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Great Western Coffee Shop > All across the Great Western territory > The Wider Picture Overseas > Australia - railways, fares and incidents (merged posts)
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Question: Have you travelled on The Ghan?  (Voting closed: February 07, 2022, 21:42:29)
Yes - to or from Darwin - 2 (16.7%)
Yes - but not all the way to Darwin - 0 (0%)
No - but I am booked to go - 0 (0%)
No - I expect I will sometime - 0 (0%)
No - I would love to but doubt I ever will - 7 (58.3%)
No - don't want to - 1 (8.3%)
What is "The Ghan?" - 2 (16.7%)
Total Voters: 12

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Author Topic: Australia - railways, fares and incidents (merged posts)  (Read 23791 times)
onthecushions
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« Reply #15 on: April 25, 2019, 11:26:07 »

The Class 503 unit at Margate would be ideal. It weighs in at only 77t for all three cars.

OTC
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stuving
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« Reply #16 on: April 25, 2019, 11:42:18 »
Quote from: Red Squirrel on April 25, 2019, 11:15:26
Actually I was being rather vague when I asked whether similar tech could be used here! What I meant was that I was wondering if any first-generation (sic) DMUs▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit), as used on some heritage lines, would be particularly suited to conversion to battery-electric. Doubtless the carbon emissions of steam engines don't make that much difference in the round, but it can only be a matter of time before people start to point fingers and ask questions...

Well, there is one at the Royal Deeside Railway that needs no conversion - though it is currently listed as "Electrically out of service".
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Red Squirrel
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« Reply #17 on: April 25, 2019, 11:49:54 »
Quote from: stuving on April 25, 2019, 11:42:18
Well, there is one at the Royal Deeside Railway...

Oh yes... handsome brute it is too!
« Last Edit: April 25, 2019, 13:13:06 by Red Squirrel » Logged
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Celestial
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« Reply #18 on: April 25, 2019, 12:06:24 »
I'm guessing that as Byron Bay is a similar latitude to the Canaries that both the strength of the sun and amount of it is slightly more than we might get in the UK▸ (United Kingdom).  I certainly wouldn't suggest to TfW that they rely on it for the Valley Lines electrification.
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broadgage
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« Reply #19 on: April 25, 2019, 13:12:22 »
Whilst traction motors and batteries COULD be fitted to a heritage DMU▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit), this would in most cases need a lot of re-design as the transmission is mechanical.

It might be easier to start with an old DC▸ (Direct Current) EMU▸ (Electric Multiple Unit), or a slightly more modern DMU that already has electric transmission.

Yet another possibility would be a battery loco hauling heritage coaches. There is growing interest in use of same for shunting. A heritage line would be an interesting demonstration of any new or proposed battery locomotive.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
Red Squirrel
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« Reply #20 on: April 25, 2019, 13:18:13 »
Quote from: Celestial on April 25, 2019, 12:06:24
I'm guessing that as Byron Bay is a similar latitude to the Canaries that both the strength of the sun and amount of it is slightly more than we might get in the UK▸ (United Kingdom).  I certainly wouldn't suggest to TfW that they rely on it for the Valley Lines electrification.

Maybe solar wouldn't work in the Valleys, but I'm told it can be quite windy atop the surrounding hills...
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JayMac
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« Reply #21 on: April 25, 2019, 16:04:54 »
Quote from: Red Squirrel on April 25, 2019, 13:18:13
Quote from: Celestial on April 25, 2019, 12:06:24
I'm guessing that as Byron Bay is a similar latitude to the Canaries that both the strength of the sun and amount of it is slightly more than we might get in the UK▸ (United Kingdom).  I certainly wouldn't suggest to TfW that they rely on it for the Valley Lines electrification.

Maybe solar wouldn't work in the Valleys, but I'm told it can be quite windy atop the surrounding hills...

So, sail powered trains then?
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SandTEngineer
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« Reply #22 on: April 25, 2019, 16:19:35 »
Quote from: bignosemac on April 25, 2019, 16:04:54
Quote from: Red Squirrel on April 25, 2019, 13:18:13
Quote from: Celestial on April 25, 2019, 12:06:24
I'm guessing that as Byron Bay is a similar latitude to the Canaries that both the strength of the sun and amount of it is slightly more than we might get in the UK▸ (United Kingdom).  I certainly wouldn't suggest to TfW that they rely on it for the Valley Lines electrification.

Maybe solar wouldn't work in the Valleys, but I'm told it can be quite windy atop the surrounding hills...

So, sail powered trains then?

