Source of increased traffic in TAS

freightgate · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 1:25 pm

I have been reading on these forums about traffic increases in Tasmania and the need for new locomotives, or more locomotives.

This raises the question, what is causing the locomotive shortage and where is the new traffic coming from?

Further, is tasmania expecting to receive an increase in the number of wagons required?

--Bill

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Vulcan Foundry · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 4:37 pm

The Locomotive fleet is ageing fast with ATN Tasrail still operating a mix of English Electric and GM powered Locomotives, with many of them second hand units that have seen a lot of work over the years. Sourcing parts for this ageing fleet seems to be the main problem as is the cost of purchasing new or even second hand units to import into the state as replacements. Many of the engines that have suffered major failures such as crank case explosions and traction motor failures are still out of action after a couples passing the original incident.

New traffic would come in the form of containers from both Patrick and Toll as they see this as a positive way to increase their tonnages hauled at a lower cost per KM. Not to mentioin the fact that they are the parents of Pacific National, who is Tasrail's new owner. Zinc pellets are also supposed to be coming north from Pasminco since they stopped shipping from there, but I haven't noticed any real increase in this reported traffic as yet so I'm not sure what is happening on this front. Many new wagons are rumoured to be sent to Tasmania in the future to cover this increased traffic in both these two areas, but again unconfirmed at this point.

Thats the problem with Tasrail, is that not even the workers are 100% sure whats going on or who even owns them most of the time and details regarding whats going on with them are hard to get at the best of times. Smile

"To err is human. To blame somebody else for it shows managerial potential"

mjja · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 8:13 pm

I just hope Toll do move heavily on to rail. I was down there last month and just about every second truck on the highway from Devonport to Hobart was Toll liveried. They should be made to pay 50% of the highway maintenance costs.

Happy Gunzelling and remember, "Go by rail!"

Michael Angelico
President, Smart Passengers Inc
(My opinions are my own unless specifically stated.)

freightgate · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 10:14 am

Are the Tasmanian ports well served by rail access?

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Vulcan Foundry · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 1:48 pm

freightgate · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 1:57 pm

I thought that Hobart had a rail terminal to the port? I certainly remember trackage around the port when I was there some years back. Has the track approach changed much in the time?

IIRC, there was a mainline track almost to the roundabout in the northern part of the city of Hobart?

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Vulcan Foundry · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 2:02 pm

tasrail · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 2:30 pm

(Sees name mentioned, so wakes up from work induced trance - I do my best to have a look around every day or two when time allows)

There is a spur line onto the wharf in Hobart, but it is used as a loading point for traffic brought in by truck, or thats been reloaded in one of the adjacent sheds. I don't think there is much that would come/go by boat - its really only the PAS line boat that comes in every few weeks to take Zinc and logs.

The roundabout which frightgate mentioned, was always called the "Railway Roundabout" as it was adjacent to the passenger station - now the ABC complex. When the station was demolished in the early 1980s, the line was cut back to the other side of the "slip road" as it was then called - now part of the Tasman Highway or in practice, an extension to Davey St . All the loading areas in Hobart lies between Davey St, Evans St, the embankment that marks the edge of the domain / regatta grounds and the wharves.

The track that used to service Elizabeth St pier and Kings Wharf is still embedded in the roadway around the wharf area, although the just the rail was covered over a while back.

Regards,

Stuart

freightgate · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 2:41 pm

Stuart, thanks for a wonderful report on the current situation. What is the name of the wharf that has the current spur line connected? Is this the only wharf with access now?

When did tasrail stop using the elizabeth st pier line?

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tasrail · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 2:49 pm

The siding runs down onto the apron that extends back from Macquarie No.4 & No.5 Berths. (I suppose Mac 3 is is onthe other side of the shed). This is closest there is in Hobart to rail access to a freight wharf.

Don't have the dates on hand, but the Elizabeth St Peir lie was proabably last used by the railways in the late 1960s.

Stuart

freightgate · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 3:12 pm

Stuart, how large in the freight yard in Hobart? I remember seeing the tracks near the roundabout, but could not identify where the yard may have been. I remember a locomotive sitting almost at the end of the siding (at the road) with a tower near the track. Is the yard near this location?

--Bill

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tasrail · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 3:45 pm

Hard to describe without a map (I couldn't find one to quickly link to). If you are brave (and have time), go to www.thelist.tas.gov.au then map view and put in "Evans Street"

It sort of curls 180degrees around the base of the 'hill'. The body of the yard is roughly triangular, aith each side being about 400m long.

The silo was most likely the Boral batching plant. Locos are still stored there from day to day - this is the westernmost corner of the yard. The loading roards are below this, back toward the wharf

Stuart

freightgate · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 4:07 pm