Re: Rail group questions use of Cowra to Blayney route

[Bruce Greening <bgreeni@attglobal.net>]

maurie Daly wrote:

> Bruce Greening <bgreeni@attglobal.net> wrote in message
> 38FD8B32.4A3C1290@attglobal.net">news:38FD8B32.4A3C1290@attglobal.net...
> >
> >
> > Maurie Daly wrote:
> >
> > > In article <AI6L4.542$TI6.406381@news0.optus.net.au>
> dbromage@fang.omni.com.au (David Bromage) writes:
> > > >From: dbromage@fang.omni.com.au (David Bromage)
> > > >Subject: Rail group questions use of Cowra to Blayney route
> > > >Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 00:02:40 GMT
> > >
> > > >A local rail group has questioned whether the reopened Cowra to Blayney
> > > >rail route is a "toy" line because it is not being used.
> > >
> > >
> >http://www.abc.net.au/news/regionals/orange/monthly/regor-18apr2000-3.htm
> > >
> > > They have a good point.
> > > I have also wondered exactly what this re opened line is going to be
> used for.
> > > Without the southern leg of the Demondrille Triangle its useless for
> diverting
> > > freights thru to Melb ,and given the quite severe grades on the line and
> the
> > > fact that it cant handle main line locos ,(NRs ,81s ,82s) its not too
> clear
> > > who could actually run trains on the line anyway.
> > > One wonders whether as it was an easy line to re open and like the
> Gulgong -
> > > Mudgee - Kandos re opening ( I also cant see what this line is going to
> carry
> > > either) ,which was also easy one to open , you cant help think that both
> lines
> > > are being done for political purposes, (ie so the Govt can say it is re
> > > opening lines.)
> > > Re opeing the Cooma line would be more useful ,as would re opeing
> Armidale
> > > to Tenterfield or Coota to Tumut but of course these are both a bit
> harder
> > > to do.
> > >
> > > For a really laterally thinking organization then re laying and re
> opeing
> > > Griffith to Roto with the re instating of the western leg of the
> triangle
> > > along with re opeing Narrandera to Tocumwal would be a far sighted move.
> > > This requires unfortunately an ability to think further than the good of
> the
> > > State though.
> > >
> > > cheers
> > > MD
> >
> > RAC is currently studying the feasibility of reopening a number of lines,
> includding Cowra - Eugowra,
> > Grenthorpe - Greenfell, Cootamundra - Tumut and Narrandera - Tocumwal.
> Also looking a a portion of Roto -
> > Hilston to serve a new cotton gin along the line.
> >
> > That far sighted enough for you?
> >
> > --
> > Bruce L. Greening
> > bgreeni@ibm.net
> >
>  Its not bad if any of it actually comes off.
> By far sighted I meant looking at rail projects that benefit not only NSW
> but the rest of the country as well.
> If it were at all possible to re open Griffith to Roto with reasonable track
> even 47 kg/M
> then we can seriously start to look at running Melb - Perth and later
> possibly Melb - Darwin
> trains via Mangalore - Tocumwal - Naranderra - Griffith - Roto than via the
> existing route
> thru the Adelaide hills.
> The extra distance ,as a percentage of the total route distance is minimal ,
> but the increase in load obtained for the same loco is very significant ,
> 1750 tonnes as against 1200 tonnes.(for an NR or 82 class).
> Even possibly better if some load trials in VIC over Heathcote Junct Bank
> were to be
> undertaken.
> Currently the Adelaide Hills are the single worst ruling grades on the whole
> Melb - Perth ,
> Melb - projected Darwin route.)
> The advantage of running via Tocumwal - Griffith as against Albury - Junee -
> Griffith is that we
> avoid the 1:40 grades between Wagga and Junee.
>
> If the Tocumwal - Narandera bit didnt eventuate (this assumes also that
> Mangalore to
> Tocumwal is guage converted,this will eventually happen.),then the next best
> fix is to
> regrade Wagga Viaduct to Bomen and Junee to Harefield to get rid of the two
> 1:40s.
> Regrading to 1:66 is for these two sections is a trivial engineering
> exercise.
> Even if Griffith to Roto cant be justified , it is still worthwhile
> regrading Wagga Viaduct - Bomen to 1:66 as then we have a single worst
> ruling grade of 1:66 from Albury to Sydney.
>
> Unlike Blayney - Cowra where it isnt clear where the traffic is to come
> from,a better solution
> for Melb - Perth - Darwin traffic has guaranteed loading.
>
> cheers
> Maurie Daly
> (I hope this posts properly as I am using a friends News Reader.)

The Hilston - Cotton Gin project is only a short section, and then a branch to
the Gin. It would be built using steel sleepers and existing rail, but the
sleepers will be bored for heavier rail later. Just heavy rail north of Hilston
is no good without re-railing Griffith - Hilston.

I have thought that the other big advantage of going via roto, either from Junee
or via Tocumwal is the ease of double stacking from Melb to Perth or Darwin.
Many fewer bridges and tunnels that via Stockinbingal and parkes.
--
Bruce L. Greening
bgreeni@ibm.net