Re: Pendennis Castle_MUA

["chris@enet21.com.au" <chris@enet21.com.au>]

What groups was responsible with discussions with Rio Tinto? (NSW, VIC, WA?)
As for the cost I really doubt if the cost of transport would affect Rio Tinto.
(one of largest mining companies in the world) They are capable to transport it
to any capital city in Australia. The cost and transport would be "chicken
feed" to them as heavy equipment gets shipped up there all the time. A
transport company would surely have a empty low loader going back which could
be given free or at cost.
The poms have been after this for years and it wasn't until the merger that
formed Rio that they have been able to have some success.
The fact of the matter is Rio turns over billions of dollars a year, how much
does it donate to rail preservation in Australia? instead it supports a uk
group. (as it was given free to Ditcot I can't see why a australian
organisation would have not grabbed it under the same conditions).
Maybe you guys mght get upset when Rio ultimately disposes of the other old
locomotives they have up there. My understanding is they don't want anything up
there which could expose them to another class action. And I suspect that they
might take the gas axe to them if nobody wants them.

cheers

Chris

Bob wrote:

> The reality to this is that at least one Australian mainline operator was
> involved in discussions with the owners of Pendennis Castle and they chose
> not to proceed with it. My understanding is they wanted it for free,
> transported to their location for nothing and the restoration paid for. The
> deal with Didcott is that the GWS pay for the transport and restoration
> costs. Without wishing to get involved any further in this debate, which
> proposal would sound better to a Company like Rio Tinto? Also it has not
> been pointed out but there was no chance of the loco ever being restored to
> run again in the Pilbara as the group up there is down to just 3 members.
> Another point is that I spoke to a contact in the Heritage Council and
> advised him of the situation. Whilst this matter is not under their
> jurisdiction he pointed out that the loco had only been in Australia for
> just over 20 years and that it's historical significance is associated with
> the United Kingdom. Here in Australia it was never used in revenue service
> and as I understand it was initially brought out to promote tourism in the
> region. One thing is certain, if it does go to Didcott it will be restored
> to run again with proper coaches behind it.
> Cheers
> Bob
>
> bf0017@hotmail.com wrote:
>
> > Let's not have anyone going down this path please.
> >
> > You'll stir the unions up for a fight that's not worth it.
> >
> > If we (Australians) wanted to keep Pendennis Castle here, action should
> > have been taken at least 1 year ago when rumours of its availability
> > first surfaced.
> >
> > This locomotive would be suberb to be kept here, it would be the only 4
> > cylinder steam locomotive in Australia (not counting Garrats - they are
> > two two cylinder engines together), however, as has been demonstrated
> > in the post containing the "official" response - there is no hope.
> >
> > Didcot might already have 3 (?) other Castles, but this one would be a
> > real attraction due to its historical significance.
> >
> > Keep the unions out of it.  I feel that rail preservation should be
> > kept out of the acrimony of closed docks etc.
> >
> > As an aside - it could be lifted out by an Antanov!!
> >
> > By the way - keep "my" union (CPSU) out of this.
> >
> > Brett Fitzpatrick
> >
> > In article <388E7A6A.F043D20A@enet21.com.au>,
> >   "chris@enet21.com.au" <chris@enet21.com.au> wrote:
> > > Here are the MUA contacts
> > >
> > > National Secretary
> > > John Coombs
> > > mobile: 0419 240 264
> > > http://mua.tcp.net.au/
> > > feedback@mua.tcp.net.au
> > >
> > > FREMANTLE
> > >  WA Branch Secretary
> > >  Terry Buck
> > >  08 9335 0500
> > >  08 9335 0510
> > >  2nd Floor
> > >  2-4 Kwong Street
> > >  FREMANTLE WA 6160
> > >  (PO Box 1350
> > >
> > > PORT HEDLAND
> > >  Clint Flanagan
> > >  08 9173 2563
> > >  08 9173 3960
> > >  PO Box 194
> > >  08 9173 5037
> > >  PORT HEDLAND WA 6721
> > >
> > > "chris@enet21.com.au" wrote:
> > >
