Re: standardising Victoria

["Arthur Marsh" <mars0177@flinders.edu.au>]

"geoff dawson" <geoffrey.dawson@aph.gov.au> wrote in message
6sQJ5.102$UB3.5331@nsw.nnrp.telstra.net">news:6sQJ5.102$UB3.5331@nsw.nnrp.telstra.net...
> Musings prompted by the recent thread on standardising BG lines:
> 1. What is the status of the BG lines east of Tailem Bend? Isolated and
> disused, like Mt Gambier?

Karoonda to Waikerie, Alawoona to Paringa/Renmark/Barmera and Karoonda to
Peebinga BG lines were pulled up. Wanbi to Yinkanie was closed in the
1960's.

Tailem Bend to Loxton and Tailem Bend to Pinaroo was converted to SG.
Pinaroo to the first grain siding on the Victorian side of the border has
been closed but not pulled up AFAIK.

Wolsely (sp) to Mount Gambier and Mount Gambier to Millicent and Mount
Gambier to Heywood are still BG, Naracoorte to Kingston SE was pulled up a
while back and unused except for Limestone Coast Railway services from Mount
Gambier. Millicent to Beachport and Wandillo to Glencoe West were pulled up
when the Mount Gambier and Kingston SE lines were converted from narrow
gauge to broad gauge.

> 2. Is Melbourne-Adelaide via Gheringhap really the better route
> operationally, or was it just cheaper to convert? If
> Melbourne-Ballarat-Ararat was SG, would it be preferred? There are a few
> severe grades, but so there are in the Adelaide hills, which presumably
> determines the ruling loads. Or do they attach extra engines in the
Adelaide
> hills?
> cheers, Geoff
>
>

Arthur.