Today's Operations session was based on the 1977 Tuesday AM Schedule. The day started with the overnight Jets, both ways between Dry Creek Yard in Adelaide and Dynon Yard in Melbourne stopping for a Locomotive change in Blue Lake, shortly followed by 901 the Express freight Mile End to Blue Lake with lading for the Apcel Paper Plant at Snuggery. Operator 1 was Ray, Operator 2 was David and Operator 3 was Ron. Steve and Geoff M acted as Yardmasters at Blue Lake and Geoff T was in charge dispatching from Train Control.
Once the Jets were cleared from Blue Lake, there was no time to rest as VR 7, an Express freight from Heywood, hauled by an unusual motive power an SAR 800, arrived from Heywood replacing the stalled J Class steamer due to its driver not understanding F7 applies a brake to the locomotive, Fat Fingers. At the same time 8141 (westbound Overland) arrived from Melbourne for its Locomotive change and onward trip to Adelaide. The Yardmaster had some quick work to move a VLX car from VR7 onto 185, The Apcel Switch Job, which was departing 1 hour (10 minutes) later with its manifest off 901. Ray departed Dry Creek Yard with 161 for shunting at Wirrega and Blue Lake with its load of empty Grain wagons and empty Livestock. With that we stopped for lunch and a review of the mornings action.
After lunch 161 and 185 completed their shunting moves and the Passenger traffic started. An SAR Brill arrived from Millicent and the Walker Railcar from Heywood into the Blue Lake Station precinct. 10 minutes later the Adelaide bound Bluebird 542 headed off in Ray's capable hands, while David guided the Blue Lake Bound Bluebird 281 into Bridgewater from Adelaide for the cross with its namesake.
In the meantime Ron departed Blue Lake with Mile End bound 214 Goods, shunting Murray Bridge and Bridgewater on its way through. Once 281 arrived at Blue Lake Mrs Kafoops transferred to the Walker Railcar waiting in the East Station Dock for its trip back to Heywood on VR 56. The final whistle blew on the Platform at 13:45 clearing 583, the SAR Brill heading back to Millicent. Quietness descended on the Train Room as we all retired for Coffee, Tea and Cake to sit and talk about the experience.
All in all a pretty good day enjoyed by all. The F%&#up Fairies appeared once or twice but none so bad as to spoil the Action. Steve, the Blue Lake Yardmaster was performing at his best, both operationally and in the art of advice giving, which of course is ignored.
