Re: re-opening of the Cowra-Blayney line tomorrow... as per STN 49/1999

["Robert Parnell" <rparnell@netspace.net.au>]

> At Carcoar, Holmwood (what's happened with the bridge there?), Lyndhurst
and
> Woodstock all turnouts on the main line will be spiked normal, clipped and
> XL locked, presumably to be renovated, removed, updated, or whatever the
> traffic levels require, at a later date.
>

The Holmwood bridge: It has been replaced with a steel/concrete structure
that should prove very difficult to burn down. The first train programmed to
cross it was to have been on the day of the train controller's strike, but
it did happen on Monday last week (6 Dec) - a ballast train hauled by a
number of 48s. Just as work trains began to run (early Nov.) , the STOP
signs at the Brougham St crossing were replaced with GIVE WAY signs! They
were thankfully replaced with STOP signs on Saturday 11 Dec. The other 2
level crossings on the Mid Western Highway have had STOP signs erected (but
covered up) that would most likely have been unwrapped today. It is planned
that the 2 highway crossings have flashing warning lights installed in the
near future. (Hopefully not too late.)
To the clipping of the points at the interlockings: I can see no reason for
this (some maintenance is required at all of them) as LVR had used all of
these over the last 3 years without problem - especially the Holmwood loop
that LVR re-installed after the highway was realigned at Holmwood.
Permanently closing them would be madness, as freight is the primary reason
the line has been reopened. It was also understood that there would be a new
staff section - Blayney to Carcoar, then Carcoar to Cowra but this may be
hot air or short term plans. In the long term, train order working is
planned.


>
> So that's one cross-country line that is going to be open again. About
time
> the heritage groups and other rail operators took advantage of it and made
> sure there's plenty of traffic (freight *and* maybe passenger) to warrant
it
> remaining open in the future... 8-)
>
LVR will certainly make use of it!

--
Robert Parnell
Rail Access/Argus Telecommunications Technician, Electronics Enthusiast,
Lachlan Valley Railway Director,  NSW HO scale railway modeller
E-mail:<rparnell@netspace.net.au>