Re: Stored trams at Newport
Michael Walker (walker@hotkey.net.au)
Mon, 09 Feb 1998 20:14:09 +1100
> <<<<<<<I think it is rather sad that the PTC has such a poor reputation when it
> comes to
> a) rail fans
> b) heritage / preservation>>>>>>>>>
>
> What on earth are you talking about? Name one other railway anywhere that has
> been so accomodating to fans/preservation and fantrips? Who else runs steam on
> regular services just so the fans can have qualified drivers for their fan
> trips? You should get out and see the world and reaslise how hard it is for
> most fans around the world.
>
>From the few responses so far, I would presume at least some of
aus.rail's contributors believe the PTC quite capable and quite willing
to use any excuse to ditch trams, especially older ones , and other
items it allegedly considers an inconvenience to the point of torching
their own rollingstock and buildings. This is what I found sad. If you
read my wording, I made no comment on the PTC at all as to whether I
thought they would or wouldn't do such a thing.
As to your comments re: accomodating fans/preservation, I somehow
suspect they don't just do these things for the love of it.
eg railfan trips = track access fees. Please correct me if they let
Steamrail et al use the tracks for free but I somehow suspect they
don't.
eg steam on regular services = much increased patronage. The original
trips to Geelong and back were run on standard trains initially for one
off crew training purposes for the abovementioned railfan trips until
the public found out and swamped the trains to the point where they had
to be built up to 2 or 3 times their normal consist. This of course
would have made these particular runs the most profitable they had been
for a while.
PTC generous and self sacrificing?? (Or ANY government or private
railway for that matter). Perhaps you should get out once in a while.
P.S. As for other places that run steam, what are 3801 and 3830 doing in
NSW? Not sitting around static obviously. Or several other steam locos
and preserved diesel locos for that matter. Even QLD has a few kicking
round that get dragged out on the odd special occasion eg Exhibition
line runs during special events at the Exhibition ground sor whatever
they are called up there. And what about the recent donation of a Redhen
railcar or two to Port Dock museum from one of the most anti-railway
governments in Australia. Etc Etc Etc.