The Clifton/Scarborough derailment
Adding to the difficulties of South Coast commuters caused by the Dapto area track upgrade, a coal train derailment on Wednesday 23 November at 11.58 pm resulted in a shutdown of the South Coast line between Waterfall and Thirroul for four days. Eight fully-laden coal hoppers of a 45-wagon Pacific National train operating from Metropolitan Colliery to Port Kembla left the line at Clifton and ended up strewn across the track. Shane O’Neil and John Birchmeier report.
Charleville, Quilpie and cattle
Against the odds in 2011, cattle trains still run in Queensland, continuing to fulfil the rural promise the railways first suggested
as they expanded through the State in the 19th century. Even more against the odds, the Quilpie line, extending its spindly reach with 220 km of track from Charleville on mostly 20kg rail, is kept open solely for a weekly seasonal cattle train. Alan Shaw, with Malcolm Jenkins and Darren Tulk, travelled to Charleville to watch the second last train for the 2011 season.
Tilting-trains for NSW?
Since 1998 Queensland has successfully operated a tilt train between Brisbane and Rockhampton travelling at speeds of up to 160 km/h over tracks straightened and strengthened for faster and heavier freight trains. Given the apparent reticence of government to provide finance for a dedicated high speed rail network, Stephen Miller poses the question, could tilt-trains provide a suitable compromise for NSW?
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