> > > > Yes! Yes! Rio Tinto are a pack of assholes.....
> > > >
> > > > from exploting the poor in 3rd world countries (with their
> > association with
> > > > Freeport and the Indonseian military killing local landholders who
> > protest about
> > > > the damage caused to their land) to union bashing in Australia.
> > > >
> > > > If you want to prevent a Pommie mob from "pissing" on the years of
> > unpaid labour
> > > > and given by Hamersley Iron employees in maintaining this
> > locomotive ....Please
> > > > direct your emails of complaint to the Maritime Union of Austraila
> > (Western
> > > > Australian Branch) who judging from their love of Rio Tinto will
> > probably
> > > > blackban (forever) the loading of it onto the ship. They are the
> > only blokes
> > > > who have the guts to take on a muliti national (sorry -
> > transnational) company
> > > > of this size.
> > > >
> > > > Rio Tinto have not only alienated most of  their entire workforce
> > in Australia
> > > > they have also "pissed off"  alot of other mining and engineering
> > companies.
> > > >
> > > > Regards
> > > >
> > > > Chris
> > > >
> > > > Rod Gayford wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > The point is that a foreign company that has exploited Australian
> > workers
> > > > > for years and has been in the vanguard of the conservative
> > reactionary
> > > > > forces attempting to destroy collective bargaining in this
> > country has
> > > > > chosen to donate this locomotive to a UK based group and to my
> > mind that
> > > > > says "stuff you Aussies" we will show you where our loyalties
> > lay. Well, if
> > > > > all us gutless Aussies just want to lie back and be pissed over
> > by this
> > > > > group then let it go. For me, I am contacting the Maritime unions
> > and any
> > > > > other industrial union to have a black ban placed on its export.
> > I bet
> > > > > Hamersley will back down once this gets in the papers and shows
> > them up for
> > > > > what they are. I suppose I should not be surprised at the
> > intelligence of a
> > > > > section of rail fans in Australia as they have been tipping money
> > into that
> > > > > far northern NSW scrap yard for years.
> > > > >
> > > > > Cheers
> > > > >
> > > > > Rod Gayford (also workplace delegate CPSU)
> > > > > <chris@enet21.com.au> wrote in message
> > > > > news:388DA2D5.5EC05A3@enet21.com.au...
> > > > > > hi
> > > > > >
> > > > > > You must remember that it has been in Australia longer than it
> > was in
> > > > > British
> > > > > > Rail (1947 -1964, 17 years) service and nearly as long as in
> > GWR service
> > > > > (1923?
> > > > > > -1947). Historically Hamersley Iron have owned it longer  than
> > British
> > > > > Rail.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Chris
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > David Bennetts wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > <bf0017@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > > > > news:86cemi$srb$1@nnrp1.deja.com...
> > > > > > > > Mmmmm,
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Time to put Pendennis Castle onto the Australian "Moveable
> > Heritage"
> > > > > > > > List, just like the Me-109G about 12 years ago.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Brett
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > What's the point?  It isn't part of Australian history, why
> > have it
> > > > > sitting
> > > > > > > in a remote part of Australia, where virtually no-one can
> > access it, and
> > > > > it
> > > > > > > can't be operated.  If it went back to Britain it could be
> > preserved and
> > > > > > > cherished for its significant heritage value.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Just like the Melbourne W class trams gathering dust in the
> > huge sheds
> > > > > at
> > > > > > > Newport, with their ban on export.  Totally pointless, they
> > could be
> > > > > > > restored and run overseas where there is a demand for them,
> > rather than
> > > > > > > mouldering away.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Regards
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > David Bennetts
> > > > > > > Canberra
> > > > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> > Before you buy.