Re: BLs vs NRS

["Grahame Ferguson" <grahamef@users.mcmedia.com.au>]

David Bromage wrote in message ...
>The IP and Ghan are considerably longer than the overland, so the 4000hp
>would be needed.
>
>Cheers
>David
In days gone by the motive power  for the IP was :
2x46 class later 2x86 class Sydney to Lithgow
2x44 class Lithgow to Parkes
1x44 class Parkes to Broken Hill
1x600 or 1x700 class Broken Hill to Pt Pirie
1xGM12 or 2xGM1s Pt Pirie to Kalgoorlie
or  2xGM12s or 1xCL for a combined Trans Australian-IP
1xL class or 1xK class Kalgoorlie to Perth.

The only section that required high horse power was Sydney to Lithgow with
its 1 in 33s Valley Heights to Katoomba.
2x44s could haul the IP from Lithgow to Sydney, but 3x44s were required from
Sydney to Lithgow.
A 3000hp loco could do the section Lithgow to Parkes, but at a greatly
increased section time because of the 1 in 40 grades.
Basically 1 BL could do the job west of Lithgow or a single DL could haul
the IP west of Parkes.  A DL has a higher gear ratio than a BL.
A single ended loco runs into problems at Perth Terminal, because it can not
be turned there.