Re: St Mary's "Stone" trains

["WhaleOilBeefHooked" <daproc@sd5.mailbank.com>]

David & Julie Donald wrote in message <377D8970.4CB2CA80@hermes.net.au>...
>It would appear that the original concept of running the St Mary's "stone
trains
>as a "push - pull" / "top 'n tail" arrangement has not come to total
fruition.
>Judging by the number of these trains that I have seen (and I see them most
>mornings and afternoons), it would appear that it has become the standard
>arrangement of "pulling" only, with the engines running around at St Mary's
(and
>I believe that is causing quite a number of headaches for the Signallers at
St
>Mary's, and causing just the odd disruption / delays to regular traffic);

Sort of - I am not sure if this *is8 what is happening - merely a surmisal
on my part.

I have seen a number of occasions lately where there has been a stone train
on the branch, and we pass another stone train (with an 80/48/80 combination
on the front. Closely following that is another set of 80/48/80 running
light.

My guess (and it is only a guess) is that the light locos attach to the
Sydney end of a train once it is finished out there, and then take it back.
The locos that brought that train in then attach to the Sydney end of the
other train. The remaining locos return light engine.

DaveP