NSU55 & NSU56 William Creek 1982

While pulling up the rails on the old Central Australia narrow gauge railway in William Creek yards, NSU55 departed with a trainload of recovered rails for Marree and the contractor camp trai which was being moved to Strangways Siding in readiness for the section of railway between William Creek and Strangway siding to be pulled up. It was a very hot day and NSU55 became a failure some kilometres out and NSU56 had to leave its work pulling up the rails at William Creek and venture out to rescue NSU55 and its train and tow it back to William Creek. The two locomotive crews were in contact via 2 way radio. The train that NSU56 pushed out to couple to the back of the broken down train, was apparently because of otherwise difficulties in coupling the trains together. There was likely rail hanging over the end of the broken down train and it was easieir to take a whole train particularly as there were two rails permanently along the side of the whole train trail rto carry the mobile rail lifter which was a converted digger as seen in other videos in the playlist at. • Pulling up the old Cen...

[@vsvnrg3263]

all your stuff on this old line is priceless.

[@reidgck]

Thanks. They were interesting time well worth saving. I put a playlist at kzbin.info/aero/PLSMqGtLD9Q-s2a77cZ-ueNBk3wHbbdcvB

[@Isochest]

Wasn't this railway narrow gauge? There was a documentary shown about it in the UK and it talked about a replacement standard gauge railway

[@reidgck]

Ye it was 3ft 6in gauge and the line ended in Alice Springs. It was replaced about 1980 with a standard gauge line not so prone to flooding, which branches from the Trans Australia line at Tarcoola and runs straight north. Since then the line has been extended past Alice Springs to Darwin .

[@Isochest]

@@reidgck Thanks. Interesting the new line goes all the way. I'll have to search for more information. I enjoy your footage of Australian Rail History and Thanks for sharing it.

[@burntoutelectronics]

5:00 I’m guessing that’s where you slept plus reserved diesel

[@reidgck]

There was no time for sleep. Was given a ride in the loco from Curdimurka over the long bridge and back to Curdimurka the next morning though on NSU56 wen it was returning from Marree. Have it at. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGPTdaGPlJmJd68

[@burntoutelectronics]

@@reidgck i actually got to have a look around inside NSU55 in steamtown at the museum. do you know how it got to the museum?