RD October 1999

["Derek Rogers" <DekRogers@nospambigpond.com>]

RD October 1999

As we near the end of the twentieth century, Railway
Digest launches the quest for the Australian 'Trains
of the Century'. What we want is a list of 10 key railway
developments that have shaped Australian railways.
Consequently, the editorial staff ask readers to be
part of the decision process to come up with a list
of 10 significant Australian railway subjects - locos,
rolling stock, named trains, engineering achievements,
organisational developments, etc that have taken
place between 1900 and the present day. The list
of achievements does not necessarily have to
include subjects that remain in service (or existence)
but should acknowledge the historic significance of
the respective developments. The deadline for
submission of a list (or individual subjects) is
Wednesday, 3 November - email
to: DekRogers@bigpond.com
See October edition page 42.

This month we discuss an issue that is a bit of a
 "sleeper" for rail in Australia and the article is a
timely wake-up call for the transport industry in general.

FreightCorp's 82 class is the main feature this
month while the EL class, with an emphasis on
their modifications by their new owner, is the
subject of this month's L & T Snapshot.

With the cessation of steelmaking at Newcastle
in September, we take at look at the BHP internal
railway and the loco fleet and look to their future
prospects.

The photo coverage includes themes like new paint
schemes (C and EL class together with black 3801)
and the Nineties trend, "swapping operators".

The plastic-wrapped subscription copies were
posted on Thursday, 7 October but unfortunately,
there have been a number of reports of slow
delivery by the postal service, especially in rural
areas and outside NSW, which has been a very
trying on-going problem for both the
Editor/Publisher and loyal subscribers alike.
Even copies posted to Sydney addresses
have taken up to a week to be delivered in some
cases this month.

RD thanks all its readers and contributors
for their continuing support.

Derek Rogers
Editor - Railway Digest