Re: Mt Barker Junction

[ranger@camtech.net.au (Bob Green)]

On Thu, 16 Sep 1999 15:39:27 +1000, "Exnarc" <gwrly@netspace.net.au>
wrote:

>
>Notagunzel <notagunzel@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
>news:q6ND3.107$ZV1.9793@nsw.nnrp.telstra.net...
>> bill johnston <wajohns@tpgi.com.au> wrote in message
>> news:37ddd545@dnews.tpgi.com.au...
>>
>> > Although I knew that Mt Barker Junction signalling remained in place
>> after
>> > guage standardisation, I had always assumed that the junction itself had
>> been
>> > bulldozed. I was therefore surprised to see in September Catchpoint that
>> the
>> > junction pointsremain and a dual guage line disappears into the
>distance.
>> How
>> > far does the dual guage go?, and have any standard guage trains ever
>used
>> the
>> > it? What is the situation at Woolsley (spelling?). Again I have always
>> presumed
>> > that the junction was removed.
>>
>> Wolseley is a boring crossing loop, the East end points (actually a
>> crossover) are west of the platform, making the platform in the single
>line
>> section to Leeor.  Before the Narrow Gauge conversion, there was a delta
>> crossover past the east end of the platform (it it the up or down end???)
>> but it now deceased.  The loop is on the south side of the track, and the
>> east end of it beyond the crossover mentioned above is the lead into the
>> grain siding.  The Real Gauge track from the South finishes in a pile of
>> dirt, if my memory serves correctly.
>>
>> As for Mt Barker Jct, I vaugely remeber seeing SG Track Machines in there
>> last time I passed through in the Overdue.
>>
>> Good to see in that photo in Catchpoint that the Up Departure Signals are
>> still REAL signals.
>>
>> --
>> Mr Notagunzel.
>> GRS 2A Signal Motor Connoisseur.
>> notagunzel@bigfoot.com
>> (Waiting for the next move at http://www.bigfoot.com/~notagunzel)
>>
>
>Its been 9 months since I worked a train into Adelaide, but at the begining
>of 1999 the situation at Mt Barker Junction was:
>
>Points (sorry switch) remains in situe, however the "K" crossing (frog) has
>been removed.
>
>All the signalling is in situe and working.
>
>The broad gauge ends about 2m before the Absolute Signal from the Victor
>Harbour Line, whilst the standard gauge runs almost the full length of the
>platform.
>
>As I said this was at the begining of this year.
>
>Bob.
>
>
This is still the situation and will remain so unless changes are made
when a proposed SG crossing loop is built in the area.  The absence of
the frog obviously now prevents SG movements into the platform road
and admission proceedures for BG trains have recently been simplified
to eliminate the need for BG trains to obtain a second TO from the SG
controller..

SteamRanger is operating regular services from Mt Barker to the
junction using either a Red Hen railcar or a centenary car set with a
steam loco, F251, at one end and a diesel shunter at the other.   The
movement is on the authority of a single return train order from
TransAdelaide TC with the distant signal from the branch now set
permanently at proceed.  SG train crews are advised by train control
of movements so that they are aware of passengers and gunzels in the
station yard.  

SteamRanger S&T team have reinstated the wigwag level crossing warning
north of the freeway tunnel and the conventional flashing lights on
the old main highway crossing at Littlehampton.  These circuits have
new searchlight signals on adjacent poles to indicate to train crews
that the warning devices are operating, rather than relying on the
conventional white indications on the side of the flashing lights.  

A new platform has been built by the operator of the Littlehampton
Farm Railway adjacent to his facilities in the middle of the section,
and SteamRanger will be running railcars from there to Mt Barker in
conjunction with a special event on Oct 31st and from time to time
thereafter. 

Bob Green
WWW Manager
SteamRanger