>"David Proctor" <daproc@bigfoot.com> wrote:
>>A rumour heard from three different and usually reliable sources in NR
>>indicate that NR is looking to purchase approx. 4 - 6 N class from Victoria.
>>The intention is to place them on standard gauge bogies, and use them, and
>>their HEP capabilities, to provide "hook-and-pull" service to GSR on 'The
>>Overland' and Countrylink on the Broken Hill and Griffith passengers -
>>anyone heard anything about this?
A highly sensible idea.
Running NRs on the Overland is a terrible waste , and must be costing either
NR or GSR a heap.
The issue of running Countrylink trains is also a sensible idea , especially
if Countrylink are getting ripped off by having to pay Freightcorp idiotic
rates.
How many Ns the PTC would be able / or willing to sell would depend on the
price , and a rigourous analysis of the existing timetables to see whether Ps
or As could be substituted for the missing Ns.
They must have at least 2 spare as Ns were used on the Overland prior to guage
conversion.
A more interesting question is where NR would get hold off 6 sets of std guage
bogies for the Ns,as they have never been on std guage before.
Even more interesting would be to see who would maintain them after the sale,
(Goninans possibly ?)
cheers
MD