Indigenous Paintwork for NR's

[Tom.Jones@sawasdi.apana.org.au (Tom Jones)]

The following NR press release will be issued on 19 Dec.

A second National Rail locomotive bearing an indigenous design based on the work of artist Bessie Liddle has been launched in its own "home country" of Alice Springs.
The Minister for Transport and Regional Development, Mark Vaile, today unveiled the dramatic designs on the Kungara Mankurpa, an NR-class locomotive which will be used to pull National Rail freight trains and famous passenger trains including The Ghan and the Indian Pacific.
In a dual celebration, Mr Vaile also joined Alice Springs Mayor Andy McNeill and local country music artist Warren Williams to officially name another National Rail locomotive the Town of Alice.
"Both these locomotives recognise the close ties National Rail maintains with the communities in and around Alice Springs," Mr Vaile said.
The Kungara Mankurpa design depicts the Seven Sisters - the stars known in the West as the Pleiades - and is part of a series called Seven Sisters Dreaming, by Alice Springs artist Bessie Liddle.
The series is based on the travels of the Seven Sisters, and their pursuit by the Snake Man (the constellation Orion) in Pitjantjatjara country, around Alice Springs.
National Rail Managing Director, Vince Graham, said the design ensured Australia's largest national freight operator was instantly recognisable in a uniquely Australian way.
"National Rail locomotives help move freight right across Australia, from coast to coast and throughout the outback," Mr Graham said.
"You could almost say the outback is their home - which makes it particularly appropriate that both the Town of Alice and Kungara Mankurpa should be launched here, in their home country around Alice Springs."
The Town of Alice is the 20th National Rail locomotive to take the name of an important rail community, while Kungara Mankurpa is the second National Rail locomotive to carry a Bessie Liddle design.
The first with an Aboriginal design was the locomotive Warmi (Snake), which was launched by athlete Cathy Freeman in Sydney last month.
Town of Alice, Kungara Mankurpa and Warmi are three of the 120 new NR class, 4000 horsepower locomotives purchased by the National Rail Corporation Ltd to revolutionise National Rail's freight operations.
Mr Graham said all three locos would be responsible for hauling National Rail freight trains across the outback.
However, the unique cultural significance of Kungara Mankurpa and Warmi meant they would also be deployed to haul passenger trains including The Ghan and the Indian Pacific, under National Rail's five-year contract with Great Southern Railway Limited (GSR).
The Ghan follows the 1,555 kilometres path set by explorer John McDouall Stuart between Adelaide and Alice Springs, and takes it name from the Afghan traders who plied this route with their camels up until 1929.
The Indian Pacific  covers almost every facet of Australia, east to west, as it traces the 4,352 kilometres between Sydney and Perth via Adelaide.


For further information, please contact:
National Rail:
Fred Affleck, General Manager, Corporate Affairs  ... (02) 9685 2525 or (0418) 613 114



---
| Fidonet:  Tom Jones 3:800/846.526
| Internet: Tom.Jones@sawasdi.apana.org.au