Bicentennial Triple Parallel Run with 3801, D3-639, K184, R761

As part of Australia's bicentennial celebrations, several steam events were held throughout Australia in 1988. The classic event was the parallel running on three adjacent tracks of four steam locomotives: 3801, D3-639, K184 and R761. The three trains ran from Melbourne to Seymour and return, although the R class did not actually make it back on the day! (Of which more later.)

The 38 was on the standard gauge line that runs from Melbourne to Sydney, the D3 and K were coupled and on the up broad gauge line that runs from Albury to Melbourne, and the R was on the down broad gauge ibid. Needless to say, with 3 trains involved, and over 1000 rail fans, the trains took some organizing. Special safeworking arrangements were in place to allow the event, and regular trains were rescheduled around the event.

R761 disgraced herself by derailing at Seymour, which caused an added excitement to the day. Recorded here are numerous photographs of the day.

  • Image : dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 79332 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 22 Feb 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17423
  • Description : 3801 steams out of Spencer Street yards with a standard gauge train, as seen through the windows of a neighbouring broad gauge train.


  • Image : dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 81757 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 26 Feb 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17427
  • Description : More motion.


  • Image : dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 71755 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 26 Feb 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17431
  • Description : The quadruple parallel run photo stop at Bald Hill. In the far distance you can make out the skyline of the Melbourne CBD.


  • Image : dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 85766 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 26 Feb 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17432
  • Description : The quadruple parallel run photo stop at Bald Hill.


  • Image : dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 73151 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 26 Feb 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17434
  • Description : The quadruple parallel run photo stop at Bald Hill.


  • Image : dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 66945 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 26 Feb 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17435
  • Description : The quadruple parallel run photo stop at Bald Hill.


  • Image : dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 79465 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 27 Feb 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17437
  • Description : A view of the mammoth photo line at Bald Hill. Note that the R class seems to be struggling to keep up with the others!


  • Image : dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 81263 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 27 Feb 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17438
  • Description : The continuation of the photo line seen in theprevious image.


  • Image : dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 73929 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 27 Feb 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17440
  • Description : The photo line was so long, and so spread out, that the organisers heldtwophoto runs at this spot. Here we see the start of the second run-past.


  • Image : dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 93865 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 27 Feb 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17444
  • Description : The 38 and two broad gauge locos pause to wait for the R to catch up.


  • Image : dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 60200 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 27 Feb 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17445
  • Description : The R class struggles up to the photo line at Bald Hill.


  • Image : dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 92474 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 04 Mar 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17446
  • Description : The 38 and two broad gauge locos pause to wait for the R to catch up.


  • Image : dir=vic/Rclass/ page=R761 76679 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 04 Mar 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17449
  • Description : R761 amid the hoardes of people taking in the triple parallel run.


  • Image : dir=vic/D3class/ page=index 79763 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 04 Mar 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17450
  • Description : D3-639 takes water at Wallan on the triple parallel run trip.


  • Image : dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 38537 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 04 Mar 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17451
  • Description : Every vantage spot was in use on every train on that day ...


  • Image : dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 53378 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 04 Mar 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17452
  • Description : ... and I meaneveryvantage spot!


  • Image : dir=nsw/38class/ page=bicent 85980 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 18 Mar 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17455
  • Description : Two trains taken from a third! This photo was taken hanging out the left side of the third train (not in picture) as the two trains to the right swung ahead of it on a long curve near Broadford.


  • Image : dir=vic/D3class/ page=index 80011 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 18 Mar 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17457
  • Description : D3-639 on the dual gauge turntable at Seymour.


  • Image : dir=vic/Rclass/ page=R761 113126 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 18 Mar 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17458
  • Description : Things were going swimmingly on the triple parallel run until R761 derailed while crossing into loco. Here we see her "in the dirt", while anxious railway staff and passengers alike ponder over what will happen next.


  • Image : dir=vic/Rclass/ page=R761 73887 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 19 Mar 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17459
  • Description : Another view of R761 derailed at Seymour.


  • Image : dir=vic/Rclass/ page=R761 127243 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 19 Mar 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17460
  • Description : A close up of R761's driving wheels off the rails.


  • Image : dir=vic/Rclass/ page=R761 51011 bytes, pixels
  • Date : Oct 1988, catalogued 19 Mar 2000
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 17461
  • Description : A close up of R761's front end off the rails.


This page maintained by John Hurst.
Copyright
1718 accesses since
20 Sep 2006
My PhotoMy PhotoTrain Photo

Dynamically generated at 20090704:0236 from an XML file modified on 20061221:1644.
Maintainer use only; not generally accessible: Local ServerHome ServerHurst ServerWork ServerCSSE Server

958 accesses since 02 Sep 2010, HTML cache rendered at 20110326:2024