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Tasmanian Railways Q&A

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      Peter-Hem Locomotive Driver

    Location: Tassie
    Since there hasn’t been much activity on Tasmania’s page for a while I thought I would start a Questions and Answers Thread. The main purpose of this Thread is education and learning: I hope that any user who has been holding onto any Tasmanian Railway related questions will come and ask them here, while those more knowledgeable and experienced users can help try and answer them.

    The kinds of subjects I hope this Thread will cover may be: How Tasmanian engines and machines work, queries over Tasmania’s railway history, questions about preservation societies and their activities, or simply questions about the latest Tasmanian Railway News.

    Please ask questions. Please offer some answers.
    Posted: 07 Sep 2014 18:38

    Last edited by Peter-Hem on 07 Sep 2014 20:02; edited 1 time in total

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      Peter-Hem Locomotive Driver

    Location: Tassie
    I'll start us off with the first question...

    Why have the locomotives 2020 and 2021 been stored? I thought that only English Electrics were being retired, don't 2020 and 2021 have the same EMD engines of 2051-54 Class?
    Posted: 07 Sep 2014 18:42
      12CSVT Chief Commissioner

    Location: Drowning in accreditation red tape!
    I'll start us off with the first question...

    Why have the locomotives 2020 and 2021 been stored? I thought that only English Electrics were being retired, don't 2020 and 2021 have the same EMD engines of 2051-54 Class?
    Peter-Hem

    From what I have been told, factors leading to their withdrawal include;

    • They are worn out;

    • They have poor haulage ability;

    • They ride roughly and vibrate;

    • They are now surplus;

    • They may now become "Christmas Trees" for the other EMD's.


    Some of the forum members who work for Tasrail may be able to expand on that.
    Posted: 07 Sep 2014 19:58
      Peter-Hem Locomotive Driver

    Location: Tassie
    "Christmas Trees" ?
    Posted: 07 Sep 2014 20:04
      YM-Mundrabilla Minister for Railways

    Location: Mundrabilla but I'd rather be in Narvik
    "Christmas Trees" ?
    Peter-Hem

    Parts donors ????????
    Posted: 07 Sep 2014 20:53
      12CSVT Chief Commissioner

    Location: Drowning in accreditation red tape!
    Parts donors ????????
    YM-Mundrabilla

    Exactly.
    Posted: 08 Sep 2014 18:27
      brod13 Assistant Commissioner

    Location: Norske Skog, Tasmania
    Antill ponds, from various photos it looks like the original track layout (or 1930s layout) was still around by 1965. From another photo in 1986 it looks like all the track expect the main line has been pulled. Has anyone got a date for when it was pulled up, and was it totally pulled up or was there a loop/siding left in between these years?
    Posted: 09 Sep 2014 09:47
      Electric C Junior Train Controller

    Location: The Shed - land of junk, smoke and wonder
    No exact idea but would say late 70s early 80s early ANR days but would of been slowly dismantled over time. Would say it's last hurrah would of been a siding. Don had the turn table from there fairly early on
    Posted: 09 Sep 2014 21:43
      ebr1 Junior Train Controller

    I'll start us off with the first question...

    Why have the locomotives 2020 and 2021 been stored? I thought that only English Electrics were being retired, don't 2020 and 2021 have the same EMD engines of 2051-54 Class?
    Peter-Hem

    the engine block and bogies are the only thing that's the same for the locos,2050's are fully rewired all electrics replaced ,all rotating parts fully serviced on rebuild,alternator ,dash 2 traction package (pretty much bullet proof)and a step up from the ztr traction control on the d's,air conditioned.cabs are probably a bit quieter on the d's (i thought the cabs were good to ride in).
    in the d's the ztr has never worked 'correctly' in such the generator/transition control was never right so never really developed full hp.and also had issues with dynamics(while i was there i don't think one of them ever worked).they were always having lazy contactors and burnt off control cables.
    good to work on though plenty of room

    a very good example of the new zealand dulux rebuild

    cheers ebr1
    Posted: 15 Sep 2014 21:52
      Peter-Hem Locomotive Driver

    Location: Tassie
    Alright time for a new question:

    I'm interested to learn more about the logistics of converting the various carriages, diesel locomotives, and steam locomotives of the preservation societies to air brakes instead of vacuum brakes.

