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Commissioners Set stored in the Open at Thirlmere - FOE Media Release

WHO ALLOWED THESE TWO PRICELESS CARRIAGES TO BE TAKEN FROM EVELEIGH TO THIRLMERE AND TO BE PLACED IN THE OPEN, AND EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS FOR OVER A WEEK? asks a Friends of Eveleigh Media Release of 6th October, 2007.

These valuable heritage carriages owned by RailCorp are on the State Heritage Register

When the Commissioners Set (carriages) was overhauled three years ago, the roof overhaul was subsequently deleted by RailCorp from the original list of works to be completed. Work was therefore carried out on the carriage interiors and the bogies. It now appears that work may also have been required on the roofs.

Photos taken on the 6th October 2007 show the damaged roof skin of carriage AAH19, parts of which were being blown away by the prevailing hot wind. Was this carriage fully checked out by RailCorp before they signed the release papers for the removal of these Heritage Listed Carriages from the protected Eveleigh Large Erecting Shop.

These two carriages AAH19 and AAH8 due to their age and historical significance should always be stored undercover. They are fitted out with the finest Australian timbers such as red cedar, silky oak and maple, much of which is french polished and therefore requiring special care.

These valuable heritage carriages owned by RailCorp are on the State Heritage Register

It is a pity that at least six other heritage carriages removed from the protection of the Large Erecting Shop at Eveleigh by the Office of Rail Heritage are still sitting in the open at Thirlmere 7 months after their removal.

Text of Media release from Friends of Eveleigh - All correspondence to: The Secretary, FOE, PO Box 381, Belrose West NSW 2085 Phone 0400 441 482

See Photos referred to above at the link below: