Re: Bethungra Spiral

[Don Allitt <nahgfa@zeta.org.au>]

Another Government employee's idealistic brain explosion???.
Don.

Garry Hoddinett wrote:

> Roderick Smith <rodsmith@werple.net.au> wrote in message
> 01bef479$035d0300$4f2d11cb@rodsmith">news:01bef479$035d0300$4f2d11cb@rodsmith...
> > The original line was 1880s.
> > Previous postings have not suggested reducing the southbound track from 1
> in 40 to 1 in 66; they have suggested eliminating the spiral and providing a
> more-direct northbound track at 1 in 40 instead of 1 in 66: ultimately
> faster.
> The spiral was one of many circuitous (and curving) deviations created to
> suit the characteristics of steam locos.  With diesels, it is possible to be
> faster by being straighter and steeper.  This is the design principle of
> French TGV routes.
>
> Why not convert the double track Cootamundra - Junee section to single track
> using the more direct alignment?  Single tracking the Goulburn - Junee line
> was proposed a number of years ago and was probably an over kill reaction to
> cut costs.  However a lot of traffic heading south on the main south line
> doesn't pass Cootamundra.   With bigger trains and better signalling double
> track beyond Cootamundra may not be necessary.