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THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN TRAIN ROBBERY

This is the text of the Friends of Eveleigh Media Release made about the departure of 3801 from the Large Erecting Shop at Eveleigh on Monday 27th November 2006.

THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN TRAIN ROBBERY

When: Monday 27th November 2006 at 1800 hours (6 pm) Where: The Large Erecting Shop at Eveleigh Railway Workshop

The Large Erecting Shop and its entire contents are subject to a formal National Heritage Listing Application. This application secures the site and no item can be removed without the authority of the Federal Minister.

The above action seems to be in breach of the National Heritage Act.

The Minister for Transport has known for 6 months that an agreement between the Rail Transport Museum and 3801 Limited was required for the running lease of locomotive 3801 to be renewed. He has turned his back on helping to broker a deal for the betterment of the people of New South Wales. He seems afraid to stand up to RailCorp Executives and their inaccurate decisions - has never visited the Museum at Thirlmere and has refused numerous invitations to inspect the Large Erecting Shop at Eveleigh - just 5 minutes from Parliament House.

This is the Minister who ok'd all of RailCorp plans with his rubber stamp because in Parliament, when questioned on Rail Heritage, would utter his favoured words "I have been advised".

On Monday night, Locomotive 3801 will steam out of Sydney, destined for the

Hunter Valley Training Company at Maitland for a mechanical inspection to determine what overhauling is required.for the locomotive. Those in the know will tell you that it is in near perfect condition other than the boiler overhaul due in 12 to 18 months providing the current expert maintenance program can be maintained.

Why to Maitland?

Most of the "expert technical panel" to assess the locomotives condition come from Melbourne, Sydney or south of Sydney so why not conduct the inspection at Eveleigh - where facilities including inspection pits already exist.

Maitland is now a swinging seat for the State election. Needs propping up and the $600,000 grant to the Hunter Valley Training Company at Maitland is the ultimate pork barreling exercise.

50% of the shares of the Hunter Valley Training Company are held by the NSW Ministerial Holding Corporation.

The Hunter Valley Training Company was set up to train apprentices specifically for the power industry with Pacific Power a major partner. Milton Morris, former Labour Railway Minister is an active board member and Pacific Power's former Chairman Ross Bunyon, now Chairman of RailCorp appears on the HVTS website as a Director.

The Government is not game to send the Locomotive straight to Thirlmere because of a voter backlash.

Correspondence to:
The secretary,
Friends of Eveleigh (FOE)
PO Box 381
Belrose West NSW 2085