Hi Ken

Does anyone dare overtake one of those!

 

Hi Carl

MOT down my way but at least I haven't got Cats.

 

Hi Jagboi

In any event I think that I will be staying in drive 'D' for a while, I'm on First Name Terms with all of the Guys at my Petrol Station.

And when you think about it, that's not good!

Especially when they greet me with 'Are you back already!'

Then you know you must be doing something wrong!

 

Just think of the fun you're having as smiles per gallon!

 

I'm surprised that a bulk commodity like fuel would be moved by road instead of by rail. I did check and there is a rail line up to Darwin, it would be more efficient to move it by train.

 

Yes; overtaking these road trains is both possible and practical. Remember that many stretches could be 100Km of dead straight highway, that bend followed by another straight and largely deserted by Euro standards. However, there are a few caveats -

• unsealed dirt roads have hazards of stones and far worse, thick red dust;
• once up to speed, these beasts are no slouches and can easily settle on 120+Kph;
• even in expert hands, rear trailers can weave somewhat - scary to see.

So, preparation is the key. Flashing headlights or radio will often bring a responding flash from turn lights on the road train . . . then up to you to accelerate past. OTOH, if response is several stabs of stop lights without actually slowing, be warned that the road train driver has seen a hazard ahead perhaps you can't . . . road damage, kangaroos, emus? Time to back well off until he gives you the go-ahead flash.

Cheers,
Ken

 

You are somewhat correct, Jagboi . . . but you might be surprised at the economics . . . only just marginal for fuel destined to go from Adelaide direct to the end of line at Darwin . . . but, not the myriad of other places that criss-cross Oz. Even there, shipping has proven more efficient. Neither is much help to all the stations (big farms), small towns and communities throughout the outback.

As a one-time train buff, I assure you that what little remains of our rail network is now largely supported only by private movers of BULK commodities. To parody Crocodile Dundee . . . "Road trains? That ain't bulk. BULK is mile long trains with up to 8 huge locos moving a single commodity - coal, iron ore, whatever - and only from mine to closest shipping port."

Rail here is largely the stuff of short trip city commuters - not intercity passengers and certainly not general freight. There are few regrets for a yester year technology other than some leisurely tourism. For medical reasons, I recently needed to visit Sydney and both air and self drive were ruled out. Rail? Imagine my surprise that fully half the 650Km trip was in a road coach . . . a bus . . . as operated by NSW Rail.

Cheers,

Ken

 

We do bulk trains well here in Canada. About 5km long and now up to 22,000 tons. Mainly coal, potash and grain. Typically 5 locomotives distributed through the train, 4400 hp each.

Before some grade reduction projects in the mountains ( which included a 16km and a 2km tunnel) there could be up to 12 locomotives and 36,000-39,000 hp in total.

It was an impressive experience to be trackside watching one of those go by at full throttle and 12 mph. Deafening and the ground shook!

 

I can't recall full stats of our ore trains, but I think our latest loco imports are now up to 6000HP each and much of our practice is based on NA. The 8 loco consist is still the norm as shown in the attached pic - 2 at the lead, 2 just beyond bend, 2 at the far left of pic, and final 2 to bring up the tail - all under the computerized controls of the single team in the lead loco.

Also, I had to go check road train tanker capacities, so that OB and all other XJ-S/XJS owners can breath easier - 100,000L to 150,000L. IIRC, those in my former 2 pics of some years back were 4 @ almost 125,000L . . . a total of half a million litres.

Sobering that it takes about 1,000L of fuel just to move that road train from Sydney to Perth . . . somewhat less from Adelaide to Darwin.

Cheers,

Ken

 

I've seen so many behind the scenes documentaries and little stories that NK fakes their 'wealth' for tourists. I am aware of that, I just want to see it with my own eyes

Kind of like visiting the married couple with kids who presented themselves as the perfect family. Once the last guess has gone the insults come out and everybody hate eachother until the next gießt comes

 

How much fuel does the train use Ken?
Greg

 

OB,

Rather than leaving it in 2 for a long time, you may derive a different driving pleasure from treating the box as a "semi-auto", shifting down to 2, and even 1, as the situation demands and using the ability of the box to generate engine braking and also hold the ratio on acceleration as required.

I often drive my 4-speed XJS in this manner dropping in and out of D to use the 3 and 2 positions. It's a much more engaging driving experience, particularly on some nice twisty A & B-roads.

Paul

 

Hi Paul

I've only got a 3 Speed Box (which I really love!) and would only ever used '1' for getting onto my Car Lift or moving across soft ground.

So that just leaves me 2 & D

On a very twisty road, using 2nd is well worth every extra gallon of Petrol.

 

OB,

Not sure of the exact figures, but I expect that in 2 and with full throttle kickdown, it'll then drop into 1st and give you huge acceleration probably holding first up to almost 60 mph!!

PAul

 

Hi Paul

If that's true it could certainly send my Tacho into orbit!

 

It would. I know I've done 120 km/h in second before it shifted.

 

Guys
Foot flat down and left there the GM400 will shift from 1st to 2nd at about 60MPH even if the stick is kept in first. This is a feature of the box design. If held on the stick in 2nd, it will NEVER upshift to 3rd. About 110/115MPH in 2nd is the ideal shift point (using the stick) to 3rd for max acceleration.
As someone who has done a timed run in my car over a mile and a quarter from a standing start, and crossed the timing beam still accelerating hard at 144.21 MPH, I can attest to the above. Google: Woodbridge Speed Trial, or look here:
Speedtrial
Car 31. You will also notice that this is faster than a great many more exotic cars on the list, and one XJS topped out at 156MPH.
Greg

 

Orange:


1. Not enough or too much throttle !! I took my lump on a pre SMOG test run. My speedo is nutty. It read 80 mph and better. But the tach at 1500 or a bit better. But, I was blasting past the freeway traffic. It is usually at about 70 mph.


2. It failed the test!!! The tail pipe readings on the two dyno runs were in compliance. But, a weird "snap throttle test" doomed it. Indeed it belched black some when revved up from idle. Why? A tale elsewhere.


All; I enjoy watching several of the TV "reality" shows. One did feature the OZ road trains in the "out back". Too bad, it did not continue. I was intrigued in that all the paths were not paved roads, they went in to the dirt !! Some more like trials than roads.


Side bar: The 'shelter for Billy" project worked out. A 4' x 8' tarp. One side secured by lag bolts to the side of my old office. The other by a rope to another back forty structure and the remaining to a tree. In total, just over "horn height". Much needed rain expected to night. Billy may or may not retire to the shelter. Goat "thinking" !!


Carl

 

Ya got me . . . I have no idea Greg . . . but enough of side issues. I am getting intoxicated on all this great feedback from others who use our auto box as a "sorta manual" when we need the world to know we are driving (and enjoying) a classic Jaguar.

Cheers,

Ken

 

Greg,

Mine averaged just on 2000ltrs for the Darwin run from Adelaide, waaaay back in the early '70's, when the road from Pt Augusta to Alice (about 1300kms) was dirt (polite) and mud if wet.

M A N 25.360 V10 Twin Turbo, 15 speed Direct transmission, about 130ton Gross, and usually took about a week for the 3000km trip, if it did not rain, then a month or more was the norm.

Soooo, the V12 Jag was real economy, no matter how I drove it, by any comparison.