>The XPT is not fitted with a dynamic brake, but in an emergency, I'm sure
>special dispensation could be given to allow it to travel down the hill.
The
>X2000 tilt train went down the hill, and all the smoke alarms were going
off in
>the tilt cars from the brake shoes on the XP units. I think about a year
ago
>ST-1 was diverted via Wollongong.
Several years ago (1994 I think) during the upgrading of the Southern Line
between Picton and Bowral (I think, I could be corrected on that) both lines
were closed during a weekend possession to enable the Aylmerton tunnel to be
upgraded. ST1 and ST2 both ran via Wollongong (I picked up ST1 at Wollongon
on the Firday nite, and returned to Sydney on the Saturday nite).
Just on an aside, the only direct coach service between Wollongong and
Melbourne takes just under 29 hours, and travels via Batemans Bay, Eden,
etc. To service the market, why don't they run ST3 and ST4 via the Moss
Vale - Wollongong line? I do not know how much extra time it would take, but
I do not imagine it would be too much, and there would be a worthwhile
tradeoff in thescenic views which are added in. Countrylink no doubt would
say that they do not have a sufficient market from Wollongong to warrant the
diversion, but they wouldn't have with the current service - an improved
direct service with decent marketing would result in increased patronage
(oops, Countrylink dont want that, do they - then they would have to run
extra trains, and they dont have the rolling stock for that).
To placate 3801 Limited and the Cockatoo Run, booking restrictions could be
placed on Wollongong - Moss Vale patronage.
Regards
David "The Doctor" Proctor
daproc@bigfoot.com