November got off to a terrible start for Pacific National. On the 30th of October, during that Monday evening, a routine inspection of the lift span at Bridgewater revealed severe corrosion problems with the wire cables holding up two 170 tonne concrete counterweights dangling over the main Hobart to Launceston Highway!!. This also affected all railway and river traffic in addition to creating all kinds of traffic problems as vehicles were forced to use the Tasman or Bowen Bridges and travel via the East Shore. The Main Hobart to Burnie rail line was also truncated at the bridge, forming an isolated rail system from Granton to Hobart, trapping a loaded freight train heading north in the process. Unfortunatly the train had been stabled at Granton, whilst the train engines were run to Boyer. So after the emergency closure of the bridge the train was stranded, with its engines on the wrong side of the bridge!!. Since the repair and re-opening of the bridge the following Monday evening [ Nov 6th ], all freight to and from Hobart has travelled by road, including freight that was trapped on the isolated train. Hopefully this incident will not further reduce freight tonnage on this overnight service.
Of course whilst road, rail and river traffic had to cease, only road traffic was able to divert, so as usual road freight got an advantage, although unintentional. More bad luck for rail.
This months photographs will be added as November progresses.
Best wishes Steve Bromley |
