Re: Very smoky XPT

[dbromage@omni.com.au (David Bromage)]

Michael Van Baast (vanbaast@NOSPAMacay.com.au) wrote:
> David Bromage wrote:
> > 
> > Michael Van Baast (vanbaast@NOSPAMacay.com.au) wrote:
> > > David Bromage wrote:
> > > >
> > > > If the XPs are to get new engines, the smart thing would then be to built
> > > > two extra, and a handful of extra cars and driving trailers and form 1+4
> > > > sets as was proposed in 1979. What you need is a first class driving
> > > > trailers with some luggage space, which I'll call an "XBC" because it's
> > > > the most logical code. You then run XBC-XBR-XF-XFH-XP on the Dubbo
> > > > service, except during peak season when you revert to 2+5.
> > > >
> > > > You also run 1+4 sets to Canberra and put the Xplorers on a new Riverina
> > > > service (e.g. 7.30 up and 12.15 down Albury).
> > > >
> > > and the other 2 trains? (there are 3 services to canberra per day)
> > 
> > Two new 1+4 XPT sets (with a single 2500hp engine) would run the Canberra
> > services to the current timetable, maybe even a little faster.

> how would they turn it at canberra? (run backwards from golburn! :) )

Read the above again. The bit about "driving trailers".

There were to be 8 driving trailers as part of the 1970 XPT order of 100
vehicles. The new government canned this.

But in theory you could do it without a driving trailer. The Dubbo XPT was
running 1+4 early last year, turning the XP at Dubbo. The same could be
done at Canberra.

Cheers
David