Re: new rail hub for River Don in Launceston

["Bob Merchant" <bob.merchant@bigpond.com>]

If I recall correctly, the Tasman Ltd used to pick up mail bags on the fly
like they used to do in Britain.  I travelled on the train a couple of times
in the late 1950s and early 60s. It was a great relaxing journey.

What are they going to do with that very, very, sharp curve that has been
laid in the former Launceston rail yards? It is too sharp for railway use.

Regards
Bob

<allclear@big.sticks.com.au> wrote in message
news:310719990008067884%allclear@big.sticks.com.au...
| In article <37A017DB.1316A51A@melbpc.org.au>, Jennifer Richmond
| <richmond@melbpc.org.au> wrote:
|
| > allclear@big.sticks.com.au wrote:
| >
| > > This follows the return of the Tasman Limited to the Hobart-Launceston
| > > line on the weekend.
| > >
| > > Nice to see private initiatives starting to do what the Federal
| > > Government failed to do in 1978- keep passenger trains moving in
| > > Tasmania.
| >
| > What is the Tasman Limited? Is it a regular service? What is the
Timetable?
| > Is it commercial or Tourist?
| >
| > TIA
| > Sam
|
| The Tasman Limited was the regular service between Wynyard Airport (far
| NW Coast) and Hobart that ran 6 days a week return from 1954 to 1978.
|
| It was a slow journey, but was comfortable.  The articulated saloon
| cars (the first used in Australia) were one class, and the scenery
| simply marvellous.
|
| Despite several attempts to save the train, it reduced to three days a
| week, coinciding with the regular ferry crossing into Devonport, and
| then, alas, in the last week of July, 1978, it was withdrawn when
| federal subsidisation was no longer feasible.
|
| The train was drawn by X class locomotives at first (the first mainline
| diesel electrics in Australia), and occasionally by Y class (Tasmanian
| built English Electrics).
|
| Most of the rolling stock was dispersed, although some has been
| preserved interstate (Victoria and WA).  The Derwent Rail Preservation
| Sociey (based at New Norfolk) has the best set of ASC and single cars.
| They also have genuine locomotives that used to draw the Tasman.  On
| the weekend, a Y and X drew the train to Launceston and return. Top
| speed was 77 kmh.
|
| More information can be found from the Tasrail site
| http://www.tased.edu.au/tasonline/railtas/
|
| Others may care to share their memories of the grand old lady of
| Tasmanian rail!