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westernline
Train Controller
Joined: Oct 03, 2003
Last Visited: Jul 15, 2008
Location: San Onofre California
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:14 am
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Foreign Corresponent 1000 pm Tuesday 15th ABC ONE
Might be worth a look!
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dthead
Site Admin
Joined: Jan 15, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 22, 2008
Location: Melbourne, Australia
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Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:27 pm
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Watched it.
must say I'd agree with the railway workers - putting tourists in the drivers seat for normal services is rather dangerous, not to mention insulting the railway workers. Yet if there is a qualified person's on board,
and they are active - it is keeping the professionals in a job, and the income the "railfans" generate.
However if they solely relied on railfans, I would think it would not turn a good profit - I'd think "normal" people are also giving it a go.
Regards,
David Head
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a6et
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Aug 13, 2006
Last Visited: Nov 22, 2008
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Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:29 pm
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| dthead wrote: | Watched it.
must say I'd agree with the railway workers - putting tourists in the drivers seat for normal services is rather dangerous, not to mention insulting the railway workers. Yet if there is a qualified person's on board,
and they are active - it is keeping the professionals in a job, and the income the "railfans" generate.
However if they solely relied on railfans, I would think it would not turn a good profit - I'd think "normal" people are also giving it a go.
Regards,
David Head |
Was this Wolsztyn? If so, it has been going for years & attracts a lot of tourists all year round, & is very much a revenue raiser that has been a good money spinner for the system. Those allowed to fire or drive pay for a basic course & are always under the supervision of a fully qualified crew. The initial moving of the engines is done within a restricted area before venturing out.
Here is a paste of the latest news about the Wolsztyn system. Anyone interested in going there the owner of the Pennant Hills Jetset travel agency has been conducting tours there for years.
Wolsztyn has been the centre of a working steam museum railway for as long as most of us care to remember but now it seems it may be almost all over (16th June 2008). PKP has removed steam from the Wolsztyn - Poznan line and by mid-June there was just one steam working a day Wolsztyn - Rezno and even that was only a temporary reprieve until July 4th 2008 with a subsidy from the Wolsztyn Experience. See http://polishrail.wordpress.com/ and linked stories for the grisly details, a site which, unfortunately, is not available to me directly in China although good friends have mailed me the relevant text. It seems that maybe there is some politicking going on here between the railway which derives little direct financial benefit from the steam operation (probably quite the reverse) and the local authority which benefits indirectly from the tourism it generates. It underlines that these days, with very few exceptions, just about any kind of steam operation in the world is definitely a 'luxury item' which has to compete in the market. Later news is that following discussions between all the parties involved, a reduced steam service will resume on 1st October 2008, this being supposedly guaranteed for 8 months and will include trains to Poznan and Lezno (21st June 2008). Louis Cerny reports that at the beginning of July, he saw four locomotives in steam over a period of a week with steam haulage to Lezno only, with Poznan services supposedly to resume after the summer break (9th July 2008). It is not just the operation at Wolsztyn which is under threat. John Raby (24th June 2008) has alerted me to the fact that the railway has instigated a scrap drive - understandable for well represented types in 'Barry' condition, less so for a plinthed locomotive. See http://polishrail.wordpress.com/2008/06/22/7-steam-engines-on-death-row/ for more information.
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jm1941
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Jan 16, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 22, 2008
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Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 7:33 pm
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| westernline wrote: | Foreign Corresponent 1000 pm Tuesday 15th ABC ONE
Might be worth a look! |
It was, I viewed it last night and I thought it was absolutely fantastic, and well done. Cannot speak highly enough of it and a plus for the Polish crews in engine and on the ground, though some not seemed too happy but realised it kept them in a job a bit longer. The looks of the utter excitement on the rail buff drivers and that look on the journalist's face was absolutely just priceless.
Unless anyone has had the great opportunity of an actual "hands on" experience like that, fails miserably to know how that feels. Back in the 60's because I was in the job, I was fortunate enough to get drives of the 400 class Bayer Garratts.
And as for being unsafe... BUNKEM. It's only as unsafe as you and crew make it just like all things in life and the train crews were overseering the whole thing. Anyway was nice to see this happen and the enjoyment it bought, something pleasurable on TV for a change.
By the way you can see a film version (no narration like on TV more's the pity) of this at: http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/
Regards,
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21C123
Chief Train Controller
Joined: Sep 15, 2005
Last Visited: Sep 6, 2008
Location: In the inspection pit checking the "bicycle chains"
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Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:46 am
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| jm1941 wrote: | | westernline wrote: | Foreign Corresponent 1000 pm Tuesday 15th ABC ONE
Might be worth a look! |
It was, I viewed it last night and I thought it was absolutely fantastic, and well done. Cannot speak highly enough of it and a plus for the Polish crews in engine and on the ground, though some not seemed too happy but realised it kept them in a job a bit longer. |
John - your comment about the reaction of some of the Polish crews is well made. The steam crews at Wolsztyn reflect the full gamut of human personalities! Some of them are absolutely hilarious and great fun. As for some others, let's just say that they are rather "undemonstrative"!!!
| jm1941 wrote: | And as for being unsafe... BUNKEM. It's only as unsafe as you and crew make it just like all things in life and the train crews were overseering the whole thing. Anyway was nice to see this happen and the enjoyment it bought, something pleasurable on TV for a change.
