Re: ATTN DAVID B RE 32'S IN TIBET

[Lambing Flat <"bullack(no spam)"@cia.com.au>]

The Morphetts wrote:

> >
> > > David - Have you noticed the similarity between the 32 class of the NSWGR &
> > > the 5A class of the Tibet Railways?

> Further research via a friend of the Dali Lama in Tibet has revealed that there
> are several 32's in various states of disrepair still in existence in that
> country. They have all been painted an unfortunate yellow colour apparently, and
> have much red and gold decorative markings around them. The number 5A is
> prominently painted on the smokebox door of each loco in both english and
> tibettan characters.

Some further information regarding the TNR class 5A (ex NSWGR 32 class) has come to
light from intelligence gathered through the NSWGR Detail Police (lack of)
Intelligence Section.  (Motto:  We have Spies Everywhere.   Err...... that should
read;  Our Quality Assurance Inspectors Are Ever Vigilant).  The original source is
believed to be an organisation with initials quite similar to LF's ISP.

It would seem that the TNR chose the ex NSWGR 32 class locomotives over the broadly
similar ex Indian Railways L class, despite a higher landed cost in that Himalayan
kingdom, due to the ease with which twin prayer wheels could be fitted to the
distinctive circular portholes of the Thow cabs that these (and many other NSWGR
locomotive classes) were fitted.  This had the great advantage of allowing the
locomotive crews to combine their locomotive duties with their devotional ones,
which was a very important point in this deeply religious country.

Great interest was also shown in the Standard Goods classes by the management of the
TNR for the same reason, however before any firm offers could be made the country
was taken over by the Chinese Government and with the determined attempt to suppress
the local culture that resulted from this event, no further purchases of ex NSWGR
locomotives were attempted.  As part of this suppression of local culture all
locomotives of the TNR which were fitted with prayer wheels were immediately removed
from service and scrapped, most being recycled as "Long March" rocket boosters.  If
the recent unfortunate events in the Balkans should develop in a particularly tragic
direction it is entirely possible that a number of ex NSWGR 32 class locomotives, in
their current guise of "Long March" rocket boosters, could be returned to Australia,
though receipt is expected to be in a somewhat "atomised" form.  Notwithstanding the
previous remarks, my sources do, however, expect that most will be exported to the
United States, though the "cousins" reaction to recycled ex NSWGR 32 class
locomotives would most likely be extreme puzzlement, at best.

Returning to the Tibet, the withdrawn TNR locomotives were replaced with Chinese
Railways QJ class 2-10-2s, which in a piece of brilliant subversion by the local
railway personnel, were altered to feature a disguised prayer wheel on each driving
wheel, (the modifications being explained to the Chinese authorities as being vents
to cool the wheel rims during precipitous mountain descents).  It is believed that
the Chinese authorities are still unaware of this deception and this goes a long way
towards explaining the continued high morale amongst native Tibet National Railway
staff, despite the harsh conditions of both the climate and Chinese rule.

DPC James McInerney

STOP!  In The Name Of The Lore!

At http://www.cia.com.au/bullack/ , the "Lambing Flat" page.

(Doing my best to keep the ratio at 50%)