Commencing Friday 17-09-2010 the West line is tentative scheduled to re-open for limited traffic under a temporary safeworking arrangement until full signalling is commissioned at a later date. Four – Six trains per day will be run on the West line.

Out of touch with reality if they think 4-6 trains per day is a minimum amount of traffic on this line!
On most days this figure is almost the maximum traffic amount! 8)

Pretty much leaves the F class out of any of the diesel classes of locomotive to be broad gauge only.[/quote]

Are you sure? I'm fairly sure that when I was young, I witnessed a small 0-6-0 diesel loco (and No, it wasn't a W) trying to haul the Southern Aurora cars out of No1 platform at Spencer Street. There was a lot of wheel slipping but it finally managed to move the cars out. My memory might be playing tricks but I recall the loco had a narrow body with a small cab at one end.  

Commencing Friday 17-09-2010 the West line is tentative scheduled to re-open for limited traffic under a temporary safeworking arrangement until full signalling is commissioned at a later date. Four – Six trains per day will be run on the West line.

Out of touch with reality if they think 4-6 trains per day is a minimum amount of traffic on this line!
On most days this figure is almost the maximum traffic amount! 8)

As I thought
I parked the Caravan in a paddock near Mokoan (over 24 hours) and went to sleep under the awning. a few months ago, saw the XPT twice, heard it twice. Swear only three freight trains went past heading North and two South.
Then I contemplated why were they spending 600 millions on this line?
Cheers
Rod

Pretty much leaves the F class out of any of the diesel classes of locomotive to be broad gauge only.

Are you sure? I'm fairly sure that when I was young, I witnessed a small 0-6-0 diesel loco (and No, it wasn't a W) trying to haul the Southern Aurora cars out of No1 platform at Spencer Street. There was a lot of wheel slipping but it finally managed to move the cars out. My memory might be playing tricks but I recall the loco had a narrow body with a small cab at one end.  

I really doubt even the W would be used to haul it back over the Flyover to the Car sheds at Dynon  The Y Class used to scream as it pulled 13 cars over the top
Cheers
Rod

Commencing Friday 17-09-2010 the West line is tentative scheduled to re-open for limited traffic under a temporary safeworking arrangement until full signalling is commissioned at a later date. Four – Six trains per day will be run on the West line.

Out of touch with reality if they think 4-6 trains per day is a minimum amount of traffic on this line!
On most days this figure is almost the maximum traffic amount! 8)

As I thought
I parked the Caravan in a paddock near Mokoan (over 24 hours) and went to sleep under the awning. a few months ago, saw the XPT twice, heard it twice. Swear only three freight trains went past heading North and two South.
Then I contemplated why were they spending 600 millions on this line?
Cheers
Rod

Woodfords dream/fairy tale.........................

Why are they spending this sort of money..............................

The current world economic problems will not last for ever as will the current low fuel price. It is no good waiting for fuel to reach $3.00 a litre before doing anything. Spending money on the railway is something that is REALLY out of character for any government/large company and that is looking to the future. It should be applauded.

Woodford

The rail cleaning loco is only going as far Benalla's platform, there is no sign of wear marks on West line on either the Witt st or Yarrawonga rd's level crossings (that is north of Benalla). From Nunn st south no problems.

Of the 17 signals required around Benalla 14 now appear to be in place. The ones yet to be erected being the pair 6 kilometers Wang side of Benalla (probably did not check today) and the signal for the Oaklands line. The main equipment cabinets for the switching have as yet to be delivered.

Woodford

Commencing Friday 17-09-2010 the West line is tentative scheduled to re-open for limited traffic under a temporary safeworking arrangement until full signalling is commissioned at a later date. Four – Six trains per day will be run on the West line.

Out of touch with reality if they think 4-6 trains per day is a minimum amount of traffic on this line!
On most days this figure is almost the maximum traffic amount! 8)

As I thought
I parked the Caravan in a paddock near Mokoan (over 24 hours) and went to sleep under the awning. a few months ago, saw the XPT twice, heard it twice. Swear only three freight trains went past heading North and two South.
Then I contemplated why were they spending 600 millions on this line?
Cheers
Rod

Woodfords dream/fairy tale.........................

Why are they spending this sort of money..............................

