Re: Fast train to Mildura?

[Jackson Harding <jaxsonjo@camtech.net.au>]

Barry Campbell wrote:

> MarkBau1 wrote in message <19990904044039.00438.00004076@ng-da1.aol.com>...
> >Like we don't already have enough "high speed train" proposals that get
> trotted
> >out at election time.
> >
> >OTOH, it makes as much sense as the Darwin dream, both Mildura and Darwin
> have
> >very shallow water ports!
>
> But Darwin is a deep water port at high tide <g>. (Max 8m tidal range!!)
>
> Barry Campbell

Actually Darwin is a deep water port all the time.  It's just even deeper at
high tide.  Don't let the photos of the extensive mudflats on the edges fool
you, that 9 kt current associated with an 8m tidal range in and out of a
harbour bigger than Sydney Harbour, twice a day every day, has scoured out one
hell of a deep channel.  The problem with the port at Darwin is the existing
infrastructure is somewhat rundown and limited in the deep water portion of the
harbour and would require extensive rebuilding.  Secondly the space available
is rather limited and swinging a large vessel in relatively confined spaces
will only be possible at slack tide which will make movements in and out
difficult.  The current port being built by the NT Government in East Arm is
not going to be suitable for large vessels.  During WWII a sizeable portion of
both the RAN and the USN were berthed there, as well as large submarine and
catalina bases.  Many of the wrecks are still there and due to the depth and
the current (plus the odd croc) are rather demanding dives.  One of the first
Japanese raids saw a locomotive blown off the wharf into the harbour.  Not
entirely sure, but fairly certain it was later raised.  On the plus side, the
tourist precinct that now exists on Stokes Hill Wharf is sensational, with both
the formal seafood restaurant and the fish and chip shop run by Christo's
simply fabulous.  There are very few fish and chip shops outside Darwin that
serve you battered baramundi with your chips (yum).

To keep it marginally related to railways remnants of the old 3'6" NAR still
abound in the port area.  It's well worth a visit .

Jackson (Old Darwin boy and proud of it!)