The usual working is 24 wagon trains to Newcastle, however export trains to
Port Kembla sometimes operate. These are the 32 wagon trains you mention.
These trains operate with locomotives at each end due to fact that there is
only enough room at the colliery to "run around" 24 wagons, hence the need
for loco's at either end.
The future of this mine is far from certain especially in light of BHP's
recent announcement regarding Newcastle steelworks.
Gary Marshall
Helensburgh.
marshg@ideal.net.au
Peter Ho <johnspare@ozemail.com.au> wrote in article
<3375DD98.3465@ozemail.com.au>...
> What is the purpose of the one railway track which turns out from
> Helensburgh from the main Illawarra/South Coast railway line and then
> crosses the bridge on top of the main Illawarra/South Coast railway line
> Where does the mystery track led to? And I sometimes seen Lithgow to
> Port Kembla coal train use the mystery track.
> And sometimes I seen one or two locomotives pulling the 32 coal trains
> and the other locomotive pushing at the end, is it a normal practice as
> opposed to having two or three locomotives pulling 32 coal trains,
> because I once seen then running past Stanwell Park station towards
> Wollongong.