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Absolutely!!! No passengers seem to have died while I (or anyone I know) have been "working" there.   This sort of thing (on a completely "unofficial" basis of course (!)) was not exactly uncommon in "days of yore" in NSW before we all became obsessed with lunatic "health & safety" regimes (since when people seem to have become incapable of behaving with common sense and intelligence and looking out for their own safety ).
| dthead wrote: | must say I'd agree with the railway workers - putting tourists in the drivers seat for normal services is rather dangerous, not to mention insulting the railway workers. Yet if there is a qualified person's on board,
and they are active - it is keeping the professionals in a job, and the income the "railfans" generate. |
David - all I can suggest is to go there and experience it yourself. No question of anything being unsafe provided you behave with intelligence. Most certainly not insulting to the workers - I don't see where you get that idea from. In any event, a very large proportion of those who go there are regular steam drivers and firemen from preserved railways in the UK, so not exactly without experience and common sense. Most of the Polish crews love to work with steam and fully realise that the funding provided throught the Wolsztyn Experience Trust is the only reason steam still operates there. As mentioned above, an awful lot used to happen on Australian railways away from the "eyes of authority" which would give the OHSS lot a heart attack now, but did no-one any harm at the time - I suspect you are too young to have been a beneficiary of this !
TimP
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jm1941
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Joined: Jan 16, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 22, 2008
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Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:51 pm
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| 21C123 wrote: | | John - your comment about the reaction of some of the Polish crews is well made. The steam crews at Wolsztyn reflect the full gamut of human personalities! Some of them are absolutely hilarious and great fun. |
Tim all very well said. You put it spot on. We use to have several Polish steam crews on the S.A.R. steam days and the strange thing was in that video looking at the faces of those Polish steam crews (with smoking the cigarette) was like seeing those old crew's faces again. Great feeling to see that and good memories. Anyway, that is what life's about, having great memories for one's older twilight years. In those early railway days, I'd be rich if I got a buck for every outsider who hung around the railways got a ride in cabs or the GB or whatever. Everyone was always careful, polite and if one did stubbed their toe, squash a finger they accepted that is was their own fault and that was end of that. My, how times have change and not always for the better either.
| 21C123 wrote: | | As for some others, let's just say that they are rather "undemonstrative"!!! |
 I cracked up on this one, I see you know railways, or should I say got a good handle on human nature.
If anyone would like to review the original ABC version Click HERE
I liked the non-narrated version of just the steamer, but having had the great opportunities to have "hands on" non official experience several times and that incredible feeling it gave one, then, the narrated version does display that exhilarating feeling perfectly.
Regards,
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21C123
Chief Train Controller
Joined: Sep 15, 2005
Last Visited: Sep 6, 2008
Location: In the inspection pit checking the "bicycle chains"
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Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:32 am
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Cheers John! I can say without a doubt that you would have a great time at Wolsztyn
PS That's a great website you have by the way - particularly your reminiscences of the 1960's NE narrow gauge.
TimP
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jm1941
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Jan 16, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 22, 2008
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Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:49 am
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| 21C123 wrote: | Cheers John! I can say without a doubt that you would have a great time at Wolsztyn
PS That's a great website you have by the way - particularly your reminiscences of the 1960's NE narrow gauge. |
Tim, I sure would, the lads and I would have a ball.
Glad you enjoyed it. The 1960's on the old S.A.R. NG were the best time of my rail life by far, but I loved it all dearly, till rail got waylaid by outsiders. I'm glad I live railways of those earlier days when railways were in my view, real railways. Once rail went to private operators, it near died. still just bearly breathing now. 
Regards,
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21C123
Chief Train Controller
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Last Visited: Sep 6, 2008
Location: In the inspection pit checking the "bicycle chains"
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Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:45 pm
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| jm1941 wrote: | | The 1960's on the old S.A.R. NG were the best time of my rail life by far, but I loved it all dearly, till rail got waylaid by outsiders. I'm glad I live railways of those earlier days when railways were in my view, real railways. |
I sure would love to have been able to travel on the old SA narrow gauge - I was still a youngster in England when those great looking 400 class stopped running. We emigrated to Australia in early 1973 so I managed to just miss out on NSWGR steam too (although the South Maitland Railways etc were great for a "fix" of real steam!!!).
Am back in Blighty these days, so it is not hard to find preserved lines on which to work with steam, which is great (and Wolsztyn is not too far away either).
As an aside, a friend over here has a huge oil-fired stove in their farmhouse kitchen used for cooking, heating and hot water, built by none other than Societe Franco-Belge, so I always think of that as an honorary 400 class garratt without wheels
TimP
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jm1941
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Jan 16, 2003
Last Visited: Nov 22, 2008
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Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 12:37 pm
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| 21C123 wrote: | | We emigrated to Australia in early 1973 so I managed to just miss out on NSWGR steam too (although the South Maitland Railways etc were great for a "fix" of real steam!!!). |
The South Maitland Railway seemed to be a good steam spot for late steam. I never took any notice of that particular railway till a few months ago my old cobber (he been a long time railfan looking in while I looked out ) who use to live here in the Mount. A few months ago he bought round his old 1980's betacam tapes he had taken, as I had been transferring my old 1980's VHS videocam rail stuff onto DVD. So that got him fired up to do the same and among his rail betacam stuff he did, was of a videoed "cab ride" he did while on holidays in NSW of the tank engine first a fly shunt and some shunting, then the actual trip pulling a rake of 4 wheel coal wagons East Greta in June 1983. It was good to see, that warmed the heart. So I know what your on about as to a "fix" of actual steam in service action in the 1980's.
Does this bring back some memories.
| 21C123 wrote: | | As an aside, a friend over here has a huge oil-fired stove in their farmhouse kitchen used for cooking, heating and hot water, built by none other than Societe Franco-Belge, so I always think of that as an honorary 400 class Garratt without wheels |
Like the sound of the oil fired stove by Societe Franco-Belge as to our 400's as they were oil fired as well.
Regards,
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