Re: DSRM is an absolute joke

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

Steve Zvillis wrote:
> 
> Well that goes for a lot of other rail preservation groups around the
> country. Take Bellarine Peninsula Rlwy. [No criticism intended - just an
> example / observation] Despite the lack of proper facilities to house their
> existing carriages, left out in the open, which has since resulted in an ex
> T.G.R. 'BBL' car deteriorating to the point it has been scrapped as beyond
> salvation and a ex T.M.L.R. 'B+' car well on it's way to a similiar fate,
> B.P.R. [and Z.Z.R.] continued to obtain and transport locomotives /
> carriages from other states at great cost [that could have been spent on
> protecting their existing stock].
> 

The BPR and ZZR are by no means shining examples of railway
preservation, but they have achieved a fair percentage of their goals,
which is far more than what Dorrigo has done. Without knowing what they
have collected over the last few years, it is hard to say whether it is
necessary or not. However, it should be noted that at least the BPR and
ZZR have returned to service some locomotives and rolling stock and are
maintaining them in running condition. Dorrigo really isn't doing
anything except collecting. Anyway, the combined number of items
deteriorating at the BPR and the ZZR is still significantly less than
what is deteriorating at the DSRM.

> At least Dorrigo stick to stock relevant to N.S.W. and don't rip off stock
> from other states, denying preservation groups in the states concerned, who
> may not be as rich, the opportunity to acquire stock relevant to their own
> local areas, then callously let it rot in the open until it has to be
> scrapped.
> 

If the Derwent Valley Railway wants something from the BPR, have you
ever tried negotiating with them? If the BPR have no plans for it and/or
aren't in a position to look after it, then I think it would be a good
idea to sell it to a group that can do something with it. If they are
looking after it reasonably, then there really isn't much to complain
about.

> 
> Well thats alright for the Rothbury Riot Railway! Before you state the
> obvious, I know they have built carriage sheds [quite impressive] but they
> haven't been coping with settling devestating legal action or been
> undertaking massive earthworks.
> 

The problems experienced by the DSRM is precisely why they should have
put a stop to the collecting and tried to do what they could to protect
what they already had.

> 
> Considering the above mentioned legal catastrophe they endured, it wouldn't
> have mattered if they had two items or two hundred items of stock, they
> still couldn't have improved on where they are now. Actually to be where
> they are now, despite all that has happened is one of the miracles of
> Australian preservation!

But if they didn't have the amount of stock they've got now, they would
be in a much better position to be able to properly recover from their
problems. A smaller collection means less maintenece costs and it also
means they don't need as much earthworks or such a huge shed to get it
undercover. I would not call the DSRM a miracle. I think it is an
example of a group that doesn't set limits and goes overboard to the
point where they will never have the resources to *properly* look after
their collection. The DSRM is a good example of what other groups should
not do.


> Rubbish. Running a few trolley trips or train shuttles with foriegn
> irrelevant rolling stock, falling to bits, with shambolic public / display
> facilities, is not getting anywhere in my opinion!
> 

And neither is a huge rusting collection that isn't open for public
display. At least the trolley trips or tourist trains are bringing in
some form of income, even if it is low. Would the Derwent Valley Railway
have got anywhere if they put all their resources into collecting and
storing instead of returning a smaller collection of locomotives and
rolling stock to service?

> 
> Expending finance and volunteer labour running "you beaut" joy rides while
> those resources are diverted from building proper facilities and protecting
> / restoring your stock is viable? Get real. Anyway you have been told of the
> reasons why Dorrigo can not yet access their line.
> 

Dorrigo won't get any money from the government, so how are they going
to build a shed without some form of income? Likewise, no private
company is going to sink money into a rusting pile of junk and donations
alone won't get anywhere before their collection rots away to nothing.
Without some form of income, they won't have a hope of getting anywhere.
Even with a joy ride, the size of their collection means that their
chances of survival are highly doubtful.

Look at the CHTR. They have a very small but dedicated group of
volunteers who started with a small trolley service back in the 80's.
The simple fact that they never collected like Dorrigo meant they could
put their resources into protecting most of their rolling stock. Now
they have a number of operating exhibits including 91RM, 63RM, DRC40,
26MT, Y159 and a reasonable percentage of their goods rolling stock.
They started with a simple trolley ride, put realistic limits on their
collection and now look at what they are doing.
  
-- 
- James Brook -

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