Re: Will 3801 run to Darwin?

["Doug Rosser" <dougrosser@optushome.com.au>]

Might need a second train one section behing with water gins and coal
trucks..
Diesel hauled of course....
Doug..
"David Bennetts" <davibenn@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
news:7jHG6.1379$VM5.47298@ozemail.com.au...
>
> "Tell" <telljb@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
> c18letstepj16rlmksq6mv8c342guo9hdu@4ax.com">news:c18letstepj16rlmksq6mv8c342guo9hdu@4ax.com...
> > When it traveled across the Trans Australian Railway,
> > it had one of CR's Clyde/EMD's as "pilot", in fact the
> > grumbler hauled 3801 and its train across to WA and
> > back again.
> >
> > Still whatever the reality, 3801 could make Darwin one
> > day, it will cost BIG bucks however.
> > Keeping the lubrication up to the reciprocating gear
> > and cylinders will be the main task, as the "pilot"
> > does all the real work getting there.! Its a long way.
> >
> > ....Tell
> >
> >
>
> Whilst fully in agreement with what Tell says, a really big logistical
> problem is the provision of decent quality water in arid areas.  The old
> narrow gauge line up to Alice Springs was routed so that water was
available
> at fairly regular intervals for steam trains, whereas the standard gauge
> line replacing it is more direct, as it did not require water stops for
> diesel locomotion.
> With steam locos the size of 3801 requiring refilling of tenders every 300
> km or so (whilst a water gin can supplement tender capacity it's all dead
> weight to pull), it would be a costly and difficult exercise to get
quality
> water to appropriate points along the line.  If you want to see 3801's
> boiler to continue in service for a while yet, it wouldn't be a good idea
to
> use the local bore water which abounds in SA and NT, nor the muddy stuff
> that passes for drinking water in the Adelaide area.
>
> Regards
>
> David Bennetts
>
>