> Bob wrote in message <34DECBDF.6BA96EBB@fastlink.com.au>...
> >
> >
> >Bob wrote:
> >
> >> Goodwin Alco wrote:
> >>
> >> > Bob wrote:
> >> > >
> >> > > I heard a story this week that "something" will soon happen with all
> the
> >> > > stored W cars at Newport Workshops. Considering that some of these
> cars
> >> > > have been in storage for several years I wonder what is being done
> >> > > towards their disposal. Is the National Trust still insisting that
> all
> >> > > cars are to be kept. In the past the Kennet Government has shown no
> >> > > mercy towards minority groups so what do the Trust have over them?
> Also
> >> > > can anyone confirm the story that a US dealer has made an offer to
> buy
> >> > > all the stored cars for export?
> >> > > Bob
> >> >
> >> > I heard recently that a lot of these trams suffered damage while
> being
> >> > put into storage at Newport, some being quite bad.
> >> > Brad
> >>
> >> This would not surprise me. I was there one day as a tram was being
> unloaded
> >> and they were rather rough with it. What surprised me the most was that
> they
> >> put a standard gauge tram onto one rail of the broad gauge track. They
> then
> >> pushed the half derailed tram into the shed and let it run into the one
> in
> >> front. It seemed to me at the time that these trams were a nusence to the
> MET
> >> and they wanted rid of them. I hope we dont see a Paddington Depot
> repeat.
> >> Bob
> >
> > What I forgot to mention was that my source also said that one of the
> potential
> >companies bidding to take over part of the system was interested in 50
> stored
> >cars. I wonder if this may be as a cheap source of spare parts for the W
> cars that
> >remain in traffic?
> > Bob
> >
>
> And lots of other people wrote lots of other stuff but I'm still confused.
> Why would anyone bother to keep a stack of 1930's vintage vehicles. I'm sure
> there are sufficient preserved for historical reasons. Who cares about scrap
> metal?
>
> Barry Campbell
The only reason that the present situation exists is that the National Trust
is insisting that every tram be kept. This apparently goes beck to an election
promis made to them some years ago. They have held the MET to this. The
situation is so ridiculas because COTMA have identified 7 cars that are wanted
by museums in Australia however the Trust refuse to even allow these cars to be
sold off. As such the number of stored cars has increased to over 150 and at
some considerable cost to the MET. The irony is that some cars that were
initially stored were latter returned to service and exchanged with not so good
cars. Here in NSW, if the trust proposes to save anything they must put up or
shut up. That is, put up a good case to save the said item or let it go. It
would appear that the main stirrer in the Trust is a tram GUNZEL so I think you
may begin to understand what is going on. Imagine if the Trust told SRA that
every 44 class had to be saved! I dont think so. The situation in Melbourne has
been allowed to drag on for too long, but from what I hear there may be a
strange new twist to this saga very soon.
Bob