3801 Limited
Encyclopedia
3801 Limited is a not for profit
company limited by guarantee. It was incorporated on 5 June 1985; A.C.N. 002 951 671. The registered office of the company is at Australian Technology Park
.
The setting up of an organisation to manage and operate locomotive 3801
was first formalised in March, 1984, when John Glastonbury, representing the interested enthusiast societies, and the State Rail Authority of New South Wales exchanged correspondence.
At first, four parties were involved. The State Rail Authority had two roles, the first as donor of the locomotive and other equipment and the second as a trustee. In effect, 3801 would continue to be the property of the State Rail Authority and it would be leased to the trust. Three other organisations were nominated as trustees - The Powerhouse Museum
; the Australian Railway Historical Society
, New South Wales Division; and the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum
.
At that time, the restoration of locomotive 3801 was nearing completion at the former State Dockyard site in Newcastle
. Out of trade apprentices worked on this restoration for over a three year period under the direction of the Hunter Valley Training Company. One of the first assignments undertaken by the company was to raise funds to pay for the restoration and other expenses. Its stated aim was "to exhibit with pride and enthusiasm to the people of NSW the masterful preservation of a piece of their Locomotive History ... as a living, mobile, historical work".
During the restoration, the company organised regular tours of inspection at the State Dockyard.
In November 1986, 3801 entered service and operated as the flagship of the company for the next 20 years.
In 1988, 3801 and its train became the Bicentennial Train for Railways of Australia, a former consortium of the government railway systems, and operated tours to all the mainland capitals as part of the celebrations. In the latter part of 1988 and much of 1989, Flying Scotsman
joined 3801 Limited and ran many very successful tours around New South Wales
and beyond. In excess of 500,000 passengers were carried by the company during this 20 year period.
. Since December 2006, 3801 Limited has operated its tour trains with heritage diesel locomotives.
At the same time as the above agreement was drawn up, State Rail granted 3801 Limited a licence to occupy the Large Erecting Shop, at Eveleigh, New South Wales
, as a base for the company’s operations.
The Large Erecting Shop remains the company’s operating base.
As a result of the NSW Department of Transport seeking expressions of interest to take over the weekend’s only passenger service on the Unanderra - Moss Vale line as a tourist operation, 3801 Limited commenced the Cockatoo Run heritage tourist train on 19 August 1995.Annual Report 3801 Limited 1995-1996 Initially, this train operated from a base established in the Port Kembla
Locomotive Depot Complex. Steam locomotive South Maitland Railways Number 18 (SMR18) was made available to 3801 Limited by the Hunter Valley Training Company for this service. To enable the locomotive to haul a train from Port Kembla to Moss Vale, and return, with one load of coal, the coal bunker was modified.
Financial difficulties led to the suspension of the Cockatoo Run from November 1998 until March 1999, after which date the train ran between Port Kembla and Robertson only. Furthermore, it was diesel hauled and ran for nine months of the year.
3801 Limited vacated the Port Kembla Depot on 30 March 2001 and all rollingstock and equipment was relocated to Eveleigh. The Cockatoo Run was merged with another of the company's operations, the Long Lunch Train, from 4 March 2001 and this service currently operates from Sydney via Wollongong
, Robertson
, and Moss Vale
on selected Thursdays and Sundays with heritage diesel locomotives.
In March 2008, a new major tourist attraction, the Illawarra Tree Top Fly opened at Knight’s Hill near Robertson. Since that date, 3801 Limited has marketed a Tree Top Flyer ticket that includes train trip to Robertson, coach transfer to the Fly and entry.
train which will be running again in January 2009.
for branch line passenger and freight train haulage this class of locomotive is capable of running on all NSW rail lines. 4918 is a regular performer on the Cockatoo Run but is also used for mainline tours. 4918 is owned by 3801 Limited.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
company limited by guarantee. It was incorporated on 5 June 1985; A.C.N. 002 951 671. The registered office of the company is at Australian Technology Park
Australian Technology Park
The Australian Technology Park is a business and technology centre in Eveleigh, an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia...
.
