triangle at Tarcoola

[Eddie Oliver <eoliver@efs.mq.edu.au>]

While at ARTC headquarters in Adelaide on 20/2, I took the opportunity
to ask for a definitive statement re the debate on this newsgroup a few
weeks ago about the existence of a triangle at Tarcoola.

The answer is that a triangle does exist, in the sense that trains can
proceed direct to the Alice Springs line from west of Tarcoola. However
it is not a triangle in the normally-pictured sense, i.e. a set of
tracks in close proximity like triangles in NSW or fork lines in
Queensland.

The junction points for the western arm of the "triangle" are some
considerable distance away from Tarcoola (estimated to be some
kilometres). They are outside Tarcoola yard limits, and a train order
has to be issued to allow movement over the western arm.

The western arm is said to be in poor condition but still usable at slow
speed. It was used for ballast trains.

Eddie