Re: Can NRs run to griffith?

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

>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


Yes, the double stacking problem to Melb is a hard one to fix.
Lowering the floors of the tunnels in the Adelaide hills will require closing 
the line whilst this happens , a costly and difficult operation.
In the case of the Bunbury st tunnel in Melb it should be possible to close 
one line and lower it whilst keeping the other line open,so a alternative 
route via Roto would then only involve one tunnel.
I gather that if you are going to re-open north of Hillston ,then the Lachlan 
River bridge will have to be upgraded somewhat.
Good opportunity to upgrade it to take 132 tonne locos.
Does the track north of Hillston still exist.
Last time I went thru Roto , the triangle was still visible , only the points 
to the main line had been removed.

cheers
MD