Alice Springs, 14-15/2

[Peter Donaghy <PeterDo@als.com.au>]

Aus loco discussion mailing list

I received a message from Mark Carter yesterday afternoon that an ALF
and a 600 were running a ballast to Alice to repair the track damage.
ETA was around 1700, but I checked with the NR office here at 1530 and
was told it hadn't long crossed yesterday morning's 2LA6N departure, and
was not expected in until around midnight (assumed Adelaide time).  At
2300 I drove down to check the yard and found this train near the
loco-servicing / Ghan area: ALF21 and dead-attached 603 with a generator
flat, crew car, two plough wagons and 21x AHWF empty ballast hoppers.
The locos had already run around and turned.  ALF21 was in high idle - a
lovely sound after all of these "silent" NRs, and unspoilt by 603 with
its "un-tuned" ALCO splutter (how many bites will this get?).  Yard
staff checked the bogies, brakes, etc by torchlight, and just before
midnight, unlocked the track block at the yard entrance.  The ALF
dropped back to low idle for a minute or so, gave a soft, mournful blast
of the horn on the dot of midnight and began the long trek back south.
I paralleled the train at 40kph along Telegraph Terrace, then watched it
crawl through Heavitree Gap at 20kph, slower than the swollen Todd River
beside it.  A final wave and a toot from the driver as I turned around
and drove home to bed!

I heard 3LA6N depart at 0530 this morning; both NR38 and NR104 went
south.  From the wagons around the yard yesterday afternoon, I suspect
this train would have had many empty slots.  Three motorail wagons were
being loaded yesterday afternoon also, and would also have gone.  News
this morning is the road is open to cars at least to the SA border, but
trucks and other heavy vehicles are still banned until roads are
patched.

Regards,

Peter Donaghy
Relieving Manager, Alice Springs
ph. 08 8952 6020
fax 08 8952 6028


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