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The Victorian Division of the Australian Railway Historical Society (A.R.H.S.) and the Association of Railway Enthusiasts (A.R.E.) arranged for the first steam locomotive to travel on the Mildura line since steam was withdrawn from Ouyen and Mildura in 1967 and a railway enthusiast excursion with J515 to Ouyen and Mildura at Easter 1968. The Mildura visit was part of an extensive tour under the title of "Steam Bonanza" which saw members of the Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division) and the Association of Railway Enthusiasts, travel by steam from Melbourne to Adelaide behind K153 and R761 (as far as Serviceton) then South Australian Railways 621, with trips to Peterborough and Victor Harbor, and then back to Tailem Bend and the line to Pinnaroo. They were then met by K153 which had transferred to Ouyen and Mildura to run local trips, before being used for the return trip to Melbourne via Ouyen and Ballarat.
K153 arrived in Ouyen on 28-5-1987 with coal wagons, three passenger carriages and guards van, ran an excursion trip for local residents to Underbool and return on 29-5-1987 and then ran to Mildura where it arrived about 6 p.m. under the control of Mildura drivers H. Hill and D. Laird. K153 had travelled tender first from St. Arnaud, where the nearest turntable survived, and was stabled in the short siding that remained from the former riverfront downgrade line.
Part of the "S" Circular for the operation of K153 and its special train to Ouyen, Underbool excursion trip, and Mildura. Source: Bruce McLean Collection
K153 was stabled at the loading platform on the siding that was formerly the downgrade line to the riverfront after its arrival from Ouyen late in the afternoon of 29-5-1987 - the first steam locomotive to Mildura since Easter 1968. Behind the tender can be seen one of the coal wagons brought with the locomotive. Passenger carriages for local excursion trips were placed in the carriage shed. Photo: Bruce McLean
Whilst K153 was stationed in Mildura, Steamrail Victoria, the operator of the locomotive, ran a series of trips for the public and school children. The first excursion was from Mildura to Hattah and return on Sunday 31-5-1987.
On Sunday 31-5-1987, a return trip was run from Mildura to Hattah for local residents. After attaching to the carriages stabled in the carriage shed, Driver K. Liddle eases K153 onto the mainline and into the station platform. 31-5-1987. Photo: Bruce McLean
A water stand at the up end of the platform was used to fill the tender of K153 shortly before departure from Mildura for Hattah. Diesel locomotives N453 and B69 are stabled in the yard. (The white patches on the ground are natural salt). 31-5-1987. Photo: Bruce McLean
Mildura diesel-electric drivers Kevin Liddle (left) and George Cullen, had lost none of their skills as they were given the task of running K153 from Mildura to Hattah and return. 31-5-1987. Photo: Bruce McLean
Water was also taken at Carwarp where a Country Fire Authority tanker was used. 31-5-1987. Photo: Bruce McLean
Passengers on the packed train look out to inspect Nowingi as K175 slows down to stop for passengers. 31-5-1987. Photo: Bruce McLean
On arrival at Hattah, K153 was cut off and moved forward in order to use the loop to run around its train. Mr. S. Hensgen, Mildura Stationmaster, was in charge of shunting operations. 31-5-1987. Photo: Bruce McLean
K153 has reached the down end and prepares to move forward to attach to the train for the return journey. The water tank at Hattah was not in service. 31-5-1987. Photo: Bruce McLean
The tender was topped up with water again at Carwarp during the return journey from Hattah to Mildura. 31-5-1987. Photo: Bruce McLean
Passengers mill around the locomotive after the journey to and from Hattah is completed. 31-5-1987. Photo: Bruce McLean
The train to Hattah and return consisted of K153, 28C (van), 1BW, 62BW, 60BW, 35BW, 40ABU and 32ABU. There were more than 300 passengers on the trip. The train times for the journey were as follows:
Station |
Arrival |
Departure |
Station |
Arrival |
Departure |
Mildura |
- |
1.31 p.m. |
Hattah |
- |
3.16 p.m. |
Irymple |
1.43 p.m. |
1.45 p.m. |
Nowingi |
- |
- |
Redcliffs |
1.58 p.m. |
2.03 p.m. |
Carwarp* |
3.56 p.m. |
4.03 p.m. |
Carwarp* |
2.21 p.m. |
2.27 p.m. |
Redcliffs# |
4.24 p.m. |
4.27 p.m. |
Nowingi |
2.43 p.m. |
2.46 p.m. |
Irymple |
4.37 p.m. |
4.40 p.m. |
Hattah |
3.04 p.m. |
- |
Mildura |
4.49 p.m. |
- |
* K153 took water at Carwarp
# The special train crossed a goods train hauled by B69, T401 and T404 at Redcliffs.
During the following week a number of school trips were scheduled with all trips fully booked out. On 3-6-1987, a trip was run from Mildura to Redcliffs and return and another from Mildura to Merbein and return. On 4-6-1987, three return trips from Mildura to Redcliffs were run, and on 5-6-1987, a trip from Mildura to Redcliffs and return and another from Mildura to Carwarp and return, for Irymple students, was run. An additional trip for the general public was run from Mildura to Redcliffs and return on Sunday 7-6-1987.
K153 storms the rising grade between the Ettiwanda Avenue and Benetook Avenue/Eleventh Street level crossings with its special excursion train from Mildura to Redcliffs on 7-6-1987. Photo: Bruce McLean
On arrival at Redcliffs, K153 ran around its train and is being closely observed as it prepares to attach to the carriages in preparation for the return journey. 7-6-21987. Photo: Bruce McLean
K153 draws away from Irymple with its special train on 7-6-1987 on the return journey from Redcliffs to Mildura. Photo: Bruce McLean
Mildura drivers Harry Hill (left) and Doug Laird, with a Steamrail representative, on the footplate of K153 during the public excursion from Mildura to Redcliffs and return on 7-6-1987. Photo: Bruce McLean
On Monday 8-6-1987, K153 travelled to Ouyen and Pinnaroo where it met up with the ARHS and ARE special train that had toured South Australia. K153 and its carriages were combined with the carriages off the South Australian train and returned to Ouyen and Mildura, arriving that evening. After an overnight stay, K153 then commenced the return journey to Melbourne, where it would meet R761 at St. Arnaud to assist with the train on the final leg of the journey.
K153 steams towards Kiamal on return from Mildura on 9-6-1987 with the combined train of carriages used at Mildura for local excursions and the carriages used for an extensive tour of South Australia by members of the ARHS and ARE. Photo: Chris Wurr
K153 rolls into No.2 road at Speed to cross a train heading north. K153 was on the return journey from Mildura to Melbourne after more than a week of train running in the north-west. 9-6-1987. Photo: Chris. Wurr
K153 on arrival at Woomelang on its return journey from Mildura. 9-6-1987. Photo: Chris. Wurr.
Unfortunately, one of the worst cases of theft of railway property under the notion of "souveniring" occurred following the ARHS and ARE combined tour, with the following railway items stolen:
* The number plates (M232) from the locomotive at Nowingi;
* $1,100 worth of tickets from Irymple station;
* An enamel sign from Ouyen station;
* 14 staff instruments from Curyo;
* Staff instruments from Litchfield, Cope Cope and Sutherland.
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