Establishment
3801 (NSW steam locomotive)
3801 is Australia's best known and most widely travelled steam locomotive. The streamlined locomotive was designed to haul express trains such as the Newcastle Flyer and Melbourne Limited for the New South Wales Government Railways . 3801 is the only steam locomotive to visit every mainland state...
was first formalised in March, 1984, when John Glastonbury, representing the interested enthusiast societies, and the State Rail Authority of New South Wales exchanged correspondence.
At first, four parties were involved. The State Rail Authority had two roles, the first as donor of the locomotive and other equipment and the second as a trustee. In effect, 3801 would continue to be the property of the State Rail Authority and it would be leased to the trust. Three other organisations were nominated as trustees - The Powerhouse Museum
Powerhouse Museum
The Powerhouse Museum is the major branch of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences in Sydney, the other being the historic Sydney Observatory...
; the Australian Railway Historical Society
Australian Railway Historical Society
The Australian Railway Historical Society was founded in Sydney in 1933 as The Australasian Railway and Locomotive Historical Society. It aims to foster an interest in the railways, and record and preserve many facets of railway operations. Membership now exceeds 2,500, with Divisions in every...
, New South Wales Division; and the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum
New South Wales Rail Transport Museum
The New South Wales Rail Transport Museum located in Thirlmere, New South Wales south-west of Sydney, is a museum dedicated to displaying former locomotives, carriages and goods wagons from the New South Wales Government Railways as well as private operations in NSW. The collection features steam,...
.
At that time, the restoration of locomotive 3801 was nearing completion at the former State Dockyard site in Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
. Out of trade apprentices worked on this restoration for over a three year period under the direction of the Hunter Valley Training Company. One of the first assignments undertaken by the company was to raise funds to pay for the restoration and other expenses. Its stated aim was "to exhibit with pride and enthusiasm to the people of NSW the masterful preservation of a piece of their Locomotive History ... as a living, mobile, historical work".
During the restoration, the company organised regular tours of inspection at the State Dockyard.
The locomotive enters service
In 1988, 3801 and its train became the Bicentennial Train for Railways of Australia, a former consortium of the government railway systems, and operated tours to all the mainland capitals as part of the celebrations. In the latter part of 1988 and much of 1989, Flying Scotsman
LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman
The LNER Class A3 Pacific locomotive No. 4472 Flying Scotsman was built in 1923 for the London and North Eastern Railway at Doncaster Works to a design of H.N. Gresley...
joined 3801 Limited and ran many very successful tours around New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and beyond. In excess of 500,000 passengers were carried by the company during this 20 year period.
Locomotive 3801 departs
At the conclusion of initial 20 year agreement with State Rail covering the operation of locomotive 3801, the Government relocated it, and eight carriages that had been in 3801 Limited's care, to the New South Wales Rail Transport MuseumNew South Wales Rail Transport Museum
The New South Wales Rail Transport Museum located in Thirlmere, New South Wales south-west of Sydney, is a museum dedicated to displaying former locomotives, carriages and goods wagons from the New South Wales Government Railways as well as private operations in NSW. The collection features steam,...
. Since December 2006, 3801 Limited has operated its tour trains with heritage diesel locomotives.
At the same time as the above agreement was drawn up, State Rail granted 3801 Limited a licence to occupy the Large Erecting Shop, at Eveleigh, New South Wales
Eveleigh, New South Wales
Eveleigh is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Eveleigh is located about 3 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney.- History :...
, as a base for the company’s operations.
The Large Erecting Shop remains the company’s operating base.
The Cockatoo Run
Port Kembla, New South Wales
Port Kembla is a suburb of Wollongong 8 km south of the CBD and part of the Illawarra region of New South Wales. The suburb comprises a seaport, industrial complex , a small harbour foreshore nature reserve, and a small commercial sector. It is situated on the tip of Red Point, first sighted...
Locomotive Depot Complex. Steam locomotive South Maitland Railways Number 18 (SMR18) was made available to 3801 Limited by the Hunter Valley Training Company for this service. To enable the locomotive to haul a train from Port Kembla to Moss Vale, and return, with one load of coal, the coal bunker was modified.
