I totally forgot about the station potentially being in the way.McK&H.Aust wrote:I guess it depends on the design of the new intersection with the Murray Valley Hwy, but the crossing is probably a goner either way. If they install a roundabout it will have to be very large to cope with the big trucks, so it will certainly require a reconfiguration of the crossing (and new signals, most likely gates). If they install traffic lights, the longer trucks won't be clear of the tracks if they are stopped at the new intersection, so they will probably install new gated signals at the crossing with the traffic lights stopping vehicles before the crossing.
It's quite sad, not just for the crossing but also for the railway station, turntable and steam locomotive water tank which all seem to be in the path of the new road, also maybe the silos behind the station.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.017 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.017 ... 312!8i6656
They probably chose that route because it will mostly use railway land, so no need for expensive property acquisitions and the associated political fallout. I guess heritage doesn't matter when you want a fancy new road.
The Westinghouse teardrop bell on the Shone Ave crossing at Wongawilli is also on borrowed time (in more ways than one).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.479 ... 312!8i6656
There are plans to widen the road, install gates and also new pedestrian/cycle path crossings. The draft plan is a fairly large file but is interesting reading (also has a picture of the crossing on the cover). Some interesting pictures and information about the crossing begins on page 322. There are also pictures and information about the other crossings on the line starting on page 364.
http://www.haveyoursaywollongong.com.au ... ents/17754
Wollongong Coal are the owners of the Wongawilli mine and also the railway line. They have run into quite a bit of strife on several fronts, production at the mine was stopped in late May 2017 and hasn't resumed. Trains are no longer operating.
Basically the mine owner's problems are......
They owe money to the government who are taking legal action to recover it.
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/stor ... -pay-rent/
They owe money to the contractor who was operating the mine for them (they have since gone bankrupt). http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/stor ... unk-delta/
They are being investigated by the government to determine if they are "fit and proper" to hold a mining licence.
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/stor ... g-licence/
Obviously if you are a mining company and can't afford to pay your rent to the government, you are in serious financial trouble. Unless another company is willing to buy the mine, there is a good chance that it will not re-open.
The Andrews Government doesn't seem to care about railway heritage. Last year, the LXRA knocked down the station buildings at Carnegie and Murrumbeena, causing mass controversy among residents. From what I've heard, they're don't have a heritage protection, but its still sad though.
https://twitter.com/NoSkyrail/status/770490917883109376
They also cut down a 250 year old river red gum tree at Hughesdale earlier this year, despite mass protests against it.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/inne ... e90fc1be5e
I swear, Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan even admits to hating vintage crossing equipment. Because they're upgrading most of the gateless crossings along the North East line and they're calling the crossings up for removal "relics of the past".
Sad to hear that the crossing at Wongwilli is on death row, but even then the mining company is in hot water so it doesn't matter.
Although, they're actually riding a Siemens set and they just edited Comeng motor sounds onto the clip. Also, the PID reads "Welcome to Connex'!