Re: 3813 (was Status of Garratts)

David Bromage (dbromage@metz.une.edu.au)
9 Oct 1997 12:13:48 GMT

Tim Arnot (timarnot@fastlink.com.au) wrote:
>dbromage@metz.une.edu.au (David Bromage) wrote:
>
>>Bob Grime (bobg@swifty.tip.CSIRO.AU) wrote:
>>> What chance of it ever being put back together?
>
>>I don't like your chances of getting anything out of Dorrigo for a start.
>
>I can't really let than one go past to the Keeper!
>
>The bits of 3813 are in the custody of no less than three
>organisations, none of which is the SRA or its satelites.
>
>The sad part is that NONE of these organisations - the Rail Transport
>Museum, the Powerhouse Museum and the Dorrigo group - would be
>prepared to give up their parts UNLESS there was a properly
>constructed business plan for the restoration of the locomotive to
>(at least) static condition, if not operational.
>
>Now if an organisation came along that had a proven track record in
>the field of 38 class restoration with a suitably professional and
>costed proposal, then who knows what could happen.

I doubt anybody would let bits out for static preservation elsewhere.
3801 Limited is the only group which stands a chance of getting all the
bits together in the same place. A more viable option might be using what
bits of 3813 can be retrieved as spares for the restoration of 3820.

3830 was always the best steamer of the class and unofficially reached
90mph on an ARHS trip a few weeks before the famous Newcastle speed run by
3801. 3830 was to have been used on the Newcastle run and there was going
to be an attempt to officially reach 100mph, but NSWGR insisted on 3801
being used.

Cheers
David