3801 to leave Eveleigh Mon 27 Nov 6pm under own steam

Concerns are held for the future of the Large Erecting Workshop, which is the last active rail heritage site still in use at Eveleigh following the departure of the 3801 Ltd.

The area where the Large Erecting workshop currently stands has been zoned to accommodate a 12 storey building under a recently made State Environment Planning Policy (SEPP). Simultaneously the Large is listed in the SEPP as historically significant but such buildings can be adaptively reused rather than retained.

The fear is that the departure of the 3801 is the beginning of the end for active rail heritage use at Eveleigh. This is likely to have a major impact on the ability of heritage trains to service the large local and international rail tourist market.

The continuation of active heritage rail operations at Eveleigh’s Large Erecting Workshop could increase tourism and employment while at the same time retaining knowledge, training and equipment essential to the long term success of heritage rail operations.

Geoff Turnbull  REDWatch 25th November 2006.