Re: Disused line permission

[Bruce Greening <bgreeni@attglobal.net>]

Eddie Oliver wrote:

> Robert Parnell wrote:
>
> > This comment was in relation to a disused line, where by heritage operators
> > may lease a disused line and also maintain it. (As LVR did from Cowra to
> > Blayney mid 80s to 1997).
> >
> > Bruce is not one to be doubted on such issues. (trust me!)
>
> No, but the point at issue was that RAC (in all probability) did not own
> the Ropes Creek line in the first place, and therefore Bruce's
> statements were not applicable to the original context.
>
> Just to add a bit of background, since this thread seems to have become
> rather distorted: The Ropes Creek line was built as a defence measure by
> the Commonwealth (1940's era). It was mainly on Commonwealth land, and
> was not vested in the NSWGR or any of its successors. The Commonwealth
> effectively contracted with the NSWGR (and PTC etc) to run trains over
> it, and ticketing etc was integrated with the main rail system; but that
> did not alter the fact that the Commonwealth continued to own the tracks
> and the land on which they were situated.
>
> The Commonwealth paid the NSWGR and its successors to run trains - both
> passenger trains and the (rare) freight movements beyond Dunheved.
> However I do not know what the financial arrangements were for the
> freight movements which ran to the industrial siding on the up side of
> Dunheved (did the industries or the SRA-predecessors pay the
> Commonwealth for the use of their line?) nor do I know what arrangements
> have been made in recent years for the other uses of the tracks between
> St Marys and Dunheved.
>
> Whatever those arrangements may be (can anyone advise?), there would
> have been no reason for the Commonwealth to transfer ownership of the
> "dead" line between Dunheved and Ropes Creek to anyone. Why would they,
> and why would anyone want it except for scrap or historical purposes?
>
> Eddie

Perhaps I need to express myself a little more clearly. I was speaking generally
about disused lines, and not the line refered to iniyially in this thread.

Also, I was refering only to heritage operators on disused lines. Sorry if I
created any confusion.

--
Bruce L. Greening
bgreeni@ibm.net