Re: Aust Railway Capacities in WW2

["Roderick Smith" <rodsmith@werple.net.au>]

Others have mentioned articles, including those by Jack McLean (one of
which was purely theoretical: determining the maximum capacity of any
route).

AFAIK Australia didn't really notice the effects of the war until the end
of 1941.

At the time, Australia was not a manufacturing nation, and the sort of
interstate traffic flows which we take for granted today didn't exist.  The
predominant traffic was hinterland to port, which had been the reason for
building railways.

Some of the clues come from the known wartime infrastructure projects, and
others which were commenced, even if not finished until the late 40s.
Victoria: extra crossing loops on the Melbourne - Albury line, plus a few
elsewhere (not all were commissioned); duplication between Longwarry and
Yarragon (to ease the flow of brown coal and briquettes to Melbourne
powerhouses and industries).
NSW: Duplication from Cootamundra to Junee (including creating the spiral
at Bethungra).
SA: Duplication of a bit more of the line from Adelaide to Murray Bridge.

Another impact was on the various tramway systems, which carried more
people (because of petrol shortages, and because of increased travel to
munitions works and other production centres).

In Melbourne lines to Essendon Airport and to West Maribyrnong were built,
AFAIK one of the Footscray lines was extended.

-- 
Regards
Roderick Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor