The original tender was based on using their own loco crews. It wasn't
cost that stopped them. They put several through the course and they all
easily passed the theory (all being ex-V/Line who took "the package") but
they were never allowed to complete it.
It's no secret the "retired" driver in question is Bob Evans. The wonders
of modern bureaucracy when a former instructor driver has to go through a
course he used to teach!
Cheers
David