Re: New line from Fassifern to Hexam?

[jmullier@my-dejanews.com]

In article <363fcea0.0@139.134.5.33>,
  Paul G. Hogan <pghogan@SPAM-NYETbigpond.com> wrote:
>
> This route would be defeated on EIS grounds alone. The extension of
> the F3 Freeway from Minmi to the New England Highway hasn't taken the
> shortest logical route to the Pacific Highway at Hexham for this very
> reason- to preserve the unique wetland environment of the Hexham swamp.
>
> Granted, the rail right-of-way still exists across the swamp, and a
> new freeway rail overpass has been built near Stockrington (to single track
> width only), apparently because the railway was still gazetted, even
> though the track was lifted after Coal & Allied ceased operations.
>
> There was a plan floated at one stage to turn the old Stockrington
> Colliery into a waste disposal dump, and run block "garbage trains"
> (Tangarbage ? :-) ) from Sydney.. This proposal also seems
> to have been consigned to history.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Paul Hogan

Despite appearances the Richmond Vale Railway between Hexham and Stockrington
is still intact. The yard at Stockrington was pulled up in 1988 other than the
main line and the run around at the old Stockrington No.1 Colliery site, and
all but one road of the exhange sidings were pulled up at the same time,
although the wagon repair sidings were left intact.

The main line has been pulled up at both the Lenaghan's drive overpass (Armco
pipe) and the F3 freeway overpass, other than this the main line is basicaly
still intact. Large sections of the second track on the main line are still
intact as well. The track is 94lb rail with mostly ash ballast, although the
line is now heavily overgrown which gives the impression that the rails have
been lifted.

As for why the overpass on the F3 was built, I suspect that the "super dump"
has not totaly died way it is just in limbo. But the line is still covered by
the Richmond Vale Coal Mine Railway act and the Hexham to Minmi railway acts.

Regards
Jeff Mullier

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