Financial difficulties led to the suspension of the Cockatoo Run from November 1998 until March 1999, after which date the train ran between Port Kembla and Robertson only. Furthermore, it was diesel hauled and ran for nine months of the year.
3801 Limited vacated the Port Kembla Depot on 30 March 2001 and all rollingstock and equipment was relocated to Eveleigh. The Cockatoo Run was merged with another of the company's operations, the Long Lunch Train, from 4 March 2001 and this service currently operates from Sydney via Wollongong
Wollongong, New South Wales
Wollongong is a seaside city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 82 kilometres south of Sydney...
, Robertson
Robertson, New South Wales
Robertson is a small town in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, in Wingecarribee Shire. The town is located on the edge of an elevated plateau about 35 km from the coast. At the 2006 census, Robertson had a population of 1,206 people.Robertson is known for its high annual...
, and Moss Vale
Moss Vale, New South Wales
Moss Vale is a town in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, in Wingecarribee Shire. It has a population of 7,339 and is sited on the Illawarra Highway, which connects to Wollongong and the Illawarra coast via Macquarie Pass...
on selected Thursdays and Sundays with heritage diesel locomotives.
In March 2008, a new major tourist attraction, the Illawarra Tree Top Fly opened at Knight’s Hill near Robertson. Since that date, 3801 Limited has marketed a Tree Top Flyer ticket that includes train trip to Robertson, coach transfer to the Fly and entry.
Bill Peach Tours
In the early 2000s, 3801 Limited entered into an association with Bill Peach Tours, under the name Railcruising Australia, operating 8-day train trips to western New South Wales. These tours are no longer promoted.Current operations
As well as the regular operation of the Cockatoo Run, 3801 Limited remains an operator of chartered passenger trains and 'hook & pull' work for RailCorp and others, using the diesel locomotives comprising its fleet. Occasional promotions of themed trains are initiated, including the Parkes Elvis FestivalParkes Elvis Festival
The Parkes Elvis Festival is an annual event celebrating the music and the legend of Elvis Presley held in early January in the Australian New South Wales regional town of Parkes. The first festival in 1993 was simply a one night performance attracting 300 attendees. From then, it has grown to...
train which will be running again in January 2009.
South Maitland Railways Locomotive No.18
The locomotive was restored to its original condition during 2004-2006. It was returned to the Hunter Valley Training Company which had intentions to operate it on heritage train trips in the Hunter Valley.Current locomotive fleet
44 Class
Built between 1957 & 1968 by A.E. Goodwin Ltd for express passenger and freight train haulage these are the most regularly used locomotives in the 3801 Limited fleet being capable of hauling large trains at mainline speeds. 4401 is a member of the State Rail heritage collection whilst 4473 and 4486 are hired to 3801 Limited by owners the Lachlan Alco Locomotive Group. 4464, also owned by LAG, has been restored to working order in the Eveleigh LES.48 Class
Built in 1961 by A.E. Goodwin Ltd for branch line passenger and freight train haulage this class of locomotive is capable of running on all NSW rail lines. 4833 has previously been a regular performer on the Cockatoo Run but has been more recently hired out for shunting duties with other groups. 4833 is hired to 3801 Limited by owners Goodwin Alco Pty Ltd.45 Class
Built in 1962 by A.E. Goodwin Ltd main line passenger and freight train haulage this class of locomotive is renowned for its heavy haulage ability. An extensive restoration of 4501 has been recently completed and the locomotive is now being employed on heritage and commercial duties. 4501 is hired to 3801 Limited by owners Goodwin Alco Pty Ltd.49 Class
Built between 1962 & 1964 by Clyde EngineeringClyde Engineering
Clyde Engineering was the name of part of the business now known as Downer EDI Rail. Clyde Engineering were involved in the construction of railway locomotives and rolling stock, as well as larger scale engineering projects on behalf of the governments of Australia...
for branch line passenger and freight train haulage this class of locomotive is capable of running on all NSW rail lines. 4918 is a regular performer on the Cockatoo Run but is also used for mainline tours. 4918 is owned by 3801 Limited.