Why doesnt Dorrigo restore their steam locos to running ???

Bills_Billboards · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 7:51 am

Dont know why people bag this group so much , yes it looks like they have a huge collection and so what if all the steam locos are covered in a oil coating to help prevent rust , At least they have preserved the locos in some form or would the knockers prefer to see them preserved as a cheap jap imported car or a pile of jam tins .
Then the knockers would be saying why wasnt this saved , wish one of those was still around etc etc

Bill

emddl41 · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 9:52 am

well bugmenot, the unconfirmed rumors that came off the grapevine (this from a person that was there in the 80's) is that KJ considers the colection as his own private train set & pushed out anyone who decided to challange him.

as for the money, other rumors are that KJ uses it for his personal income

tezza · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 11:14 am

the collection is privately owned by KJ , money has been given to him personaly over the years as donations and interest free loans by museum " Members " for his purchases and he is only interested in a static museum

Noted Rail Historian
Noted arrogant A*sehole
No retreads for GMR

Bwana · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 11:44 am

There have been fights about this place for almost as long as I've been alive. Most of the people that donated to the "museum" believed they were donating to exactly that - a museum to which they were a member, not to the personal wealth of Keith Jones. Keith did some dodgy bookkeeping, the result of which is that most of the stuff is in his name.

I don't want to be a muckraker, so I'll let Aunty do it for me...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFf0VSqSEzk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8EERxjihDI

I am SO moving to Victoria Street!!

Check out my pics at http://bwana.fotopic.net

oldrailfan · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 1:34 pm

Very interesting videos. Never seen such critical views of a railway museum like that.

Seems Keith Jones has defrauded some people and upset many by his actions in the 1980s. Wonder has it changed since then tho?

I wonder does the ORH have the ability to declare this "museum" a fraudulent act even after 20years considering how damaging the report from 20years ago spell out.

It seems THEN (and who knows for current) money was not not used correctly. If RTM/3801 etc etc did such actions they would be hauled thru the coal fire.

Also lately it seems people posting here... says it will be a static museum yet Kieth Jones says it is to be a running museum. Yet restoration of rolling stock seems to be slow.

So who do we believe then?

Could the State Government reclaim all the items at DSRM and spread it out thru the state again?

michaelgreenhill · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 5:38 pm

If this degrades into another mudfight I'll be slapping those responsible with 15% warnings for each post.

Michael Greenhill
RP2 System Lord, RP3 Lead Developer
Rules for Posting | Help for Beginners | FAQ | Helpdesk

My photos on Flickr.

bugmenot · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 7:06 pm

Well done Bwana, I remember that ABC clip.

As for the government taking back anything, its private property.

I'd rather see taxpayer dollars go into things like the ZZR or RTM.

I'm a critic of the D group, but I take issue with some of the previous comments made here.

That individual mentioned by oldrailfan hasn't defrauded anyone.

Maybe it's a case of taking money from gullible people Question

, not fraud.

I agree with the mod's on this one, hearsay, defamation, etc, of personalities at Dorrigo will only get this tread locked.

So can the people think before they post?

GrahamH · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 6:21 pm

35 years ago I was giving some consideration to buying a 53cl and joining the KJ Dorrigo 'plan'. Then a bit later my interest was distracted such that a house became more important to own than a loco so I was not involved.

My interpretation of later events towards individual loco owners is immorality, trickery and deceptive action rather than legal fraud. Can't opine on KJ's interactions with other entities.

57_58_2B7_2A5_80 ?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/grahamh_pix/collections/

Trains have right-of-way at every level crossing. Remember.

oldrailfan · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 7:14 pm

If i was in charge i would allocate ALOT more towards covering it than buying more and more. Covering protects the items for the future.
Then once covered it could be open to the public...

I feel at this current rate DSRM will NEVER open to public because nothing will happen ...

Note how it has been delayed opening for over 20years.. doesnt this raise some people hackels?
Cmon.. 20years.. other private museum dont wait for 20years.. they are open as soon as possible.

So in meantime what is labelled to make people belieive that will be a public museum to enter is really a cover for what?

This contiual rebuff by DSRM to even allow people on site as enthusiasts to look at it doesnt make it a museum .....its a collection owned by "Kieth Jones" with other peoples money as clearly explained in the video. Yet people still contribute $$$???

If someone donated money and saw it not doing WHAT as that video it should be...then what i ask the supportes of DSRM do you call the slow and lack of action then?
Oberon mob in under 4years have rebuilt 4-5km of line and yet in 4years DSRM cant build 4km of track but purchased alot of trains..

So its either your damned if you dont save the time or damned if you save the collection...

rjaygee · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 10:57 pm

All you have to ask is what does that guy that lives in a certain house up at Dorrigo do to earn a living? The answer is very obvious and only delusional people believe anything will ever happen up there. He appears to attract a bunch of nut cases who have very little life of their own other than to worship at his junk pile alter. For goodness sake $225K for several electric locos that other collections have already and that they can run under wires and yet there is 60 class sitting a field at Forbes rotting. If those ABC clips do not convince you that all is not well (and nothing has changed) then you are a fool and deserve what you get.

Cheers

rod Gayford

sandown · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:21 pm

I think you have trouble with the fact they can accquire items quickly and raise significant sums to do so.

Recently they accquired NZLA 2200 / 2201, I don't recall the RTM bidding for them. They are items of goods rollingstock in case you don't know.

There's more to a complete museum than just locomotives. When you finish your new interpretive centre you can have some virtual goods rollingstock, along with some virtual visitors.

Innuendo is not Italian for suppository

oldrailfan · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 5:38 am

So as i point out , if they can afford say $300,000 on new locos why cant they spend $300,000 on sheds or $300,000 on making it open as Keith Jones says it will open BUT after 20years it never has opened.

Keith doesnt want to open DSRM .. i think that the underline suttle message we the public are seeing.

How come no one answers the phone there at the museum is another question. My wife tried ringing many times and myself too and no one has ever answered.

michaelgreenhill · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:31 am

Last chance to rethink those posts, fellas.

Michael Greenhill
RP2 System Lord, RP3 Lead Developer
Rules for Posting | Help for Beginners | FAQ | Helpdesk

My photos on Flickr.

bugmenot · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:55 am

People seem not to have gotten my previous meassage, when you slang off at that individual, the thread gets locked.

I'd like to point out again, everything up there has been done legally.If it hadn't been, they would have nailed his hide years ago.

There is no law preventing (stupid?) people giving money to another.

The Dorrigo museum is privately owned. How they get and use their money is THEIR concern.

However, I have issues with that the organisation having tax deductability status for so long and having no active strategy of opening the museum to the general public. If you look thru very old posts on aus.rail you can find Trevor Edmonds (who seemed to know KJ) giving a opening date in "in about 2 years" back around 1999!!!.

Another correction, NZLA 2200 / 2201.

Dorrigo are merely the "caretakers". It is still under state ownership.

fred59 · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:16 pm