SYDNEY TO BRISBANE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20317, 27 January 1928, Page 6

SYDNEY TO BRISBANE.

NEW RAIL LINK. SIX HOURS NEARER. (From Oue Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, January 19. The construction of the Kyogle-South Brisbane standard gauge line, will,/ within the next three years, make it possible to travel by train from Sydney to Brisbane, and vice versa, without change, in/ consequence of different gauges, and will into the bargain chop off about six hours of the existing express times between the two cities. Those who have made the very long and arduous journey between Sydney and Brisbane by rail—which now takes about 2/ hours—will bestow their blessu!»gs upon this now line. What is described as a unique engineering feature of the Kyogle-RichmoncT Gap section of the new line is not generally known. It will be the ’’spiral” in a spur of the Macpherson Range. It is known as such because the line, in climbing the range, in spiral form, will actually circle over it self. Incidentally, it will nass through two tunnels on a curve. This is said to be the only construction of its kind in Australia, although there are several examples of the “ spiral ” railway in America. The latest New South Wales locomotives will take the express trains right through the 260 odd miles from Sydney to Brisbane without change. This, It is said, will be easily a world’s record for coal-burning passenger locomotives on regular runs. A few years ago, it would have taken four changes of engines to accomplish a 600-mile journey of this nature. In these impecunious days, the saving of interest on capital invested, through the release of the extra locomotives, is no small affair, since they cost more than £20,000 each.