New South Wales Rail Transport Museum

In late July, the NSW Rail Transport Museum (NSWRTM) established a high level Taskforce headed by former Queensland Rail CEO Vince O'Rourke to consider the best options for 3801's future funding, overhaul, operation and management.

The 3801 Taskforce comprises heritage, marketing, rail operations and engineering specialists, representatives from the rail industry, Sydney's Powerhouse Museum and the NSWRTM. Representatives of the locomotive's current operator, 3801 Limited, were invited to be part of the Taskforce, but declined.

The job of the NSWRTM's 3801 Taskforce is to consider options for 3801's future overhaul, funding, management and operation - and for the involvement of the people dedicated to the locomotive's wellbeing.

NSWRTM President Peter Berriman said, "The NSWRTM is committed to sustainable operation and public access to 3801. The Taskforce will consider the best ways for 3801 to play its part in NSWRTM's vision of telling the NSW rail story for the benefit of the community."

NSWRTM saved the locomotive from scrap in the 1960s and is 3801's primary custodian, entrusted with the care of the locomotive in perpetuity by a 1978 Deed of Gift from State Rail.

Mr Berriman added, "The NSWRTM has a forward-looking vision for NSW's rail heritage - it's time to think outside the square for a new future for 3801. We believe 3801's future is most sustainable as a vital, living heritage experience, operated and displayed with a conservation-based approach. The Taskforce will look at the best ways we can continue to take 3801 to the people, both in Sydney and NSW regional areas."

The existing arrangement for the loco's use does not have a conservation-based vision or business continuity plan, 3801 Limited have not evidenced the necessary funding for the major boiler works needed for 3801, and the locomotive's current home at Eveleigh is slated for eventual closure. These were major factors in NSWRTM's decision not to renew the existing 20 year operating lease which expires in November 2006.

The NSWRTM intends that 3801 will operate as widely as possible in regional NSW, Sydney and surrounds, as part of the NSWRTM's established Heritage Express rail tours / outreach program.

RailCorp Heritage Initiatives

At the celebration of the Centenary of Central Railway Station on 4 August, NSW Transport Minister John Watkins, RailCorp Chairman Ross Bunyon and RailCorp CEO Vince Graham announced RailCorp's sustainable rail heritage strategy, "an inter-generational plan to conserve and display the state's rich railway heritage."

The strategy includes the establishment of an Office of Rail Heritage within RailCorp, and Government investment of $20 million over 5 years to support rail heritage in metropolitan, regional and rural NSW.

The strategy involves a $14 million upgrade of the Rail Heritage Centre at Thirlmere, an $800,000 upgrade of the Thirlmere - Picton section of the Loop Line, and funding of up to $500,000 for the overhaul of 3801. RailCorp will also contribute $600,000 for the completion of the restoration of locomotive 3265 in partnership with the Powerhouse Museum. In addition, RailCorp will establish a partnership with the Hunter Valley Training Company for apprentice training in heritage skills, restoring and maintaining steam locomotives and heritage rolling stock.

Government Announces
3801 Advisory Group

At the Central celebrations, Minister Watkins also announced the establishment of an advisory group chaired by former Queensland Rail Chief Executive Vince O'Rourke, to analyse both the RTM and 3801 Ltd and to seek to obtain collaboration between them.

The group consists of Vince O'Rourke, Chris Le Marshall (for the Australasian Railway Association), Owen Johnstone-Donnet (for Tourism Australia), Marianne Hammerton (for Office of Rail Heritage) and a representative of the Ministry of Transport.

The Vince O'Rourke Advisory Group is currently working on the issues, and holding discussion with both NSWRTM and 3801 Limited. The Group aims to report by mid-November. The NSWRTM has unhesitatingly agreed to collaborate with RailCorp and the Vince O'Rourke Group.

NSWRTM suspends 3801 Taskforce pending
outcome of 3801 Advisory Group process

The establishment of the Vince O'Rourke Advisory Group has in some ways cut across the NSWRTM's 3801 Taskforce, because some of the personnel are common to both: notably Vince O'Rourke himself, Chris Le Marshall and Owen Johnstone-Donnet. All three have obviously had to step down from the NSWRTM's 3801 Taskforce to avoid any possibility of a conflict of interest. Given that, the NSWRTM has placed its own 3801 Taskforce on hold pending the finalisation of the Vince O'Rourke review.

The NSWRTM's 3801 Taskforce will still prove invaluable, and it is expected that its work will still be both worthwhile and necessary. In fact the group of people assembled for the 3801 Taskforce could well be an ideal source of expertise to provide advice and guidance for the RTM generally in the future. The issues the Taskforce was assembled to consider and advise on, remain very much pertinent to achieving the right balance between conservation and commercial/operational considerations, together with meeting community expectations.