Re: [Tas] North-west rail improvements

[athan <hatsoff@bigstix.com>]

jshugg@westpac.com.au wrote:

> In article <Ah3L5.28$HV4.3867@news0.optus.net.au>,
>   dbromage@fang.omni.com.au (David Bromage) wrote:
> > [Where exactly is Penguin?]
>
> It's a little town on the North-West coast about halfway between
> Devonport and Burnie.
>
> See http://www.wilmap.com.au/tasmaps/TAS3.HTML
>
> James
>
> Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> Before you buy.

Penguin was once a major station, having a port that served the local
iron ore mine and agricultural interests.  The station was removed after
the demise of passenger services, and the four sidings reduced to one.

A fair degree of beautification of the old station yard has occured, but
the running of passenger specials to Penguin by the Don River Railway
has prompted the need for the re-establishment of a siding, and raised
platform for use of the same.

People who have seen videos of steamtrains in Tasmania will recognise
the coastal town- a great place to watch and photograph trains.  The
cutting at Lonah, to the East of Penguin and West of Ulverstone provides
a 100 ft drop in which you can watch trains pass by the Three Sister
Islands; a similar cutting West of Penguin provides a similar
opportunity.

The Max Perry Reserve provides a beautiful garden setting as trains
approach the town, and often, trains have been made to back back inorder
for photographers to take advantage of the beautiful scenery on Watcombe
Bay and the Reserve.

Unfortunately, the flower reserves 600 metres east of that reserve were
destroyed in a rather 'public' derailment some time back.  That
particular garden, the labour of two retired octogenerians, has not been
restored by TasRail.  The Central Coast Council have been endeavouring
to re-establish this once beautiful entry into the town, but presently,
not a lot has happened.  It appears in the same form as many of the
TasRail fleet: dirty, functional, and like the noise they generate,
unacceptable.

A nice town, quiet and uneventful, a paradise for watching trains.  Was
interesting growing up there, but then...there were more trains in those
days...

(pass my walking stick!!)