The current world economic problems will not last for ever as will the current low fuel price. It is no good waiting for fuel to reach $3.00 a litre before doing anything. Spending money on the railway is something that is REALLY out of character for any government/large company and that is looking to the future. It should be applauded.

Woodford

Of course
And I was smiling when I asked.  Once they sort their problems, I have no doubt that it will be an asset that will hold us in good position for the future
Cheers
Rod  

Hi all.

I expect some of you read the tender advertisement on page 62 of today's Herald-Sun.

WODONGA CIVIL WORKS

VicTrack tender no. VT0713:- Removal of rail from road at High street, Melrose Drive and Hovell Street in Wodonga.

Calls for removal of rail tracks in Wodonga at the above streets.

Tenders close on 29-9-10.

Regards,

Robert.

Hi all.

I expect some of you read the tender advertisement on page 62 of today's Herald-Sun.

WODONGA CIVIL WORKS

VicTrack tender no. VT0713:- Removal of rail from road at High street, Melrose Drive and Hovell Street in Wodonga.

Calls for removal of rail tracks in Wodonga at the above streets.

Tenders close on 29-9-10.

Regards,

Robert.

Melrose Drive ?
This level crossing was rebuilt (one standard gauge track only) not that long ago to retain rail access to the Mars Pet Food Factory.

Has Mars snubbed the Idea of shipping their products out by rail and are happy to road shuttle them to Ettamogah Hub ?

Oops one thing I forgot to mention,

A large Atco hut has been set up opposite Signal box A in Benalla. One assumes this is for the safe working staff when traffic starts. Note this a large hut.

Also,
A grain train came back again from Oaklands today, One of the two locos was G533 (I think).

PS, Gees the amount of work putting a rail signal system.............Hells,bells.............
There appears to be 3 companys invloved now O'Donnel and Griffin, Rail Signal Construction and some people who's name appears Mitch and Co (or something like that).

Woodford

Some observations and thoughts on the mud holes,

When a month or probably more ago they started to remove the ballast from the ends of the sleepers I noticed something odd.

On a good number of the sites this had been done it looked like it had cured the imediate problem. Now I stopped and had a look and it looked like the sleepers were sitting in a trough of mud surrounded on all sides including underneath by clean ballast.

Another thing I noticed was there were three mudholes on Steel decked Ballast top bridges.

Now I discussed this with a long time track worker and he said the ballast that was being used was of poor quality and was powdering under the concrete sleepers due to the traffic.

Another point worth mentioning is that Violet Town Quarries in the current orders for the ballast was told to supply a much higher quality and a much harder ballast whichs was at a somewhat higher in price.

Now it looks like at least in some parts the ballast is failing.  Now I am not claiming this is the whole problem there is clearly some base damage but it looks like one must keep an open mind on this problem.

Woodford

Some observations and thoughts on the mud holes,

When a month or probably more ago they started to remove the ballast from the ends of the sleepers I noticed something odd.

On a good number of the sites this had been done it looked like it had cured the imediate problem. Now I stopped and had a look and it looked like the sleepers were sitting in a trough of mud surrounded on all sides including underneath by clean ballast.

Another thing I noticed was there were three mudholes on Steel decked Ballast top bridges.

Now I discussed this with a long time track worker and he said the ballast that was being used was of poor quality and was powdering under the concrete sleepers due to the traffic.

Another point worth mentioning is that Violet Town Quarries in the current orders for the ballast was told to supply a much higher quality and a much harder ballast whichs was at a somewhat higher in price.

Now it looks like at least in some parts the ballast is failing.  Now I am not claiming this is the whole problem there is clearly some base damage but it looks like one must keep an open mind on this problem.

Woodford

Where the spots are that you describe there will be an impact point.  It could be a wheel burn but most likely a dipped weld.

Just to put things into perspective a 1.6mm dipped weld measured over a 1m straight edge (its more complicated than that in reality but you get the drift) has 1.6 times the loading at 60km/hr than the static wheel and 2.6 times the load at 80km/hr.   Makes an overloaded wagon seem insignificant when you have that happening.

Poor ballast is in reality a lesser issue when your track has these in them.   You also need to be mindful of the fatigue rate in the rail at such sites too.   Just ask WestNet, dipped welds were resulting in hundres of broken rails annually and 1000's of ultrasonic faults to be cut out.  The root cause was basically poor welding standards back in the day.

