Re: Freight Victoria..POWER??

["Rod" <comtrain@mpx.com.au>]

This thread has developed a few intersting scenarios
 ie. WAGR L Class and AN EL's
Future Loco needs will be 3000 hp or more. The First thing that FV did was
combine as many trains as possible and start running 'big'tonnages!
Thus as an example Grain trains ex Oaklands now combine with the under
utilised Wodonga trains at Benalla, and pick up excess Tocumwal loadings ex
Seymour. 9358 departs Wodonga daily with 215 tonnes and grows to 2500 tonnes
at Benalla and over 3000 tonnes at Seymour.
Stage 2 was to go out and get "New Business" The plan is to double tonnages
again. At Wodonga we see the return of Super Trains to Pivot , and in season
that can build this train up 1540 tonnes a day! A new Rail Hub at
Wangarratta should come on liune in 2001.
Ways to go.....Well a recent memo to Newport regarding the fitting of a
toilet to X49, reads that the modification must make alowances for the
alterations to the bodywork required by the fitting of 3000 hp engines.
Reference made to plans already drawn up. Eastern States loading gauge
limits the use of imported second hand power, but a second hand SD40, could
be stripped and the good bits transplanted into a X Class body would be a
easy way out!
Another would be to contract with National to take over the N Class
Locomotives as the New
Rail Motors come on line in late 2000. They will all be in need of major
exams then, so strip out the HEP and add 3500hp, and another 22+ Locomotives
could be had for a saving.
THe X Class conversions would go a long way towards overcoming any
locomotive shortage in the short term. Growth would continue with the N's
Rod