Re: S313 (was Santa Fe fever hits Melbourne)

[James Brook <ajmbrook@ozemail.com.au>]

Aus loco discussion mailing list

MICHAELBRAY wrote:

> Well put it this way, if S313 ran the tour last Saturday in V/Line livery,
> how much interest would have there been in it. There are still three FV S's
> running around in this livery, so being in a new livery certainly attracted
> the interest from many - It got me (and many others) out early that morning
> to see it.

You are probably right that there wouldn't have been as much interest in it but
Steamrail is not a commercial operator. Preserving a locomotive means preserving
it in an authentic livery as well. If you don't paint the loco in a livery that
it has been painted in during its service life with a commercial operator then
there is no difference between Steamrail and GNRS, WCR or Australia Southern,
who all operate old Clyde/GM locos but in a new livery.

> Even if it was painted in VR livery, haven't we seen it all
> before. A new livery is always a center of attention and how many more extra
> passengers did it attract to the tour. Dose everything have to preserved in
> VR livery, I don't think so (as long as at least one member from each
> preserved class has been correctly restored).

If it isn't in one of its old liveries then it isn't preserved, its a simple as
that. The dictionary meaning of preserve is "maintain (a thing) in its existing
state." For an operational preservation group I would modify the definition
slightly to this one: "Maintain it in one of its previous states with minimal
alterations required for modern operation."  This is my interpretation of what
operational preservation should mean because it is still close to the dictionary
meaning. When a group starts creating their own liveries this is no longer
preservation, they are just another rail operator.

> For instance, is there really
> a need for three 'high nose' T class to be restored into VR livery, why
> hasn't at least one been restored into V/Line livery. This livery is now
> part of history on this type of loco.

I would like to see T364 repainted into the V/Line livery. It would add a little
bit of variety to Steamrail's diesel fleet without painting it into a new livery
that isn't historically accurate.

> And why are there no locos in 'Teacup"
> livery, there are a few locos preserved that wore this livery, but have been
> painted into VR livery. As it has been stated, S313 will be restored into VR
> livery at a later date, so in my opinion it was a great publicity stunt by
> Steamrail.

I was just saying that I would have preferred to see it in an authentic livery.
As it will be restored and eventually preserved in a few years time I can live
with it (Like I have a choice!?!?!? :-) )

> The 1990's saw a new era unfold for the railfan - how many new
> liveries did it produce just in Victoria. Personally the VR and V/Line
> liveries don't interest me, don't get me wrong, I do actually like these
> liveries, but they have been over published in the railfan media and with
> the rainbow of colours around over the last few years it has certainly kept
> my interest alive. If the hobby was still VR or V/Line dominated I for one
> could not get motivation to go out and get what I have already photographed.
> So maybe Steamrail was just adding a bit of flavor to the hobby.

I like all the new liveries appearing because of privatisation but all these
liveries are from commercial operators. Is Steamrail a preservation group or
just another commercial operator?


--
- James Brook -

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