The Flickr Calomba Image Generatr

After a slow run through Two Wells due to a TSR, QUBE’s Balco service 1421S from Pelican Point is on the home stretch towards Bowmans through the locality of Calomba behind G521/RL310 up front on Wednesday the 12th of March 2025.

Since July 2024, QUBE have been operating regularly in South Australia again after acquiring the Bowmans Rail business in late June, QUBE brought over 3 of their own locomotives (G521, RL309/RL310) and a sole consist to operate Balco services between Bowmans and Pelican Point and return in addition to the once weekly RASP Ore traffic between Port Pirie, Broken Hill and Port Adelaide.

© Dom Quartuccio 2025.

On Saturday 8/2/2025, an early 6MX1 (Aurizon shuttle) is seen approaching the Calomba road/Powerline road intersection at Calomba (SA) with the standard gl102-G533 in charge.

On Thursday 16/1/2025, 5XM1 (Aurizon shuttle) is seen about halfway between Calomba-Mallala (SA) with GM37-gl102 in charge. This was the first use of a GM on an Aurizon TGE working. GM37 is mainly used as a training loco near the MPC at Dry Creek.

On Saturday 21/12/2024, 6MX1 (Aurizon shuttle) is seen approaching Johnsons road, Calomba (SA) with CLP16-CLF6 in charge.

Since Aurizon’s take over of the One Rail Australia business, it’s become increasingly uncommon to see two CLF/CLP class locomotives paired up without other motive power outside of local transfers and intrastate grain traffic, so seeing two CL’s on an Intermodal service was a welcomed change as CLP16/CLF6 run Aurizon’s 6MX1 from North Dynon to Spencer Jct via Port Pirie through the locality of Calomba on Saturday the 21st of December 2024.

After arrival in Port Pirie, this train will shunt to enable fellow Aurizon Intermodal service 6SP1 to arrive and add the In-Line Fuelling wagon, the Crew Car and the loading for the journey West to Forrestfield. The Streamliners and a sole flat wagon containing ILF tanks will then run to Spencer Jct and stable to form 4114S back to Adelaide with 7PS1’s loading on Monday.

Hired power from Railfirst Asset Management dominates this train on most services however reliability issues with the GL and CM classes has seen Aurizon’s locomotives featured more regularly in the month since I photographed this service last. It’s expected that further orders of ACD class units due to arrive during 2025 will enable the two GL class locomotives to be dehired while the CM’s will remain, further Aurizon locomotives from the Eastern Bulk business unit are rumoured to arrive during the new year for traffic such as MX/XM services.

© Dom Quartuccio 2024.

After some earlier issues with GL102’s vigilance system upon leaving Dry Creek North Yard, and being overtaken by PN’s 6MP5 at Bolivar, Aurizon Intermodal service 6MX1 from North Dynon to Spencer Jct via Port Pirie races through the locality of Calomba behind FQ01/GL102 on Saturday the 30th of November 2024.

After arrival in Port Pirie, this train will shunt to enable fellow Aurizon Intermodal service 6SP1 to arrive and add the In-Line Fuelling wagon, the Crew Car and the loading for the journey West to Forrestfield. The FQ/GL and a sole flat wagon containing an ILF tank will then run to Spencer Jct and stable to form 4114S back to Adelaide with 6PS1’s loading on Monday.

Hired power from Railfirst Asset Management dominates this train on most services, however Aurizon locomotives occasionally feature. It’s expected that further orders of ACD class units due to arrive during 2025 will enable the two GL class locomotives to be dehired.

© Dom Quartuccio 2024.

Working through the locality of Calomba between the Mallala and Long Plains townships is Aurizon Intermodal service 7MP1 from North Dynon to Forrestfield behind ACD6055/ACD6051 on Sunday the 17th of November 2024.

© Dom Quartuccio 2024.

On Thursday 24/10/2024, 1423s (Qube Balco) is seen approaching Johnson’s road, Calomba (SA) with G521-RL310 in charge.

On Saturday 2/3/2024, 6MX1 (Aurizon TGE shuttle) is seen approaching Powerline road, Calomba (SA) with cheap Rail first locos cm3310-gl105 in charge.

On its inaugural run from Victoria Dock, Aurizon Intermodal service 6MX1 to Port Pirie works through the locality of Calomba between Mallala and Long Plains behind GWB103/GWB102 on Saturday the 10th of February 2024. Upon arrival at Port Pirie, this train will await the arrival of fellow Aurizon Intermodal 6SP1 to enable that service to add the In-Line Fuelling wagon, the Crew Car and the loading ex 6MX1 for the journey West to Forrestfield. The return service, 3PS1 will also stop at Port Pirie to drop off any loading bound for Melbourne with this train returning as 5XM1.

The two GWB's were used on this service to enable them to run Light Engine to Spencer Jct for Iron Ore workings the next day as D411S, it's expected that either GM or GL class locomotives are to become the regular power for this train for future runs as it enables the loco/s to be left in Port Pirie yard for multiple days if required, without any real concerns in regards to locomotive shortages in Adelaide.

© Dom Quartuccio 2024.

The first DL into National rail colour's DL41 works 4197 promotional and filming train from the AFT to Crystal Brook between Mallala and Long Plains on 26-4-1995

On Thursday 14/11/2023, a late-running 4MP5 (pacific national intermodal) is seen approaching Powerline road, Calomba (SA) with standard nr1-nr19 in charge.

After crossing 4SA8 at Two Wells, late running PN Intermodal service 4MP5 from South Dynon to Kewdale sprints through the locality of Calomba between Mallala and Long Plains behind NR1/NR19 on Thursday the 14th of December 2023.

© Dom Quartuccio 2023.

On Monday 4/12/2023, 1475s (empty Aurizon grain to Snowtown) is seen approaching Powerline road, Calomba (SA) with Rail first uglies cm3314-cm3310 in charge.

On Monday 4/12/2023, 2AG1 (SCT intermodal) is seen approaching Johnsons road, Calomba (SA) with csr010-csr009 in charge.

Running on a welcomed evening path is empty Aurizon grain service 1475S from Dry Creek North to Snowtown as ALF23/CM3309 work through Calomba between Mallala and Long Plains on Saturday the 28th of October 2023.

Aurizon currently have 4 CM class locomotives on hire from Railfirst, and are mixing them in with ALF class units on North line grain traffic. The wagons on this train earlier ran to Bowmans to load behind with ALF19/CM3314, before discharging at Pelican Point and swapping with the above combination at Dry Creek North.

© Dom Quartuccio 2023.

After crossing 5PM5 at Two Wells, PN Intermodal service 6MP5 from South Dynon to Kewdale highballs through the locality of Calomba between Mallala and Long Plains with NR73/NR100 on Saturday the 28th of October 2023.

© Dom Quartuccio 2023.

After being held outside of Two Wells for safeworking purposes owing to a recent derailment, PN Intermodal service 6MP5 from South Dynon to Kewdale makes up lost time through Calomba between Mallala and Long Plains behind NR109/NR28 on Saturday the 25th of February 2023.

During the Ghan's off season from late November to normally late January, it's common to see the 4 Ghan locos allocated to PN's Intermodal work across the country however an extended running season for the Great Southern has seen the Ghan's resumption pushed back to March.

© Dom Quartuccio 2023.