Is the siding planned for accesss to the main at both ends or is it a lead off the yard ?
Just thinking operationally how will this work ?
You're making the rather radical assumption that the concept of "sensible" made an appearance in the design contract.Is the siding planned for accesss to the main at both ends or is it a lead off the yard ?
Just thinking operationally how will this work ?
Looks like there will only be a connection at the "southern" end of the site. The only sensible way I can see it working is that there will be two roads so that locos can run around the train on site. From what I've seen it looks like this will be the case.
I can't see ARTC allowing trains to regularly set back along the main line over 3 kms across multiple level crossings.You're making the rather radical assumption that the concept of "sensible" made an appearance in the design contract.Is the siding planned for accesss to the main at both ends or is it a lead off the yard ?
Just thinking operationally how will this work ?
Looks like there will only be a connection at the "southern" end of the site. The only sensible way I can see it working is that there will be two roads so that locos can run around the train on site. From what I've seen it looks like this will be the case.
There's only a single level crossing between Benalla and the concrete plant, theres only base preparation for a single set of points onto the main line. On Friday when I went past, as far as I could see the earth works for the loading yard where not well defined enough to tell if there was going to be a loop there.I can't see ARTC allowing trains to regularly set back along the main line over 3 kms across multiple level crossings.You're making the rather radical assumption that the concept of "sensible" made an appearance in the design contract.Is the siding planned for accesss to the main at both ends or is it a lead off the yard ?
Just thinking operationally how will this work ?
Looks like there will only be a connection at the "southern" end of the site. The only sensible way I can see it working is that there will be two roads so that locos can run around the train on site. From what I've seen it looks like this will be the case.
Propelling trains on running lines in normal circumstances is madness.Passenger trains in North America are regularly propelled. We rode on one from LA to San Diego that was pulled going down and pushed going back. Similarly with the suburban double deckers in Toronto. Also we were on an AMTRAK from LA to Seattle that encountered a tree across the line and reversed for about 30 miles, albeit at slow speed
ops:arrangement where the driver has a cab at the front regardless of the position of the loco.
By propelling trains I meant in the traditional sense where the crew/loco is at the trailing end not the European or TasmanianSome advantages of a loco at each end, first Europe can get away with a loco at one end and a drivers cab at the other because they mostly use electric traction and they are using loco's up to 11,000bhp, In the US 4400bhp pass loco's are availible. this will make a single loco pass have a reasonable performance level.
A loco at each end probably doubles the crew cost plus the costs of the extra loco; all as a substitute for a few metres of yard track and two hand operated turnouts.
Like most things rail in Victoria the yard was torn out to save costs and reduce viability of operation. I don't think there are stabling tracks at the yard which could be used woodford. This would be for running around a train but also for storage of additional wagons as the cement traffic will be more than once a day is the rumour. Two sets will be required.Its not clear what you are refering to here, also what will be done greatly depends on how much money is availible, a couple of comments though....
Like most things rail in Victoria the yard was torn out to save costs and reduce viability of operation. I don't think there are stabling tracks at the yard which could be used woodford. This would be for running around a train but also for storage of additional wagons as the cement traffic will be more than once a day is the rumour. Two sets will be required.The new concrete siding will be about 3km east, so whatever is in Benalla now, or was in the past, has no bearing. If there is only a dead end siding provided then at least 2-3km of propelling will be needed, else push and pull for the whole trip.
There's only a single level crossing between Benalla and the concrete plant, theres only base preparation for a single set of points onto the main line. On Friday when I went past, as far as I could see the earth works for the loading yard where not well defined enough to tell if there was going to be a loop there.
At the concrete sleeper plant at Bomen in NSW (it appears to back in operation) there is no siding loop in the loading yard, Any train entering the siding there, the loco will have run around in the Bomen loop, go towards Wagga until the rear of the train clears, the level crossing, then back into the siding.
The moves required at Benalla without a loop in the sidng will be little different.
Note: From my conversations with drivers, they do NOT like backing those sort of distances, Although when they were doing the ballast work on the Albury West line, the ballast trains were regularly backing 30 kilometres, In this case though there was a van at each end of the train and a safe worker was in the rear van talking to the driver.
woodford
With a rail siding in place and consequently lower transport costs it’s pounds to peanuts the plant will be involved to some extent in the Metro Tunnel and North East Link as well, taking it out to nearly 2030. Not to mention the Airport Link - a certainty regardless of the November result - and the possible SRL.
Once the siding is commissioned there is no reason at all why it cannot continue to be used for other customers across the nation after all it is on standard gauge.Lat 36 31.633S
Can anyone provide a google map reference it is becoming confusing.
Sand coming from down the road in Lima South. No chance of rail haulage there.With a rail siding in place and consequently lower transport costs it’s pounds to peanuts the plant will be involved to some extent in the Metro Tunnel and North East Link as well, taking it out to nearly 2030. Not to mention the Airport Link - a certainty regardless of the November result - and the possible SRL.
I would expect more and more output from the plant. What about inbound sand etc?
Another reference is the SCT freight centre at Barnawatha, that has from memory 3 tracks and loco storage siding, So from this one would assume at least a runaround loop at Benalla East.There's only a single level crossing between Benalla and the concrete plant, theres only base preparation for a single set of points onto the main line. On Friday when I went past, as far as I could see the earth works for the loading yard where not well defined enough to tell if there was going to be a loop there.
At the concrete sleeper plant at Bomen in NSW (it appears to back in operation) there is no siding loop in the loading yard, Any train entering the siding there, the loco will have run around in the Bomen loop, go towards Wagga until the rear of the train clears, the level crossing, then back into the siding.
The moves required at Benalla without a loop in the sidng will be little different.
Note: From my conversations with drivers, they do NOT like backing those sort of distances, Although when they were doing the ballast work on the Albury West line, the ballast trains were regularly backing 30 kilometres, In this case though there was a van at each end of the train and a safe worker was in the rear van talking to the driver.
woodford
You're right, there is only a single level crossing, for some reason I pictured two.
When I went past on Wednesday and Thursday it looked to me like there was going to be two roads in the siding with room to run around at each end. I'm back out that way tomorrow so I'll have another look.
and cement?Sand coming from down the road in Lima South. No chance of rail haulage there.With a rail siding in place and consequently lower transport costs it’s pounds to peanuts the plant will be involved to some extent in the Metro Tunnel and North East Link as well, taking it out to nearly 2030. Not to mention the Airport Link - a certainty regardless of the November result - and the possible SRL.
I would expect more and more output from the plant. What about inbound sand etc?
Gauge conversion of the Tatong line? Oh - hang on, there's nothing left to regauge...Sand coming from down the road in Lima South. No chance of rail haulage there.With a rail siding in place and consequently lower transport costs it’s pounds to peanuts the plant will be involved to some extent in the Metro Tunnel and North East Link as well, taking it out to nearly 2030. Not to mention the Airport Link - a certainty regardless of the November result - and the possible SRL.
I would expect more and more output from the plant. What about inbound sand etc?
