Southern Shorthaul Railroad

mark carter · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2003 11:18 am

The following was released today......

SOUTHERN RAIL PHOENIX RISES

Rising from the shell of the former Melbourne-based niche market rail operator Great Northern Rail (GNR),
the directors of the newly launched Southern Shorthaul Railroad (SSR) believe that their revitalised operation
has a big future in providing specialised rail services to the industry.

Southern Shorthaul Railroad has come about as the result of a successful management buyout,
assisted by former GNR CEO Geoff Tighe, of the former GNR assets. These had originally been acquired
by CFCL Australia, which had stepped in last year to save GNR when it ran into financial problems.

Under CFCLA's management the former loss making GNR business has been turned around to
return a modest profit on its operations over the last five months.

The new SSR business will continue to provide metropolitan shunting and short rail haul services to rail
operators such as Pacific National, Patrick Portlink, Freight Australia, Interrail and Australian Railroad Group.
It will also continue to provide crew hire and terminal services to its customers.

SSR Corporate Director, Geoff Tighe said, "The Directors have set SSR on the path to become the leading
short haul niche-market rail operator on the eastern seaboard."

In order to emphasise the fresh start for the revitalised business the shareholders and directors of the new
company have settled on the name Southern Shorthaul Railroad and have also introduced a new corporate
paint scheme for the company's locomotives and rolling stock.

"In the New Year, we intend to exploit a number of opportunities that are currently emerging in NSW, Victoria
and South Australia," Geoff Tighe said.

"Our management team has a wealth of experience in the Australian rail industry and we intend to harness
our collective know-how to identify other niche operations and exploit suitable opportunities"

Geoff Tighe concluded, "It is plain from the research we have already undertaken that the market place urgently
requires a reliable and responsive, service orientated, short haul rail operator capable of offering custom rail
solutions to meet the challenge of the rapidly growing freight task."

"SSR will be looking to fill that need in 2004", Mr Tighe said.

KngtRider · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2003 12:27 pm

But the question is, which American livery are they going to choose to 'borrow' this time ?

We have already had the following:

ACL ( 4488 )
ATSF ( S313 )
CSX ( NR103 )
Erie ( VR )
GMO ( GNR )
G+W ( ARG )
WC ( ATN )

Plus anything I have missed

Dominic Sharoo
Editor
NitroWare.net
http://www.NitroWare.net

K160 · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2003 12:28 pm

At least there is light at the end of the tunnel for GNR, even if it means a name change Very Happy

Regards
Matthew Davis

Last updated November 19th 2008.

mark carter · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2003 1:12 pm

L254 · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 7:31 pm

What locos are they having, are they the ex gnr ones.

Warney is the first bowler to reach 700 wickets.

Kurnell · Beginner Joined: Dec 16, 2003 Last Visited: Dec 17, 2003

With at least one of the so called new owners of GNR being responsible for some of the abberations in the CFCLA colour schemes, do not be surprised as to what the so called elite come up with,

K

[quote="KngtRider"]But the question is, which American livery are they going to choose to 'borrow' this time ?

We have already had the following:

ACL ( 4488 )
ATSF ( S313 )
CSX ( NR103 )
Erie ( VR )
GMO ( GNR )
G+W ( ARG )
WC ( ATN )

Plus anything I have missed[/quote]

standard_gauge · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 8:10 pm

From the contact I have with KFCLA, KFCLA hold some stock for SSR..as well as Bluebird rail engineering

Hey?..whatever happen to my warning level?

rhino · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2003 10:08 am

You work for KFCLA? Who are they? [/quote]

Cheers, Rhino

standard_gauge · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2003 11:27 am

philbert · Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 7:48 am

For anyone who's curious. SSR's freshly outshopped GM22 is on the front cover of this month's Motive Power magazine. MP also lists GM10 as the next due out of the paint shops.

I think its quite a striking scheme (and no doubt very visible and safe), but I think it'll turn ugly real fast once they start working and getting filthy. Anyone placing bets on whether it glows in the dark? Very Happy

Nice to see they've stuck with its original number too - I'm sure KFCLA would have renumbered it to ML 85 or something if they'd owned it much longer...

mars · Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 4:43 pm

said it before and i'll say it again, this is the crappyest livery i've ever seen on a loco..

[/img]

Regards, Tom Marschall

rjaygee · Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 9:58 pm

Sorry to disagree but it provides a stunningly effective modern corporate image for a new operator.

Cheers

Rod Gayford

rhino · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 9:35 am

Rjaygee wrote

XP2009 · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 10:04 am

Its more like a Union Pacific Livery

Cheers Joel

philbert · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 10:51 am

I like the new operator's name (Southern Shorthaul Railroad) - it tells me something! I can tell they operate short haul trains, in southern Australia.

This is a refreshing change from the more predictable "Integrated Logistics Management Solutions" type names, that infer only that the manager has been to a high priced marketing workshop.