Re: SLR - Extension construction

["Rod Young" <freight_man@hotmail.com>]

Matthew Geier <matthew@mail.usyd.edu.au> wrote in message
8g5tvn$t6t$1@metro.ucc.usyd.edu.au">news:8g5tvn$t6t$1@metro.ucc.usyd.edu.au...
> Work is coming along very quickly, overhead wires are now rapidly heading
> west.
>
>  The strangest item seen however is a 'home brew' locomotive the
contractors
> are using on ballast trains.
>  Inspired by Vlines RTL I assume.
>
> See
> "http://www.sleeper.apana.org.au/railway/slr/images/Extension
Mathew, Hi,
                 can you tell me how that RTL truck is working.
How many loaded ballast does it haul? up hills etc
does it use rubber tyres for traction? it looks as if it does
and do they drive it on the road as is? other words do they need to lighten
it to reduce its wheel weights.
Our RTL in Victoria can legally run at 100 kph on bitumen and up to 80 kph
on rail
I think this requirement to run on roads means that we can not ballast the
truck heavy enough to haul good loads on rail. Instead we use a system of
air suspension to optimise weight over the driving wheels when hauling on
rail. This is not that successful and on wet rails it constantly skids and
damages the tyres.

--

Rod Young
http://hobsonmodelrail.rrdepot.com/
Foundation President and Co-Founder
Hobsons Bay Model Railway Club Inc.
Operators of Australia's only 'Australian' Model Railway Show
Every Easter in Melbourne.
and my page
http://hobsonmodelrail.rrdepot.com/rods