Re: Who is HSmith, Goninans and FV

[James Robinson <NOSPAM@ERIE.NET>]

Yuri J Sos wrote:
> 
> alco@acay.com.au wrote, and I selectively quote:
> 
> >It is now official.  Goninans is up for sale.  Faced with the prospect
> >of no new contracts in the next year Howard Smith Industries has
> >decided to sell up.
> 
> UNCONFIRMED RUMOUR:        SET MODE ON
> 
> I recently heard a rumour that all of VLF's locos and the Dynon Loco
> Depot have been on-sold to a company called Motive Power Incorporated
> and that FV would lease locos back from MPI as and when required.  The
> same rumour monger also said that Goninans had not yet put their
> shekels on the table yet for their share of the purchase of VLF by the
> FV consortium.
> 
> UNCONFIRMED RUMOUR:      SET MODE OFF
> 
> Is there a company called Motive Power Inc?  Do they have a presence
> in Aus or Vic yet? (or is it another name for Austrac, Great Northern,
> Rail Technical Services, Genesee & Wyoming, Wisconsin Central)

Interesting rumour. That's Motive Power Industries

MPI is a US-based company (Boise, Idaho) that is represented in
Australia by ANI Bradken, if I recall correctly.  They specialise in
locomotive maintenance, rebuilds, replacement parts, and component
rebuilds. I believe at one time they had an Australian subsidiary
(Motive Power Australia?) that was rebuilding locomotives and
components. Their web site gives more information about the company:

www.motivepower.com