3801 Ltd and Volenteers reports

3801 Ltd had just finished their AGM and having advised his AGM of the current situation with 3801 Ltd and the Large Erecting Shop 3801 Ltd Chairman Prof John Glastonbury took the opportunity between their AGM and their board Meeting to also brief the Eveleigh heritage meeting about recent developments. Comments were also made by volenteers and Prof Glastonbury also answered questions. Below is a breif account of what the meeting heard.

3801 Ltd have been advised that the RailCorp Board has approved the retention of the Large Erecting Shop (LES) at South Eveleigh for rail heritage purposes, subject to final funding approval.

3801 Ltd has been through a rough time since loosing its signature engine and rolling stock but it has survived has managed to maintain the Cockatoo run and introduce the Illawarra Tree Top Flyer. 3801 Ltd had been a sucessful; heritage rail operator for 2o years but the operation had become marginal with the removal of their mainline engine and key carriages.

3801 Ltd have put a proposal to the office of rail Heritage about the company continuing to operate from the LES and discussions are underway about the space 3801 Ltd and RailCorp each require in the LES. The option for heritage trips through the LES remains an option 3801 Ltd would like to see but it is not currently on ORH agenda.

3801 Ltd has lost its signature engine and some of its rolling stock last year so its viability to operate like it used to is also related to what ORH decide about rollingstock allocations.

3801 Ltd were pleased that the barriers put up over the last 2 years are coming down. They have a good working relationship with the Power House and used 3830 recently for one of their trips. They have advised the Powerhouse and the Office of Rail Heritage (ORH) that they would be happy for the Powerhouse's two engines to stay in the LES.

3801 Ltd has also indicated to Powerhouse volenteers that they would be happy for them to stay at the LES and undertake volenteer work within 3801 Ltd if they wished. Sixteen volenteers have spent  2000 hrs on the 3265 restoration project.  Volenteers have not been told what their position  is once 3265 completed.

3801 Ltd would also like to have RailCopr apprentices back in the Large but given undercover space constrains the best place for the demountables would be outside the LES.

There has been an inspection of the Large with a view to fixing windows and other items.

No core drilling has taken place but the location for the RWA's proposed drilling has been marked out.

Volenteers from 3801 and the Powerhouse reported that they were getting on well and that activity was underway.

Powerhouse volenteers expressed concern that they had been unable to meet the new Director and put their concerns about the Powerhouse needing to quit the large when work on the current project is completed.

There was general concern that the important role of volenteers be recognised by the operatores and the office of rail Heritage and there not be a repeat of earlier events that saw the interest of volenteers disregarded in the removal of rolling stock.

3801 Ltd have revamped their website and included links to volenteer websites. They have also put out their first newsletter for some time. It can be downloaded from www.3801limited.com.au/news.htm. Copies of the newsletter were distributed at the meeting.

Notes by Geoff Turnbull Meeting Chairperson