21st Century NSWGR master plans - can someone save NSW?

oldrailfan · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:06 pm

I have noted on these rail forums and in real world as some might call it some great indfifferences between rail groups like RTM, 3801 ltd, Dorrigo and ARHS sections and people in general. No one cares or seems to want to work hand in hand to persue their hobbie - railway work and saving trains WITH MANNERS.

Why cant many of these group combine to duplicate and save money and help EACH other out more often and be more understanding of their ROLE which is to keep the NSWGR dream alive into the 21st Century???

What is so hard about co-operating more often on saving like Eveleigh, outlying old depots, old rolling stock rusting away and etc..

Sure money is a issue but surely in this modern age people with a COMBINED interest can come together. People power is what makes wheels of power turn....

Interestingly enough i havent ever seen such argy bargy in aviation groups or car groups but it does seem to affect railway issue more than not. Anyone know why?

Would be great to one day see a annual heritage conference with ALL the heritage operators in NSW present to discuss rationally and with common goals in min, the d best way to combine assets and to get more people involved and riding rail stock. THis is what is needed. Anyone disagree?

Imagine SMR, RVR, LVR, Dorrigo, GMR, 3801, RTM, Powerhouse and ARHS sections and others all having super purchasing powers, well run depots as many as could be done and seeing more trains on the rails and using the depots..

Cmon in the 1880s the NSWGR had visionaries like Whitton that amde the NSWGR what it is today, so lets get some 21st Century visons going to before it goes away forever.

What i would like in a civil debate on this topic, as i can see and anyone else with a clear head , is that NSW heritage operations running and preserving building etc is a shamble in ways.. how many trains that could be under long term running repairs or static arent.,.. how many depots arent used for heritage operations but could be...

Sure isnt that the outcome we ALL want.. if you think overwise it must men you dont have the heritage of NSWGR at your heart interest and maybe you shouldnt be into this line of railway .. thats my thoughts..

Remeber once a item is removed from protection, rusted to near point of collaspe, demolished or burnt you can NEVER get it back unless you spend alot to reuild it or recreate it... Why do that when you can use whats left and preserve it better. ( one only has to see rare aircraft at museums that are totally near writen off due to outside exposure).

Let see what others think of my hopelessly impossible but very much with some organising could work.

metalastic · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 9:00 pm

I don't believe that there is any great indifferences on an organisation by organisation basis. Where the trouble lies is with individuals and their egos, personal agendas, petty jealousies, unfailing belief that only their group and their group alone is on the right track, and often sheer spitefulness in not wanting to see another group succeed.

Given all this however, there is still a awful lot of assistance between groups- even those who it would appear on here at least to be mortal enemies. In my 30years plus with various societies in a working role I have would have to say that more often than not, if I have approached another group for assistance or to borrow a tool or a part or vice versa it has always been readily given if at all possible.

I would add that this is on a volunteer to volunteer level! And it has always appeared to me that those who would want to sabotage another group rarely are those at the coal face involved in actual operations, restorations or maintenance but the wannabes and empire builders.

doridori · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 1:43 am

What really is sad about heritage rail, is the loss of skills from people who worked their lives in this industry, and have left or refuse to contribute that to the heritage scene due to the egotistical games between different factions of these groups and within the very groups themselves!

These skills are not being passed along to the next generation of historical custodians and the mentoring that goes with it is being lost to the young kids as well.

We are all at loss due to this, yet still put egotism/pride before anything else, and we deserve the declining scene and paltry support it gets due to this trash.

May be young'n'dumb, yet unlike some, I've heart!

The Man in Blue · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:05 am

NSWRTM123 · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 6:39 pm

Not wanting to start any flame wars, but there are some groups who don't want to share their resources for good reason. DSRM for example, they leased one of their locos (in operational condition) and it came back damaged and with parts missing, according to what I've been told in another thread.
Also, there are some groups that cooperate very well, e.g, 3801 Limited and LVR Cowra. LVR has 2? diesels leased to '01 Limited.

Save Eveleigh from "progress".
No 12 storey zoning over LES
3801 limited and NSWRTM Forever
Alcos Rule!!!!!

oldrailfan · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 7:35 pm

Call me very old fashioned but with some simple and new people ie younger with more passion in some cases as i feel the older member are more the dieahards and dont like to see change.....

Ideas like seeing a 3801 Ltd train run to RTM and coal up or RTM stock run to Eveleigh more often or LVR and Dorrigo interact better with others it could still easily happen .. only thing stopping these are the die hard who dont want rail history to flourish.

Im yet to see or meet anyone in aviation at airshow WHO hates each other to death but yet again it appears in railways.. why cant heritage groups band together and do good thing instead of always puttng up barries in cases we seen in past.

Imagine one day, a kid can say wow look at all these rail groups co operating so nicely, look at all thsese trains... ... that would be a excellent outcome to see (bit of hard work needed tho)

metalastic · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 6:54 am

smeg Me! There is one reason and one reason only why the skills arn't being passed on- and that's because of the complete and utter lack of interest being shown by the "younger generation" most of whom if you asked to get stuck in and do the filthy chores or hard graft associated with steam operations seem to think your taking the piss.

As for co-operation- in the past 5 years off the top of my head the LVR has received tangabile assistance or given it to the following groups.

DSR&M, PHM, NSWRTM, GMR, NSWRTM (Valley Heights) CMR, CHR, 3801Ltd, ZZR, ARHS Canberra.

So much for the much vaunted claims on here that there is no assistance between groups- its smeg like most of the posts on this site.

SMR18 · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 6:57 am

Everyone came down, still there will be a chance of preserving all NSWR
historic locos and rollingstock. I would hate the premeir of NSW to close Rail Corp would mean no funding of 3801 which is real sad. I listened to the radio and heard this shock...

Regards

Banned

fernhill · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 7:08 am

I agree with all of the above. This is where I would have thought the Office of Rail Heritage would have started. To bring all groups under some sought of accreditation and foster a cooperative approach to grow the rail heritage following which would have reduced costs across the board
Now its got everybody scrambling to save what ever it can
But it took a different approach - the big bang approach

SAVE EVELEIGH FROM $k_eneally
I don't think anything has changed????? Still zoned for 12 storeys of development

The Man in Blue · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 8:36 am