasure to watch! Thanks for posting!

Thanks Rod for a great video post . I believe it tells a bigger story of the difference in where money is to be spent between rail freight & passenger service .

Don't know if any engines could be operated remotely, but I would have put two of them two-thirds the way back.

Becoming a Locomotive Driver was my dream and I regret my decision of not studying hard, I lost my dream.

Now THAT'S a railfan video! Fav'd.

THESE TRAINS SOUND SUPER TUFF. ABSOLUTELY BRUTAL SOUND AT 5:50 THEY ARE REALLY PUTTING ON THE AGONY.

When you try your best but you don't succeed.....

most likely dust from the sand but they would have been close to cooking

this is an awesome video, sound is incredible.... many thanks

Great video. Loved every minute!

What would have solved it was if all the lead units had been on line.

I'm no engineer but I do know diesel motors. I don't think the age here is so much the issue of the motive power. lack of units I think is the problem. why beat the hell out of the locos just put more power on why the lack of power.

Wow, that is pulling hard! Great video!

Ive seen similar when I owned a home alongside the railway track near Bridgewater in South Australia, hear the GMs and Alco's working up and over the apex, fantastic.

Ya just wanna get out and push ah

6 locos and they can't make it? What's their power output each? Is is a problem of traction or of power?

the EMD' sound beautiful!

What a struggle! Very nice engines and an amazing diesel sound. Thumbs up! :)

Gravity's a bitch.

i think they needed four more locomotives

Excellent video! Thanks

It still gives me goose bumps to see an old F unit still working somewhere in the world

that was a waste of diesel....

I've lost count of how many times I've watched this clip, one of my all time favourites !

Even though it stalled out, it still sounds and looks great!!💪👍

Woooooooow what an effort from the old girl, you can clearly see no exhaust smoke from number 2 loco and number four loco, I was born in 1990 and as a small child my dad took me to see one of these at a train station doing rail works duties helping move the equipment back and forth from the platform

Seen a similar loco to the one leading up close (or the same model), these things are huge, and can really take a beating. Nice quality Rod. thanks for uploading.

Nice video, huge sound. Reminds me of the days our GM's still were in service, we had locomotives that sounded just like these. Got some of them on video when they were used as museum locos.

Simply excellent capture.

Watching this in the uk...fantastic filming, the driver did his best!