Where are you going to be based?
Currently, the Watco/CBH trains are running north of Northam on the lines towards Dalwallinu, Kalannie, Beacon and Mukinbudin (usually two trains per day out of Northam, but to varying loading points). South of Northam, they are running only to York, Brookton and possibly the bin at Yornaning (just north of Narrogin), but likely to be one train per day at most.
The lines out of Wagin to Hyden and Newdegate are still under repair from the flooding, but could be back in service very soon (if not now), and those trains will head south from Wagin to Albany to unload. No trains between Narrogin and Wagin at all, except for the woodchip wagon transfers once every couple of months from Albany to Perth and back.
Grain trains should also be running on the Miling branch - these are running as single engine with 26 wagons each trip north of Bolgart due to weight restrictions being imposed, but should run as two combined train south of there to Perth.
Grain trains are running out to Moora from Perth, the bins north of there dump down to Geraldton. This will be one train per day or less.
Ore trains running from Perenjori and Karara to Geraldton via Mullewa, should be between three and six loaded movements per day at this stage.
The usual standard gauge action east of Northam, with most of the trains back on schedule following the flooding recently. You should be able to catch the Mineral Resources trains before they move to an Esperance Port run instead of Perth.
Remember that the grain trains run as required, and during hot weather will run after dark as much as possible (due to heat buckles). Best bet will be to call the Watco office in the Northam train station to see if they can give you an idea of where the trains will be running on the two days you have.
If you want bulk trains, stay out of the wheatbelt and stick to the southwest main line to Bunbury from Kwinana (including the Collie Line up the hill). There are sections of the single track here with more than sixty trains per day, especially between Brunswick Junction and Bunbury (Picton).
Note that whilst the maps of Western Australia show many lines, the following is a quick summary of them:
- Perth to Geraldton via Moora - one train per day at each end of the line max (grain only).
- Perth to Bunbury - 35 to 60 trains per day (including the Collie Line)
- Perth to Kalgoorlie - dual gauge dual track to Northam, around 30 to 35 trains per day, single track standard gauge only to Kalgoorlie, around 10 to 20 trains per day depending on section of track
- Northam to Albany - open to traffic, 1 to 2 grain trains per day at each end, nothing between Narrogin and Wagin
- Northam to Dalwallinu/Beacon/Kalannie/Mukinbudin - 1 to 2 trains per day across the three branches, grain only
- Wagin to Hyden/Newdegate - 1 to 2 trains per day across both branches, grain only
- Narrogin to Merredin (via Corrigin) - closed to traffic
- Narrogin to Merredin (via Kulin) - closed to traffic
- Bunbury to Pemberton - closed to traffic
- Bunbury to Capel - closed to traffic
- Donnybrook to Boyup Brook - closed to traffic
- Collie to Narrogin - closed and lifted
- Collie to Wagin - closed and lifted
- Katanning to Nyabing - closed to traffic
- Tambellup to Gnowangerup - closed to traffic
- York to Quairading - closed to traffic
- Merredin to Trayning - closed to traffic
Hope this helps, let me know if you need more information.
Cheers,
Matt
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/15/2017 11:11PM by Matt Hopper.
