Railway Digest Magazine December 2016 Back Issue

GrainCorp’s new Calleen Terminal in full swing
GrainCorp’s new service centre and rail terminal at Calleen, between West Wyalong and Ungarie on the Temora – Lake Cargelligo line in western NSW, opened its rail loading facilities in September. The first of two new facilities constructed under GrainCorp’s Project Regeneration, it is currently being visited by regular 40-wagon two-locomotive Pacific National trains to clear grain prior to the arrival of this year’s harvest. John Hoyle reports.

INTO THE DARKNESS
Railway Digest is pleased to present a selection of night photography. Some of these images incorporate people whose lives have to be adjusted to do the work that’s essential in keeping the railways running, such as author, photographer - and locomotive driver - David Campbell.

The prospects for short line operations in New South Wales
Back in January 2004, in an article in Railway Digest, Frank Lander and Geoff Smith called for both political and rail industry leaders to think outside the square on the potential for a North American style revival of regional branch lines, and speculated that NSW could be the first state in Australia to do it. More than 12 years have passed and the ‘short line revolution’ in NSW is yet to emerge. Ian Gray, Philip Laird and Nick Montague take a look at the current situation and consider the possibilities.

First 81 on the AK Test Train to Oatlands
On Sunday 31 July, Ewan McLean spent an interesting day chasing an unusual working on the standard-gauge Oatlands branch, which straddles Victoria and NSW.

The Sydney XPT and the Whiporie Cow
Rod Milne is an unashamed fan of NSW TrainLink and its venerable XPT. He recalls a memorable journey he took from Brisbane to Kempsey in September this year.

The Aurizon Loram Model RGS Rail Grinder MMY 521
Peter Clark takes a close look at Aurizon’s new rail grinder MMY 521, an American-built Loram Model RGS.