3801 Ltd, a
not-for-profit company, has been based at the LES for the last 30 years when it
formed to operate tours using the signature steam locomotive 3801. In 2006 the 3801
locomotive was moved to Thirlmere. At that time, the LES was to be pulled down
and replaced with a 12-storey block of units. After a fight by 3801 Ltd and
local residents the LES was saved and controls for heritage and training uses
in the LES was put in place
In 2013, the NSW
Government accepted all the recommendations of the 2013 Rail Heritage Review – All Aboard! The review established
Transport Heritage NSW (THNSW), which absorbed the Rail Transport Museum at
Thirlmere. One of the recommendations was that the LES became a multi-user
heritage rail-operating base. THNSW initially proposed that 3801 Ltd would be
able to lease two of the six indoor ‘roads’ in the LES under the multi-user
arrangement in recognition of 3801 Ltd’s long term occupancy, however nothing
firm ever eventuated.
The current standoff
stems from THNSW, which leases the LES from Transport for NSW (TfNSW),
requiring 3801 Ltd to vacate the LES site fully so it can undertake work at the
site. After completion, 3801 Ltd could then re-apply to become a possible user
of the LES as one of the users of the proposed multi-user heritage
rail-operating base. THNSW is not currently prepared to consider transferring
3801 Ltd to a new lease without its relocating. 3801 Ltd has proposed that the work
required in the LES for the new facility could be done in a staged way around
them as a continuing occupant.
Unlike other heritage
groups 3801 Ltd has no other location to retreat to as the LES has been its
home for the last 30 years and TfNSW has not been able to provide it with an
alternative base within the Sydney Metropolitan area, which is necessary for it to remain operational.
3801 Ltd currently occupy
much more than two ‘roads’ and it initially said more than two roads were
needed to run its current operational activity. To shrink to two operational ‘roads’,
as it is prepared to do, the company will need to find a home elsewhere for over
twenty truckloads of equipment, spares and non-running rolling stock.
The cost of moving anything
out of the LES is not just dependent on finding a suitable location. It is also
dependent on 3801 Ltd getting its tours going again to have an income to cover
the cost of the reorganisation. Over the last 18 months uncertainty has already
seen scheduled trips unable to be run, bookings refunded and all staff
retrenched. 3801 Ltd is currently operating totally on volunteers with access
to the LES only under THNSW supervision.
The 2013 Rail Heritage
Review – All Aboard! promised a
“fresh start and a co-operative approach to Rail Heritage in NSW”. 3801 Ltd
argues the “fresh start and co-operative approach” has not been evident in 3801
Ltd’s recent dealing with THNSW and TfNSW. The company has been frustrated
about its inability to resolve the situation with THNSW and has raised its
concerns with the head of TfNSW.
One of the problems for
the heritage rail sector is that there is little under-cover storage for
valuable assets, with many around the state, including at Thirlmere, sitting in
the open. On top of this TfNSW has operational pressures for stabling and
maintenance facilities close to the city. This has already forced UrbanGrowth’s
plans at North Eveleigh onto the back foot and even the compulsory acquisition
of a small portion of the now Mirvac-owned ATP site is being contemplated.
There is concern in
heritage circles that Sydney Metro will affect the XPT service centre near
Sydenham and result in pressure for the LES to be used by TfNSW for the XPTs
rather than heritage uses. Fuelling this concern is a decision within TfNSW, to
identify a potential alternative operating site to the LES for heritage assets
and services in the metro area.
In the current bout with TfNSW, 3801 Ltd has gone
“softly, softly” in the hope that not making the public noise that was made in
2006 might lead to a more co-operative outcome. Therefore, it has been
difficult to get details about what has been happening over the last couple of
years. Information is only now surfacing when the future of the company is in
the balance.
Back in 2006, then
Shadow Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian became involved in trying to stop
the removal of the 3801 locomotive. Her media release at the time said,
“the volunteers and steam enthusiasts who make up 3801 Limited have done a
wonderful job of running and maintaining the 3801 locomotive for the last 20
years, they should be allowed to continue their good work.”
As Premier, it is
time for her to intervene to ensure that 3801 Ltd has a place in her
Government’s “co-operative approach to Rail Heritage in NSW”.
This report has been compiled by Geoffrey Turnbull for REDWatch based on documents and conversations with a number of people. Please address any enquiries regarding this to mail@redwatch.org.au