>In article <34755a8c.4928365@news.ozemail.com.au> nswsrca@ozemail.com.au (Peter Neve) writes:
>>From: nswsrca@ozemail.com.au (Peter Neve)
>>Subject: Re: Indian Pacific
>>Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 10:06:08 GMT
>>On Fri, 21 Nov 1997 01:58:33 +1100, David Johnson
>><trainman@ozemail.com.au> wrote:
>>>The Indian Pacific today (21/11) was a double consist and was hauled by three
>>81s on the
>>>up as well as the down.
>>>
>>>--
>>But where do the 81s take over, Broken Hill or Parkes. From what I
>>hear, it is Broken Hill.
>>Pete.
>The other obvious question is why does it need 3 81s in the first place.
>A double consist IP is well below the load for 2 81s , after all it was never
>hauled by 3 CLPs.
It was, once, Easter 1996 from memory. Looked nice in the freshly
risen sun as it dropped down from Gresham towards Bathurst.
Nice sunny day too.
Only two engines were working at a time, the lead one on the up was
"rigged for silent running" and I believe the same applied on the
down, different locomotive of course.
>Max load for a 81 up 1:33 is 900 tonnes or 1800 tonnes for 2.
>A 26 car IP would weigh no more than 1350 tonnes max.
>Seems just a little overkill to me.
Probably added insurance, also a serious attempt by GSR to address the
woeful timekeeping of the double consists.
Ciao
Timothy Arnot
e-mail to timarnot@fastlink.com.au