Every Saturday afternoon, the Indian Pacific, 5AP8 ex Adelaide. With scheduled arrival time of 3.00pm at East Perth Terminal. Has to be delayed, on its journey through Western Australia's wheatbelt region.
This is to allow the Prospector rail car service from Kalgoorlie, to bypass the Indian Pacific passenger train. As the Prospector, has to arrive at the platform, at East Perth Terminal first.
Giving enough time, for passengers to alight. And empty Prospector to depart for the PTA Rail Car Depot in Kewdale
In most cases, the Indian Pacific, generally is halted at a crossing loop, on the eastern side of Avon Yard. With a lengthy wait, dinner is served to passengers, whilst the IP is stationary. A real bonus, for the people on board! With the Prospector, then overtaking. Timetable delays etc, changes this arrangement. And crossings can be anywhere, even using the loops in the picturesque Avon Valley
Video taken at Grass Valley crossing loop. Saturday 27 January 2024.
With the Indian Pacific, arriving at 11.09am .To stop, and the Prospector passing by, approx 12.05pm.
East bound PacNat 7PX4, with NR 84 up front. Crosses the IP at 12.24pm. That's an hour & 15 min stop so far. I didn't hang around to grab the IP on the move.....I went chasing 7PX4. :-)
Always have been my mission, to get a video of the Prospector overtaking the Indian Pacific, parked at one of the closer loops, east of Avon Yard, Seabrook, Grass Valley, Meckering or Cunderdin. Today's video, is the closest yet. Though just the roof top of the two railcar set is seen above the Indian Pacific carriages.
Of interest, tabled times are shown for the Indian Pacific as against the Prospector. Ex Kalgoorlie.
5AP8 Indian Pacific. Saturdays ex West Kalgoorlie yard. 3.05am.
7484 Prospector Saturdays ex Kalgoorlie station. 7.08am.
5AP8 West Merredin. 9.38am. 7484 West Merredin. 10.44am.
7484 Avon Yard. 12.19pm. 5AP8 Avon Yard. 1.10pm (The Prospector overtakes the IP)
7484 arr East Perth Terminal. 1.45pm.
5AP8 arr East Perth Terminal. 3.00pm.
The CBH Group, wheatbin at Grass Valley, is no longer used for grain receivals.
The siding tracks, have over the years, been used for storage of wagons etc.
With Watco, using the yard as a standard gauge shunting school. for their new employees.
Rolling stock seen in this video, includes stored ex WN class nickel wagons.
Once used for BHP Nickel West transport of nickel residue from Leonora to Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter.