Alice Springs, 18-20/2

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

Aus loco discussion mailing list

Another wet weekend!  The Todd is flowing yet again - luckily it hadn't
quite stopped after the previous rains, since I'm told that anyone who
sees it flowing three times is considered a local.  I'm on two floodings
so far, with a fortnight to go!

BIG trains have been the order of the weekend.  Friday evening's 5AL7N
arrival was cancelled: I believe this train is now only on an "as
required" basis.  NR120 and DL39 sat around until saturday afternoon,
when the NR began marshalling the load for Sunday morning's 1LA6N
departure.

Saturday evening's 6AL7N arrived around 1945, NR53 / NR46 (back to back)
/ open wagon of steel / 4 x 5-well sets, double stacked except for three
single slots / 3-pack / 5-pack / 5-pack with centre well (single stack)
/ 10 single flats / 3 x 5-packs / flat / 5-pack / 2-pack / 5-pack with
single-stack centre well.  Total equivalent of 72 flats; the biggest I'd
seen here to date, but about to be dwarfed!  NR46 has the "NR" stickers
peeled off one cab side.

With the loading looking healthy on 1LA6N, I thought an early rise on
Sunday was in order.  Departure was at 0430; NR120 / NR46 (elephants) /
8 x Mobil tanks / 6 x Mereenie tanks / 2 x black tanks from Thursday
evening's arrival - for Mereenie? / 2 x Mobil tanks / 5 x 5-well sets,
all double stacked / 2 x 2-packs / 5-pack / 3-pack / 2 flats / 5-pack
with single-stack centre well / 3-pack / 2 flats / 2-pack / 5-pack /
3-pack / 2-pack / Seaco open with containers / 2-pack / 5-pack / 2-pack
/ 5 flats / 5-pack / flat / motorail / LPG tank / empty open steel wagon
= 103 wagons!  Almost 50% bigger than the previous largest I've seen
here up until last night.  Note that many of the wagons mid-train are
from Thursday evening's arrival: little rearranging is done, apart from
the well sets moved to the opposite end.  This train took ten minutes to
clear the Larapinta Drive level crossing on its exit from the yard.  I
raced it along Telegraph Terrace to the Gap and back, and estimated it
at 1700-1800 metres long.  I believe it would be mostly empty, otherwise
the tonnage would have been huge also.

"If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried"

Regards,

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


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