    What are the benefits of air brakes over vacuum brakes?
    Could somebody give me some information about how the two braking systems work behind a diesel or a steam locomotive?
    Is it possible to convert Tasmanian Carriages to both air brakes as well as vacuum brakes?
    How difficult/expensive is it to install an air brake system to a single carriage?
    Posted: 20 Sep 2014 19:11
      abtrail Station Master

    Location: west coast wilderness railway
    Alright time for a new question:

    I'm interested to learn more about the logistics of converting the various carriages, diesel locomotives, and steam locomotives of the preservation societies to air brakes instead of vacuum brakes.

    What are the benefits of air brakes over vacuum brakes?
    Could somebody give me some information about how the two braking systems work behind a diesel or a steam locomotive?
    Is it possible to convert Tasmanian Carriages to both air brakes as well as vacuum brakes?
    How difficult/expensive is it to install an air brake system to a single carriage?
    Peter-Hem

    queenscliff railway have converted some tas stock already
    Posted: 21 Sep 2014 12:44
      12CSVT Chief Commissioner

    Location: Drowning in accreditation red tape!
    Peter-Hem - What are the benefits of air brakes over vacuum brakes?

    For tourist & heritage trains, firstly compatibility with Tasrail if operating on the main-line, in case of breakdown, easing the logistical challenges for recovery. Secondly, compatibility with any subsequently acquired (preserved) air-braked locos or other rolling stock

    Peter-Hem - Could somebody give me some information about how the two braking systems work behind a diesel or a steam locomotive?

    To much detail to go into here. There is plenty of information on line.

    Peter-Hem - Is it possible to convert Tasmanian Carriages to both air brakes as well as vacuum brakes?

    Yes, dual braking is a common concept. Many British Rail carriages were dual braked.

    Peter-Hem - How difficult/expensive is it to install an air brake system to a single carriage?

    For a professional rail engineering enterprise - not at all difficult. For volunteers, a fair bit of work. Cost, again, dependant on whether the job was contracted out to a rail engineering firm or done in house. Componentry is not difficult to come by or expensive, however the labour to put it all together would be.
    Posted: 21 Sep 2014 13:49

    Last edited by 12CSVT on 21 Sep 2014 13:50; edited 1 time in total
      Peter-Hem Locomotive Driver

    Location: Tassie
    Excellent answers. Thank You.
    Posted: 21 Sep 2014 17:41
      Peter-Hem Locomotive Driver

    Location: Tassie
    Has there ever been any passenger carriages that have been converted to Air Brakes in Tasmania?
    Posted: 21 Sep 2014 17:48
      BP4417 Deputy Commissioner

    Location: Launceston, Tasmania
    Has there ever been any passenger carriages that have been converted to Air Brakes in Tasmania?
    Peter-Hem

    No but I think there was an dual braked DB Van.
    But Geelong Steam Preservation Society have converted ex TGR carriages to dual brakes.

    Is there any reason you ask? Like Tasrail saying "If you want to run on the mainline you will have to convert your rolling stock to air brake so that we can come and rescue you if you break down?"

    Some photos
    http://s1059.photobucket.com/user/dcam13/media/DSC02361.jpg.html
    http://s1059.photobucket.com/user/dcam13/media/DSC02360.jpg.html
    http://s1059.photobucket.com/user/dcam13/media/DSC02358.jpg.html
    Posted: 22 Sep 2014 09:23

    Last edited by BP4417 on 22 Sep 2014 19:21; edited 2 times in total
      tasrail Moderator

    Location: Hobart
    PT1 and PT2 were dual braked in the 1930s for operation with either diesel or steam railcars.

    At least two FFL wagons had dual brakes in the 1980s and were stencilled as such. DB6 definitely had both sets of braking components & pipes in place for a period, but whether they were both actually operational is uncertain
    Posted: 24 Sep 2014 19:03
      lkernan Deputy Commissioner

    Location: Melbourne
    At least two FFL wagons had dual brakes in the 1980s and were stencilled as such.
    tasrail


    As soon as I saw that I remembered this pic.


