Re: Modern high speed steam to Mackay.

[Graham Duffin <duffin@dyson.brisnet.org.au>]

Tim,

I'm here in Brisbane so here is what was in the "Letters" section of
the 15/11/98 Brisbane Sunday Mail (page 95).  (It's not very earth
shattering - someone from Sarina wanting free bed and breakfast on 
trains with reduced fares with steam haulage).

"Costly tilt trains call halt to others

"The huge cost of the new tilt trains (Nov 1*) may prevent more and
better trains from being built.

"I am not sure that speeds of 160 and 170km/h at such a high cost are
what we need.  South Africa has a steam locomotive - No 858 class 16E
- which I believe was capable of these speeds 63 years ago, so we are
still way behind.

"We urgently need more trains because there are two or three days a week
when north Queenslanders can't travel to or from Brisbane at all, which
is rediculous.

"With modern steam haulage, trains could be built to give a smoother ride,
greater comfort and have more modern features which would be superior
to any, except for high speed.

"They could be so economical that overnight passengers could have free
bed and breakfast with greatly reduced fares and still arrive in Cairns
in 28 hours or less, and at all cities en route at a convenient hour,
which is not the case at present.

"Roger Boland, Sarina."

* On Sunday 1 Nov the Brisbane Sunday Mail had an insert about the new
  QR Tilt Train which included their cost.

Graham Duffin,
Salisbury, Qld.


"Tim Arnot" <timarnot@bigpond.com> writes:
> Fine if you are in Brisbane............but not all of us are!!!!
> 
> Post the text pls.
> 
> Tim
> 
> Matthew Smith <matticue@corplink.com.au> wrote in article
> <364ff1a3.0@news.bris.corplink.com.au>...
> > For full details, read "letters to the editor" Brisbane Sunday Mail
> > 15-11-98
> > 
> > 
> >