You should copyright that idea BNM.  I'm sure our current climate change protesters would love that...... Roll Eyes
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grahame
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« Reply #23 on: April 25, 2019, 16:41:58 »
Quote from: bignosemac on April 25, 2019, 16:04:54
So, sail powered trains then?

http://douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/sail/sail.htm

I recall doing one as an "O" gauge project about 40 years ago - problem was it was too light and blew over ... looked rather like the Spooner example on that page linked above.
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JayMac
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« Reply #24 on: April 25, 2019, 19:42:49 »
Quote from: grahame on April 25, 2019, 16:41:58
Quote from: bignosemac on April 25, 2019, 16:04:54
So, sail powered trains then?

http://douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/sail/sail.htm

I recall doing one as an "O" gauge project about 40 years ago - problem was it was too light and blew over ... looked rather like the Spooner example on that page linked above.

Well... who knew? I thought I'd had an original idea. Turns out the idea's been around for nearly 200 years.
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"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
stuving
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« Reply #25 on: April 27, 2019, 22:51:33 »
Quote from: Red Squirrel on April 25, 2019, 11:49:54
Quote from: stuving on April 25, 2019, 11:42:18
Well, there is one at the Royal Deeside Railway...

Oh yes... handsome brute it is too!

For anyone who likes pictures of that BEMU, I have just found a small heap of them showing it in service in the 1960s. The GNSRA covers (obviously) the whole GNSR in its picture gallery.
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grahame
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« Reply #26 on: November 17, 2020, 05:32:39 »
From the Daily Mail

Quote
The luxury Ghan train has been turned around after crossing into the Northern Territory from new coronavirus hot spot South Australia.

A total of 221 passengers have had their travel plans thrust into chaos following the new border closures sparked by the COVID-19 cluster in Parafield in Adelaide's north.

The Ghan, an iconic train for adventurers, was already in the Northern Territory when the state's borders were closed to South Australia.

Still on my "bucket list", but I won't be taking any substantial risk of kicking the bucket by going any time soon. 2022 or 2023 perhaps?
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broadgage
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« Reply #27 on: November 17, 2020, 14:37:13 »
Quote from: eightf48544 on June 07, 2016, 15:02:54
Bnm try container ships.

One way would be.

Ship  UK▸ (United Kingdom) to USA East Coast:  train to West Coast: ship Japan/China: ship Australia Darwin the start of the Ghan.

You may even get one direct to Australia from UK.

Agree, a friend of mine has made numerous voyages by cargo ship and highly recommends this mode of transport.
Cabin-----excellent, would be called "super double emperor class" or some such nonsense on a cruise ship.
Food------Limited choice but of excellent quality, included in fare.
Drink-----Again limited in choice but very cheap, had to be paid for at "duty free" prices, not pub or bar prices. Soft drinks FOC▸ (Freight Operating Company).
Entertainments and communications limited to satellite TV, radio, library, DVDs, and very expensive sat phone.

Reasonably green. Ships use a lot of low grade and polluting heavy oil, but the EXTRA fuel used by adding a passenger is negligible.

Most voyages were between the UK and the USA, but included one direct voyage to Australia.
One voyage was in truly extreme weather, with the shipping weather forecast describing the sea state as "phenomenal" The very experienced Captain looked worried, and the officers kept checking the lifeboats.
The crew were observed to be praying for deliverance.

Other voyages have been less exciting.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
JontyMort
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« Reply #28 on: November 18, 2020, 00:21:19 »
Quote from: broadgage on November 17, 2020, 14:37:13

Most voyages were between the UK▸ (United Kingdom) and the USA, but included one direct voyage to Australia.

The crew were observed to be praying for deliverance.


For one awful moment I read that as ?Voyagers? to Australia. It would explain the prayers for deliverance.
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infoman
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« Reply #29 on: January 20, 2021, 11:01:50 »
The cricket ashe's will be taking place in Australia this coming winter 2021/22.
If you are a solo traveller,like me,or know any one who is,or unless you know some one to take you to or from the Sydney airport
Can I offer a bit of advice if you are flying into or out of Sydney.
The international and the Domestic terminals are connected to the Sydney central railway station area as well as the rest of Australia.

The is an extra charge if you use the train from Sydney Domestic or International airport
What I did last time I arrived at domestic is walked to Mascot which is a 20 minute walk away OR
If you arrive at Sydney international walk to wooli creek which is a twenty minute walk away
Wooli creek will take you into the central area or south bound and
Mascott will take you into the central area.


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