Re: status - beyond Cranbourne ?

[steam4me@enternet.com.au (Yuri J Sos/Melbourne AUS)]

On Fri, 6 Aug 1999 21:40:33 +1000, "FRISCÉ Theatre Co. (Bryan Cullis)"
<rabonzo@primus.com.au> wrote, and I selectively quote:

>This line was labelled "closed indefinitely" by the PTC about 2 years ago do
>the deteriorating bridges and track condition around the Koo Wee Rup
>marshlands (Cranbourne - Lang Lang mainly).  

Last I heard from Victrack Infrastructure early this year was that the
line was available for empty cars movements with 6 weeks' notice and
15 km/h limit.

>This is also the main reason
>why the South Gippsland Railway will not be able to run steam engines until
>further notice due to the fact that K160 can't get through.  The big problem
>with this situation is that neither the PTC or SGR were going to pay for it

The even bigger problem with this is that until the bridge over the
Pyrenees Highway is replaced and the line rebuilt from Muckleford to
Maldon Junction, K160 ain't goin' nowhere.

>(mainly because the SGR simply could not and can not afford it for a very
>long time; and the PTC is a stubborn as an ass).  However, there are big
>rumours flying around that Freight Victoria may be reopening the line to
>Nyora (and possibly Leongatha) for freight purposes.

It could all be just have been jockeying for position at the time but
Graeme Claytor of RailAmerica said during the bidding process for VLF
they had found enough freight for two trains a week out of that line
(whether that included the sand train or not I don't know).  RNV
reported a couple of months ago that a superphosphate facility
built/to be built at Leongatha would accept rail deliveries if the
track could be extended 600m beyond the current terminus.

With VicTrack continuing to rip out infrastructure and track around
Melbourne, it's also interesting to note that the track, signals and
box at Spotswood are all still intact, if somewhat rickety.

> may be reopening the line to
>Nyora (and possibly Leongatha) for freight purposes.

BTW, the line doesn't need to be re-opened to Leongatha as it's not
closed.   The SGR operates the line from Nyora to  Leongatha.  It's
also interesting to note that SGR in its latest newsletter states
(inter alia) that 

* steam will be running again this summer;
* they are acquiring their own steam loco to restore and operate;
* they've been involved in "good constructive talks" with FV; (Hmm a
"you give us access to let us get steam or even fan trips down to the
Burra, and  you can run your freights to Leongatha" scenario?)

As for the loco, I hear a RUMOUR that it's K191 ex-Wangaratta.


Regards

Yuri
-- 
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Yuri J Sos
Melbourne VIC AUS

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