Re: Yass

["The Railway Rasputin II." <bob@fastlink.com.au>]

Yes the tramway didn't have to conform to railway specs thus saving
money eg the platform didn't have to be raised, interlockings not as
advanced (if any), cheaper street crossings and less staff. Just think
of it as a stingy railway. Bit like todays railways.



David Bromage wrote:

> The line from Yass Junction to Yass Town has an interesting history. It
> was always called the Yass Tramway, I think something to do with the
> street running. I don't know if it was ever legally considered to be a
> railway.
> 
> Passenger services connected at Yass Junction. In the early days it was
> usually a Z13 hauling a single CCA, and sometimes a couple of goods wagons
> and a van. It was a CPH in later days, with 48s running goods trains.
> X200s have also worked to Yass Town. There was also a station (just a
> short platform with no sidings) at North Yass.
> 
> The last train was in 1988 and I think the line closed in 1989. ARHS (ACT)
> has a museum at Yass Town and there have been various proposals to reopen
> the branch as a tourist railway. The bridge needs a lot of work and some
> level crossings have been abolished.
> 
> There have been two proposals to extend the line through to Canberra. The
> first proposal in 1915 was a very bad route and would have stood in the
> way of much of the later urban development. It was to supplement the
> shorter branch from Queanbeyan. It followed Sullivan's Creek through what
> is now Lyneham and O'Connor to the site chosen for the Garema Place
> station.
> 
> The second proposal in the late 50s wass connected with the Melbourne -
> Albury standard gauge, to allow direct through running from Melbourne to
> Canberra. The route ran around the north of Canberra through Mitchell,
> then around Mt Majura, past the airport and on to Kingston.
> 
> Cheers
> David