Re: Cowra-Blayney line

[mauried@commslab.gov.au (Maurie Daly)]

In article <36FCC076.D0CA36B0@fastlink.com.au> Tim Arnot <timarnot@fastlink.com.au> writes:
>From: Tim Arnot <timarnot@fastlink.com.au>
>Subject: Re: Cowra-Blayney line
>Date: Sat, 27 Mar 1999 21:26:46 +1000

>Ben Staples wrote:
>> 
>> David Bromage wrote in message ...
>> 
>> **SNIP**
>> >This was one of the few serious proposals. THe line is required to get NR
>> >freights out of SYdney during the Olympics. Reopening Kandos to Gulgong
>> >was brought forward a year for the same purpose.

Unless I have missed something earlier in this thread,why is this line 
necessary to get NR freights out of Sydney during the olympics.
Why cant we simply run the Nth - South freights the way they were originally 
run , ie Ulan - Gulgong - Merrygoen - Dubbo - Parkes - Cootmundra.
This way currently needs only 2 reversals , only one when the Dubbo Y link is 
finished , can handle 21 tonne axle loads , ie 81/82 s all the way (dunno 
about NRs) , and doesnt need any upgrading.
To run NR class or even 81/82 between Wallerawang and Mudgee will require at 
least one bridge to be completely replaced  as well as a substantial upgrade 
of the track from Mudgee to Gulgong.
Even if it is necessary to run freights from Blayney to Melb,its still more 
sensible and cost effective to run them via Parkes and Coota,as no reversals 
are needed.
Unless the southern leg of the Demondrille triangle is reinstated,(not a cheap 
option as it will require 4 sets of motor points, plus something will have to 
be done about the double line block between Demondrille & Wallandbeen.) then 
any freights will have to descend the 1:40 down into Harden to reverse and 
then come back up it again, (crazy).
This alone will seriously limit the loads that can can be carried.
Blayney to Coota via Parkes is all downhill to Parkes and then mainly flat.
Am I missing something.

MD