Interesting. Seems like the traction current collected by the first locomotive, likely went directly to the traction motors of the loco with the pantographs down in parallel with the traction motors of the first loco. Maybe that avoided going through a regular type multiple unit setup.
They privatised it for profiteers, ran it down and closed it down. Can't even buy locally made briquettes these days. They import some from Germany instead; from near where some of these locos were made.
The local goods trains used to take wagon loads of briquettes all over Victoria to industries and the Newport power station and to stock piles for domestic use as heating, and for hot water services and much more. I still have a few unopened bags. They are far superior to the German ones and have more heat and produce less ash. They would keep a fire going for ages. Won't find any along the line these days. They are extinct.
No it was a different gauge. - a metre gauge. It crossed the Gippsland line and the Princes Hwy on a long bridge just west of Morwell which I'm fairly sure is still there. These locomotives were replaced by some gauge converted DH class they got from Queensland before the line finally closed. The DHs are still around somewhere. Maybe at Puffing Billy.They must be very versatile because some have been converted to 2 foot gauge and are used on sugar cane trains in Queensland.