RTL 1 in Gippsland Part 1 (Western Star locomotive)

RTL 1 (Road Transferable Locomotive) was used twice in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. First in 1998 to haul some grain hoppers from Wurruk (just west of Sale) across Thomson River into Sale yard. This was for a drought relief train (flood relief by the time it arrived) and the use of RTL 1 appeared to be purely for the TV cameras. In November 1999, RTL 1 began to haul log trains between Sale and Hillside on the disused Sale - Bairnsdale line. Hauling between 4 and 15 wagons, it ran several trips a day (some by road in one direction) and the wagons were consolidated into a single train at Sale, hauled by conventional locomotives to Geelong. RTL 1 had been used due to the poor condition of the Avon River bridge at Stratford and was the only locomotive light enough to cross the bridge. The bridge was then strengthened and by the end of January 2000, T class and lighter were able to cross the bridge. The RTL operations on the line ended at that time. Uploaded in low-res to improve uploading time. Part two also available. Sorry - due to a technical problem, sound is in the left channel only. More info and photos at http://www.gunzelgallery.hobbiesplus....