Re: 48s in Victoria

[mauried@commslab.gov.au (Maurie Daly)]

>CK's run at up to 90 KM/H (Trans Adelaide max speed) but normally at 65
>KM/H (freight train limit on Trans Adelaide tracks - and about all that
>is safe thereon!!).  They ran at up to 100 KM/H when the South Line was
>broad gauge.   Freights could only do 100 KM/H then - now 110 KM/H (or
>faster if they are manned by cowboys of the kind who run Belair to Lofty
>in only 10 minutes - work that out for your self !!  Locos??  A couple
>of big Grey 'n' Orange ones with 400 tonnes.  With the exception the
>first curve out of Belair (The 50 KM/H "Foster's Corner") the whole
>section is limited to 40 KM/H!!). 

>Cheers
>By the way - for those that don't know how to work it out - the answer
>is an AVERAGE of 48 K/H.

The obvious question that needs to be asked here, and maybe it partly explains 
why a certain large rail company made a $48 million loss last year ,is why on 
earth are 4000HP locos being used to haul 400 tonne trains.

cheers
MD