2001 | ATN Access in Western Victoria
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| In 1999 ATN Access, the standard gauge division of Australian Transport Network, was awarded a contract to transport grain from Dimboola to Appleton Dock in Melbourne and the Riverina in New South Wales to Port Kembla. This introduced some variety in motive power and rollingstock to grain trains in western Victoria as these trains loaded at the recently opened GrainFlow Centre grain receival site to the north west of Dimboola. ATN Access’ main motive power included a number of refurbished former Western Australian L class locomotives and three second-hand former Australian National (AN) 830 class units supplemented with hired units as required. This all led to some intriguing lash ups during the five years of the contract. On 29 September 2001, L265-42211-845-838-L251 made the trip to Dimboola for a load of grain, with the two L class units in the eye catching Wisconsin Central maroon and yellow, former New South Wales 42211, at this time owned by Australian Southern Railroad, was still in its previous owner’s blue and yellow and 845 and 838 still featured AN green and gold. This was also noted as the first visit of 845 and 838 to Dimboola. The train is seen here at the down end of the GrainFlow siding after loading had been completed and the locomotives were being prepared to run around their train. |
