Re: 3'6' ELs

["Graham Watkins" <gwatkins@globec.com.au>]

David & Jan Winter <winterd@icenet.com.au> wrote in article
<36bb2285.0@news.highway1.com.au>...
> The WA "P" and Qld 2800 (right?) classes are effectively ELs in hood
bodies
> on 3'6" gauge, so no mechanical or electrical dramas there. Haven't QR
being
> doing a lot of loading gauge improvement as they're upgrading the main
> northern line? Anyone have the OOG data for the route as of Feb '99?
> 
> DW

All recent work has been on improving axle loads and alignment. The last
work for clearances (apart from electrification) was to allow 10'
containers. The North Coast Line and Mount Isa line have the best
clearances allowed.

There are clearance problems with the 2800 class. There are many
restrictions north of Rockhampton although they do operate normally but
south of Rockhampton they must operate as Out-of-Gauge.

Why would QR want EL's for use in Queensland when they have sufficient of
their own locos.

Why would they want to buy their own locos for the standard gauge just to
work one or two trains per fortnight. Perhaps NRC is proposing to use them
not QR.