Re: Start of ARTC.

[krel4203@netconnect.com.au (Krel )]

>>Maurie Daly wrote in message ...
>>>
>>>
>>>Since Marulan now effectively doesnt exist as a station , ie no safeworking
>>>capability, (no refuge loops either for that matter.), and neither does
>>>tallong, the sections are now Goulburn - Medway - Wingello (can switch out
>>on
>>>weekends) - Bundanoon (can switch out on weekends) - Exeter (always in ) -
>>>Moss vale.The dismantling of the refuge loops in my mind seems a terrible
>>>thing , as effectively its the railway admitting its never going to see a
>>>significant  increase in traffic on this line .
>>>
>>Marulan had a proper refuge on the up which ran around the back of the up
>>platform but did not have a platform face. It was too short for anything
>>other than a passenger train. The down refuge at Marulan and both refuges at
>>Wingello were back in affairs which were toltally useless and too damn short
>>even for some of the trains in the seventies. Closing these refuges was a
>>good idea but not replacing them may not have been so sensible.
>
>
>>Barry Campbell
>
>The places on this line where the refuges really were / are needed is between 
>Harden & Goulburn where there are lots of long windy grades which cause long 
>running times.
>There used to be refuges at Binalong , Bowning and Gunning but all of these 
>are either gone completely ,(in the case of Bowning ) or totally disconnected 
>from the main line in the case of Binalong & Gunning.
>Yass is now the only place between harden & goulburn where trains can 
>overtake,and even the original refuges at Yass are gone , trains now simply 
>pass each other on the opposing track , ( Yass has effectively a long passing 
>loop) .
>Even this arrangement at times doesnt work too well , as the up platform is 
>out of service and all pass trains have to use the down platform.
>
This works well most of the time. The "crossing facility" holds 2.8km
of train so at least the train fit. Also no back in move is required.
It certainly beats backing across a trailing crossover to the other
track. The only time the platform is an issue is when two passenger
trains have to cross there (about once every blue moon or so).

What is really needed, however, is true Bi-directional main lines.
Many times I have been on a Superfreighter and followed a loaded grain
train whilst the down main had no trains. Two main lines, two trains;
Overtaking on bidirectional sounds like it would work. the only snag
is SRA silly BiDirectional rules. What if both tracks were independent
CTC lines that just happen to be side by side. Nah, far too radical
<vbg>.

Cheers

Krel