“If the Government is
serious about rail heritage then it is time the Minister negotiated
with the company which has proven the long term sustainability of
Locomotive 3801 over the past 20 years,“ Chairman of the 3801
Board, John Glastonbury said. “We are
informed that the Minister will shortly announce a $15m rail
heritage package which does not include the operation of the 3801 by
3801 Limited. This just does not make sense.”
Dr Glastonbury
explained, “The Board met with the RailCorp CEO last week. He
offered an 18 month extension at our current premises with no
guarantee of continued access to the 3801 engine or any ongoing
rights to the building. These conditions would not be acceptable to
any business, let alone a not for profit company which has run its
business successfully for the people of NSW for 20 years.
“In addition, the Government has demanded that
we participate in a combined review of assets with the Rail
Transport Museum. The RTM and 3801 Limited perform different
functions for the community – one is a museum, the other an
operating company,” Dr Glastonbury said.
“For the last 10 years, the Government’s railway authority has
failed to nominate anyone to our board and left the management of
our affairs to the board of community representatives. And yet,
without any prior warning, RailCorp informed 3801 Limited at a
meeting last week that it is not confident that the company is
sustainable in the long term,” Dr Glastonbury continued.
Since 1986, 3801 Limited has raised funds and
successfully preserved, repaired, maintained and operated locomotive
3801. Until then the NSW Rail Transport Museum and the SRA (RailCorp’s
predecessor) had failed to prevent the deterioration of this iconic
part of NSW’s rail history.
It is part of 3801 Limited’s normal business
planning practice to undertake ongoing reviews of
the asset condition of 3801, develop asset management plans and
undertake forward estimates for the sustainable maintenance of the
locomotive 3801.
3801 Limited
has received legal advice that locomotive 3801 is owned by the
Government and that it is the responsibility of the Minister to
determine the future disposition of locomotive 3801.