They upgraded the line to standard gauge for Leigh Creek coal mine and extended that to Marree, bypassing Pichy Richy line through Quorn. That’s why they had the dilemma of what to do at Marree; they had to unload the train (and freight) and at one point they loaded the narrow gauge wagons on standard gauge trailers to speed up the transition at Marree. Check “The Ghan is Going” 4 part series which has some fantastic footage.

@78Bonne

5 ай бұрын

G'day Richard. Thanks so much for your suggestion regarding "The Ghan is Going". What an absolutely fantastic record and some great footage of some of the places that are either gone, or in very bad repair, Just a pity that there wasn't more of it. I think I will probably add it to my public playlist of these videos. Thanks again.

As far as I know, Commonwealth Railways did not use Date Nails, SAR only.

@78Bonne

2 ай бұрын

That’s probably quite correct. Thinking back, the lines that I’ve found them on were all old, regional ones. WA also used them, and that’s where I first learned about them. I just assumed from that that it was a general rail ‘thing’ across Australia, to keep track of how long the sleepers had been down. Like the fettlers, they obviously became defunct when they switched to concrete supports. Thanks for your input.

When you see the amount of graffiti vandalism in some of the old stone buildings along the line it’s enough to make you shudder, it would cost a fortune to get rid of that amount of graffiti vandalism.

@78Bonne

2 ай бұрын

I couldn’t agree more mate. My blood boils every time I see mindless drivel painted all over an obviously old and historic building/bridge/thing. And the cretins have to go to some amount of trouble just to get there, and have spray cans handy.

What do you think might happen to the old fetters cottage at Commodore? Looks pretty much ready to collapse at any time, it would take a miracle to prevent it from falling apart.

@78Bonne

2 ай бұрын

I think you'll find that the Commodore cottage has already pretty much collapsed, with only the remnants of an end wall standing. As I remarked several times throughout the series, I believe it is the eroding mortar at the base that is the cause of their demise. Once the base can no longer support the weight above, that portion of the wall collapses. If it occurs near an adjoining wall, it will drag that down too, until there's nothing but rubble left. Remediation and strengthening of the bases are the only things that will prevent those few that are still standing from succumbing to the inevitable. Sadly, there is no one organisation that has the restoration of them in their sights (and if there is, I'm not aware of them). What work has been done, is the effort of individuals on a piece-meal basis. The manager at Anna Creek station for example, has intentions of continuing the stabilisation of at least one of the sidings on their property, but they are probably in the minority. That was one of my driving motivations - to document what was left ASAP, before they're ALL gone.

Nothing much left of the old fettler’s cottage at Commodore, just a big pile of rubble.