Hi Group,                         Sept 8th, 10, 21:15 Hrs. M.D.T.


                      Has Anyone had a chance to get some
    Updated Pictures of the Line Between Albury and
    Seymour. I Realize that the Signal Work still has to
    B done in several areas but It would B interesting to
    have some Pictures so as to give a general outlook
    on the Whole Project.

Hi Group,                         Sept 8th, 10, 21:15 Hrs. M.D.T.


                      Has Anyone had a chance to get some
    Updated Pictures of the Line Between Albury and
    Seymour. I Realize that the Signal Work still has to
    B done in several areas but It would B interesting to
    have some Pictures so as to give a general outlook
    on the Whole Project.

Here you go
(for those that have not seen this one
Cheers
Rod

Commencing Friday 17-09-2010 the West line is tentative scheduled to re-open for limited traffic under a temporary safeworking arrangement until full signalling is commissioned at a later date. Four – Six trains per day will be run on the West line.

Out of touch with reality if they think 4-6 trains per day is a minimum amount of traffic on this line!
On most days this figure is almost the maximum traffic amount! 8)

As I thought
I parked the Caravan in a paddock near Mokoan (over 24 hours) and went to sleep under the awning. a few months ago, saw the XPT twice, heard it twice. Swear only three freight trains went past heading North and two South.
Then I contemplated why were they spending 600 millions on this line?
Cheers
Rod

At about midnight last night there was 8 or 9 trains between Junee and Gerogery. All of which were either to or from Melbourne.  

Here you go
(for those that have not seen this one
Cheers
Rod

That's good  8)

Was that In the Boarder Express ?

I think it came out of the Herald Sun, I'll have a look next time I see it.

Commencing Friday 17-09-2010 the West line is tentative scheduled to re-open for limited traffic under a temporary safeworking arrangement until full signalling is commissioned at a later date. Four – Six trains per day will be run on the West line.

Out of touch with reality if they think 4-6 trains per day is a minimum amount of traffic on this line!
On most days this figure is almost the maximum traffic amount! 8)

As I thought
I parked the Caravan in a paddock near Mokoan (over 24 hours) and went to sleep under the awning. a few months ago, saw the XPT twice, heard it twice. Swear only three freight trains went past heading North and two South.
Then I contemplated why were they spending 600 millions on this line?
Cheers
Rod

At about midnight last night there was 8 or 9 trains between Junee and Gerogery. All of which were either to or from Melbourne.  

Hello Dave
They must find another way through, mate  
Maybe those sneaky buggers out Shepparton way found a way to use the floods to shrink the sleepers down to SG?

I am heading up North towards the end of the month, can you suggest where I park the van this time?

I usually try to keep away from the highway, so I can record the sounds better. The closer to Sydney the more chance of Daylight movements too, I guess
Cheers
Rod

Hello Dave
They must find another way through, mate  
Maybe those sneaky buggers out Shepparton way found a way to use the floods to shrink the sleepers down to SG?

That'll be the day

Hair dryers will do it...

Any answers to these questions would be appreciated.

Q 1  When the b.g was converted to s.g why didn't passenger trains resume running under the then existing b.g signalling/safeworking system until the new system was operational?

Q 2 Name any other country that would suspend train services for 3 years to convert 200 (+ or -) kms of track to a narrower gauge?

Q3  How long did it take to build the original b.g line from Seymour to Wodonga?

PS Bob Menzies is not an answer

1) The broad gauge doesn't have any signalling as such, and one crossing loop at Riggs Creek (south of Violet Town).  

2) Sir Henry Bolte.

3) About 4 years in total.

What is the hold up with the converted line?  They converted the line very quickly, in the heat of the summer the poor sods.  Then, have left it rusting ever since.  I wonder why the XPT at the very least could not have used the line?  I don't think it is good enough how long the passenger service has been shelved either.
Packa

What is the hold up with the converted line?  

Current track condition, signalling issues (I believe that there is a dispute as to what signalling system is to be used. i.e. Victorian standards or NSW standards. I may be wrong on this though) and bans on running of passenger trains due ot the tracks condition. In short, the SG is a mess. They should have redone the whole track bed instead of the method they did use which has lead to the formation of mud holes.

Noticed 8122 on the west line as I was on the V/Bus heading back to Wang north of Benalla.