> Where does the mystery track led to? And I sometimes seen Lithgow to
> Port Kembla coal train use the mystery track.
The track leads to Metropolitan Colliery at Helensburgh. It was closed for
a while around the turn of the year due to staffing problems. I believe
that it has opened again now. Lithgow to Port Kembla trains would never
run there. The trains that Normally serve this colliery are MP73. This
runs from Metropolitan Colliery to Port Waratah in Newcastle. Occasionally
trains run from Metropolitan Colliery to Port Kembla in Wollongong. The
trains can easily be identified, as they consist of NHTF coal hoppers,
whereas all other coal trains on the Illawarra consist of NHSH hoppers.
Metropolitan Colliery Branchline is not electrified, therefore all trains
must be diesel hauled (usually 81 or 82 class locos these days)
> 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.
Due to the design of the connection at the main line, it is impossible to
go straight from Metropolitan Colliery to Port Kembla. If all the locos
were on one end, the train would have to run around at Waterfall. By
placing locos at each end of the train, it can come out onto the main line
clear of the junction, and then just change direction and head south.
-- David Johnson - Rail Services Authority trainman@ozemail.com.au trainman@railpage.org.au http://www.ozemail.com.au/~trainman