Re: Can NRs run to griffith?

[Arthur Marsh <marsh@ties.itu.ch>]

Yes, the ability to double stack would be more significant than the
actual loading. After all, banking locomotives can get around the limits
of what a single NR can haul between Adelaide and Tailem Bend.

Bruce Greening wrote:
> 
> Maurie Daly wrote:
> 
> > Ive been looking at an interesting idea related to the AP to Darwin line.
> > Its been obviously assumed that traffic from Darwin to Melb will obviously run
> > via Adelaide & the Adelaide Hills.
> > Ive long looked at the long closed line from Roto to griffith and wondered
> > a/ Why it was ever built in the first place and
> > b/ If it would ever be of any use.
> >
> > You get some interesting statistics from the two routes.
> >
> > Darwin to Melb via Adelaide is approx 3900 km and the max load for a single NR
> > is 1200 tonnes , (limited solely by the Western approach to the Adelaide
> > hills,which is unfixable.
> > Darwin to Melb via Roto is approx 4280 km and the max load for a single NR is
> > 1750 tonnes, limited solely by the 1:40 short climb from Junee to Harefield
> > which is fixable , for around $7 M.
> >
> > The differance is distance represents 9% of the total for which we get an
> > increase in load of around 30%.
> >
> > Obviously this would require a relaying of Roto to Griffith.
> > Given the current very low train densities on the Broken Hill line , this sort
> > of proposal would increase its train density and thus lower the access charges
> > on a per train basis .
> >
> > If we could get a std guage line from Narrandera to Seymour then this idea
> > becomes even more attractive.
> >
> > Comments??
> >
> > MD
> 
> You might be interested in the fact that RAC are negotiating to reopen a portion
> of the line north from Hilstone to a new cotton gin being constructed.
> 
> I has also occured to me that the best route to double stack Melbourne - Darwin or
> Melbourne - Perth might br vis a reconstructed route through Roto. I recently
> drove the routhe and it would certainly require little earth works to rebuild. The
> bridge over the river at Hilstone might require replacement or strenghting as it
> is (was) only class 5 line.
> 
> --
> Bruce L. Greening
> bgreeni@ibm.net