EVELEIGH - STILL THE BEST LOCATION FOR TURNING AND WATERING

Who said Eveleigh was not needed for heritage steam operations?

On Friday 8th June, 2007, locomotive 3801 was turned and watered at Eveleigh and on Tuesday 12th June, 2007, locomotive 3801 was turned at Eveleigh. Over the past seven months, the Rail Transport Museum has refused to use Eveleigh. Eveleigh was not required as part of their heritage rail operations. Then failure to coal at Eveleigh resulted in one locomotive running out of coal on a trip to Maitland. Is there now a sensible change of attitude at RailCorp. Perhaps they don’t realise what has happened?

The coaling and any overnight engine storage should take place at Eveleigh where it has occurred for over 130 years. Eveleigh's original design and placement near Sydney formed part of its economic viability allowing access to the main rail hub (Sydney Station) and to the rest of the State. This close access to Sydney is still vital today in the economic viability of preserving and running of heritage trains.This is what the founders of our great railway system planned and it is only when political pressures prevail that common sense goes out the window.

The safest way to propel a locomotive is not tender first. The driver and fireman can see very little of what is in front of them. Steam trains should be turned at Eveleigh not taken out to the Meeks Road XPT Depot at Marrickville.

Photo: Friday, 8th June 2007 Locomotive 3801 moving off the turntable at Eveleigh.

This media release is part three media releases from FOE. For a 685 Kb PDF with the photos referred to download the PDF on this link - Friends of Eveleigh Media Release 11th June 2007

Media Release Produced by the Friends of Eveleigh – Contact: The Secretary, FOE, PO Box 381, Belrose West NSW 2085.