    From the Queen Victoria museum collection:
    http://www.qvmag.tas.gov.au/qvmag/?c=11&imageID=QVM:1997:P:5199&historyOnlineSearch=dual%20brake
    Posted: 24 Sep 2014 19:33
      Peter-Hem Locomotive Driver

    Location: Tassie
    Some photos
    http://s1059.photobucket.com/user/dcam13/media/DSC02361.jpg.html
    http://s1059.photobucket.com/user/dcam13/media/DSC02360.jpg.html
    http://s1059.photobucket.com/user/dcam13/media/DSC02358.jpg.html
    BP4417



    This is an interesting little collection of Photos. Seeing all those SP Class carriages gives me an idea for a new question.
    Did any Sentinel/Cammell Steam Railcar boilers survive after being removed?
    Does anyone know of any photos taken or sketches made of the SP Class boilers?
    Posted: 24 Sep 2014 19:51

    Last edited by Peter-Hem on 24 Sep 2014 19:53; edited 1 time in total
      BP4417 Deputy Commissioner

    Location: Launceston, Tasmania
    This is an interesting little collection of Photos. Seeing all those SP Class carriages gives me an idea for a new question.
    Did any Sentinel/Cammell Steam Railcar boilers survive after being removed?
    Does anyone know of any photos taken or sketches made of the SP Class boilers?
    Peter-Hem

    I understand some could be buried under the old Diesel Shop along with many new flanged boiler boiler components.
    Posted: 25 Sep 2014 17:42
      sam6778 Junior Train Controller

    Location: Rockingham, WA
    Hi there,
    I have a couple of questions about Flinty Creek Viaduct.
    I had a look on Google Maps and there doesn't appear to be any access to it.
    Is it on private land or is it still within the rail reserve?
    Many thanks
    Sam
    Posted: 30 Sep 2014 15:33
      Peter-Hem Locomotive Driver

    Location: Tassie
    Hi there,
    I have a couple of questions about Flinty Creek Viaduct.
    I had a look on Google Maps and there doesn't appear to be any access to it.
    Is it on private land or is it still within the rail reserve?
    Many thanks
    Sam
    sam6778


    I doubt that the Flinty Creek Viaduct sits on private land. My guess would be that it, and the land it rests on, would still be TasRail land; even though the track route was changed at some time ago to bypasses the aging bridge.
    It is a beautiful little Viaduct though. Lots of nice photos taken of trains making the crossing.
    Posted: 05 Oct 2014 20:24

    Last edited by Peter-Hem on 05 Oct 2014 20:26; edited 1 time in total
      YM-Mundrabilla Minister for Railways

    Location: Mundrabilla but I'd rather be in Narvik
    I understand some could be buried under the old Diesel Shop along with many new flanged boiler boiler components.
    BP4417

    Perhaps the Victorian S class is there too as no one has been able to find it under Mount Newport.Smile
    Posted: 06 Oct 2014 09:42
      Peter-Hem Locomotive Driver

    Location: Tassie
    When the Derwent Valley Railway acquired the locomotives M1, MA1 and H5 all three locomotives had boilers covered in asbestos blankets which needed to be dealt with. What I was wondering was: Do the remaining plinthed locomotives; E1, H6, and MA3 still have these asbestos blankets around their boilers? If so are they danger to the public?
    Posted: 12 Oct 2014 19:00
      BP4417 Deputy Commissioner

    Location: Launceston, Tasmania
    When the Derwent Valley Railway acquired the locomotives M1, MA1 and H5 all three locomotives had boilers covered in asbestos blankets which needed to be dealt with. What I was wondering was: Do the remaining plinthed locomotives; E1, H6, and MA3 still have these asbestos blankets around their boilers? If so are they danger to the public?
    Peter-Hem

    Probably not while still clothed in cladding.
    E1 being an an older locomotive was probably insulated with wood.
    Posted: 13 Oct 2014 19:42
      12CSVT Chief Commissioner

    Location: Drowning in accreditation red tape!
    I remember seeing  C17 253  in Archer Park, Munduberra in central Queensland back in the mid 1990's. It was located right next door to a child care facility and scattered around the wheels and in a wind driven trail right towards the child care premise was a suspicious bluey white dust........Hmmmmm.
    Posted: 13 Oct 2014 20:32

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