It has been announced TWO 1.8km long Crossing Loops are to be constructed between 'Lithgow and Orange'.
The first one they say is to be located some '3kms from Rydal', the other out at Georges Plains.
At a guess the first one could start from the road bridge at the beginning of the bends and run back towards Tarana over what was the old Sodwalls Yard area as that is fairly level and straight.
There are 2 overbridges between Rydal and Sodwals and its the 2nd one nearest to Sodwalls I think the loop will commence from.
Once you pass the Road Overbridge (Grave's Farm) the grade does increase all the way through to some 2 kms east of Rydal before descending to Wallerawang.
Originally it cost some $27 millions back in the mid 90s to convert the existing double line to a single line between Tarana and Wallerawang but that also incorporated all new signalling too.
Although I worked briefly at Bathurst West, I have little knowledge of the workings through to Orange from there but I do know there was only a siding at Tumulla to cross trains and a section of double line through Newbridge so this crossing loop is a whole new idea as the current single line between Blayney and Bathurst is too long.


The Rydal Loop proposal was posted here early in 2017 from memory.

What was the big cost ?

Re-signaling, but saving money by only adapting the new signaling for just one track ?

Other than that, It just looks like one track was just disconnected and abandoned, to be later removed.

$27 Million was what was quoted as the cost of converting from Double to Single line.
Gossip was it cost more but I never heard any amount ever quoted if it did.
The previous UP main line was chosen to be the new Main line with the Down Main to be removed.
However at both Rydal and Tarana, the DOWN platforms are used for passenger usage.
The new Main Line has been 'moved' in several places within the confines of the double line road bed to suit a better lie.
This also would have covered the works needed from the west end of Wallerawang platform to join the Up and Down together and the main to Branch junction at Wallerawang West.
Cabling, new points, motors, signals etc and the new relay/control building.
Tarana would have required a new set of motorised points where the UP and down join, motors on the UP refuge and new signals, relay/control building.

I was remiss and didnt state $21.8 Million has been allocated to do BOTH crossings and as no amount per Crossing Loop was given, I just divided that by 2 to get $10 Million I quoted in the heading.

It has been announced TWO 1.8km long Crossing Loops are to be constructed between 'Lithgow and Orange'.
The first one they say is to be located some '3kms from Rydal', the other out at Georges Plains.
At a guess the first one could start from the road bridge at the beginning of the bends and run back towards Tarana over what was the old Sodwalls Yard area as that is fairly level and straight.
There are 2 overbridges between Rydal and Sodwals and its the 2nd one nearest to Sodwalls I think the loop will commence from.
Once you pass the Road Overbridge (Grave's Farm) the grade does increase all the way through to some 2 kms east of Rydal before descending to Wallerawang.
Originally it cost some $27 millions back in the mid 90s to convert the existing double line to a single line between Tarana and Wallerawang but that also incorporated all new signalling too.
Although I worked briefly at Bathurst West, I have little knowledge of the workings through to Orange from there but I do know there was only a siding at Tumulla to cross trains and a section of double line through Newbridge so this crossing loop is a whole new idea as the current single line between Blayney and Bathurst is too long.


The Rydal Loop proposal was posted here early in 2017 from memory.

West of Bathurst there were crossing loops at Georges Plains, Tumulla and Wimbledon (where the bank engines came off). It was then single track to Gresham where double track resumed to Murrobo. There may have also been a siding at Perthville in the form of a loop but as Perthville was normally unattended and within sight of Georges Plains I don't think any crossings occurred there. There were further loops at Blayney, Polona and Millthorpe before double track resumed at Spring Hill to Orange.
Neill Farmer

I think the loop at Perthville was just a siding and could not be used as a Crossing loop as it wasnt a Safe working station.
The section was Bathurst West to Georges Plains.
I know they ran Bank Engines west of Georges Plains.
I know they didnt like crossing trains at Georges Plains as it was controlled from the Signalbox one end but the other end was by a Ground Frame and even thought the loops were fairly short,that took time to open the Ground Frame.

As I said, I am not familiar with the area west of Bathurst and only have a very idea of how it worked.
I have no idea how the Stockyards were laid out only that there was a ground frame/shunters cabin there I believe.
It had gone out of use by the time I worked briefly at Bx West.

Can we not duplicate the discussion here?  A thread already exists.

https://www.railpage.com.au/f-t11397787.htm

If an admin wants to add this to the previous postings, please do so.

Please refer to https://www.railpage.com.au/f-t11397787.htm for further discussions.