toolamba echuca cross country

hally · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 3:55 pm

Just a quick question, and i hope i am in the rite forum here...
The cross country line from Toolamba to Echuca isnt used very often. I cant say i have seen a train on it for many years, maybe 5 or more. It passes through a number of places that in the past would have used the line, such as Tatura Milk, Kyabram cannery (now KY cold storage) and many others. I am just wondering if its safe for me to move cattle along the line. It connects two farms owned by my parents and if i could move stock along there, (not far only 300m) it would be much easier and save me time. Where can i get some info about this?
Any help apreciated

Somebody in the WWW · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 4:00 pm

It is still officially OPEN, and can be used when the line to Bendigo is not available. (Ie: now). I don't know if its in-use, but it will be ok if you have written permission from PN and you and all your cattle are wearing safety vests....

The answer is: No, you can't.

"The trains at Pennant Hills run roughly every half hour. Nobody in their right mind uses a service that shoddy. That so many do just proves how many dumb and/or desperate people there are in Sydney." - MrPC

DavidB · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 4:02 pm

Actually the short answer is "maybe".

You would need to ask Pacific National about access to the reservation. Contact details are here: http://www.pacificnational.com.au/services/vic_track_access.asp

Cheers
David

hally · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 4:26 pm

if the line is open then why have the level crossing bells and lights been taken off the midland highway, and turned off in merrigum and toolamba rd??
I have also seen other people put stock in temp electric fences beside the track.......

Somebody in the WWW · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 4:34 pm

Interesting.... do the crossing signs still exist minus lights/bells? Do you have any pictures? Do you know if the signals are still turned on?

According to vicsig at http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=infrastructure§ion=lineguide&line=Toolamba%20-%20Echuca it still receives the "Odd diverted goods train" from time-to-time.

"The trains at Pennant Hills run roughly every half hour. Nobody in their right mind uses a service that shoddy. That so many do just proves how many dumb and/or desperate people there are in Sydney." - MrPC

DavidB · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 4:39 pm

The word "open" has a very specific meaning. The line is legally open even if it isn't being used. It's not closed, they just aren't running trains on it.

Lights and signals can be turned off when not required, or they could have been turned into Class 1 unprotected level crossings.

They must have had permission to put up temporary fences in the reservation.

Cheers
David

K160 · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 4:43 pm

Maybe a better phrase would be "Operations Temporarily Suspended" Smile

Regards
Matthew Davis

Last updated November 19th 2008.

DavidB · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 4:47 pm

It might be possible arrange a day/time to move cattle along the reservation. You need to contact PN.

Cheers
David

hally · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 4:48 pm

macca35 · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 4:51 pm

The line is defined as open, although the line is kept the least possible standard to run a train across. There are a few farmers who use the train line to cross cows across, but in a straight line and they put up a string line to keep the cows from straying onto the line.
It's very strange that the lights on the midland hwy have not been replaced as yet and there's a rumour going around that there is a piece of line missing between merrigum and kyabram. I'm going to check this out on the weekend when i get time.
This is one of the lines that was to be standardised and then freight from Echuca could be diverted via the Toolamba and Seymour as it's a shorter journey in distance and there are more available slots a former FA worker told me.
Why would PN utilise the quicker running times via Seymour and then they can upgrade the track to echuca and tocumwal achieving quicker freight times and utilising the available slots between melbourne and the borders

Somebody in the WWW · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 4:51 pm

DavidB · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 4:52 pm

"Suspended" means that the line is still open, but they're not running trains on it. But trains can run at any time without notice. They probably run a hirail along the line at least once a week.

Cheers
David

Somebody in the WWW · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 4:54 pm

"Operations Temporarily Suspended" means that a line has been booked out of service on PN's records (usually to do with track condition), and no longer has any scheduled train movements. Afaik Echuca-Toolamba is not booked out of service, but no longer has any scheduled train movements along the line. According to the gov, it is considered a "minimum maintenance" line.

"The trains at Pennant Hills run roughly every half hour. Nobody in their right mind uses a service that shoddy. That so many do just proves how many dumb and/or desperate people there are in Sydney." - MrPC

K160 · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 4:54 pm

It means that trains do not run over the line, but it is still open. Trains could be returned if there was a demand for it. The Castlemaine-Maryborough line was also like this, although it was pronounced "closed". Smile

Regards
Matthew Davis

Last updated November 19th 2008.

hally · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 4:56 pm

whats a hirail? Is that the land cruiser with the small wheels that fit the track??? Well if thats what it is i have not seen one on that track for a long time, i live right beside it and i think i would notice, maybe it could slip by.. However the rails are covered in rust, wouldnt it take the rust off?