Canberra Railway Museum (Australia) Closing Down

70000 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 17, 2017 7:29 am

The catalogue of items has expanded rather a lot - now includes a couple of steam locos, described as "needs restoring...." (understatement of the year!)

https://www.slatteryauctions.com.au/auc ... logue/2991

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Wed Jul 26, 2017 8:14 am

Stop the auction--maybe:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-26/c ... ne/8744834

Quote:

Canberra's historic railway museum has been thrown a financial lifeline that could save many of its train carriages from being auctioned next week.

Ian Oliver and Dallas Dogger from Capital Holdings Group have put a financial offer to liquidator Deloites in a bid to save the railway stock.

"Our number one goal is to keep these assets within the ACT and to ensure that this situation doesn't happen ever again," Mr Oliver told Genevieve Jacobs on ABC Radio Canberra.

The museum had to close its doors last year after falling more than $500,000 into debt and was then forced into liquidation.

Mr Oliver and Mr Dogger said they were now waiting for a response from the liquidator.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Thu Jul 27, 2017 1:07 pm

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-new ... xj3td.html

Quote:

Two businessmen have launched a bid to save Canberra's failed rail museum, with plans to make it a home for all kinds of historic vehicles.

The museum's historic collection will go under the hammer next week after the company behind it collapsed, leaving behind $700,000 of debt.

This led to fears its precious assets - including carriages that took men off to two world wars - would be lost.

But Ian Oliver and Dallas Dogger say they've offered a "substantial" sum to buy the museum's steam engines and carriages and keep some of the history in the nation's capital.

Bob Hall · **Joined:** Thu Jul 12, 2007 3:37 am **Posts:** 150

As one of the people seriously affected by all this, I can't add anything to the items posted by Supersnoop Mitchell (LOL).
We're all hoping the matter gets resolved quickly, as the liquidator's bill is apparently about $250,000 already and rising at $550 per hour.
Cheers, Bob.

kew · **Joined:** Sun Apr 02, 2017 3:13 am **Posts:** 134

Nice work if you can get it. Could've restored a loco or two for that.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2017 8:47 am

More bad news:

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-new ... xmy0k.html

Quote:

A last-ditch bid to save Canberra's historic rail museum was rejected 24 hours ahead of an auction to sell off its assets.

The museum's collection will go under the hammer on Wednesday after the company behind it collapsed, leaving $700,000 of debt behind.

Ian Oliver and Dallas Dogger from Capital Holdings said they had offered a "substantial" sum to buy a collection of museum assets including steam engines and carriages.

They had planned to open a transport museum at the Kingston site which would include old fire engines and working train exhibits.

But their offer was rejected on Tuesday morning, with liquidators instead encouraging them to bid for assets at auction.

"We were not given the opportunity to discuss, revise, or change our offer and that has disappointed us, as we sincerely wanted to help," Mr Dogger said.

"We had made it clear that we were willing to work with other parties for the good of the collection, working towards a sustainable outcome.

"This was not a cynical grab for assets by us. Far from it, our motives were philanthropic and proudly ACT-based."

More at the link.

Bob Hall · **Joined:** Thu Jul 12, 2007 3:37 am **Posts:** 150

The auction took place this morning. It was well attended and realised a bit over $400,000, I believe.
This will go some way, but there's about $500,000 more to find.
Nobody knows what's going on with the Garratt. We'll just have to wait and see if it gets offered up.
For you diesel freaks, 4468 went for $4,000. That's well below the $10,000 that more complete versions were sold off in large numbers by State Rail back in 1995 and most of those went to scrappies.
Steam loco 3102 went for $37,000.
Cheers, Bob

10stewi · **Posted:** Wed Aug 02, 2017 6:13 am

Did anything of any "value" go to scrappers, or has it all managed to stay within the rail community?

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Wed Aug 02, 2017 6:52 am

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-new ... xnrb3.html

Coverage of an acrimonious start..........

Bob Hall · **Joined:** Thu Jul 12, 2007 3:37 am **Posts:** 150

Stuart,
The identity of some of the buyers is unknown. I suspect 4468 was bought by a scrappie.
Bob

John T · **Joined:** Sun Sep 14, 2014 5:05 pm **Posts:** 1265

What happened to the two cranes?

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Thu Aug 03, 2017 10:36 am

Audio report from radio:

http://www.abc.net.au/radio/canberra/pr ... on/8770224

Bob Hall · **Joined:** Thu Jul 12, 2007 3:37 am **Posts:** 150

Steam crane 1055 was bought by Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum for $11,000 all up (match vehicle was sold separately to the main body, but they bought both lots).
The gantry crane sold for not much ( I think about 4 grand) and was probably bought by a scrappie. It had been part of the land lease, which was originally owned by the Commonwealth Government, but when Commonwealth Railways were dissolved, the land went to NSW State Rail. When it was dissolved, the property went to the ACT Government and they apparently gave the OK to sell it. We used the crane on a few occasions for carriage lifts, but it needed repairs and also safety upgrades, so we hadn't used it for probably 5 years or more.
Cheers, Bob

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Tue Aug 29, 2017 3:32 pm

70000 wrote:

Apparently the Garratt (6029) + 3016 (a 4-6-0) were moved to Thirlmere Museum (New South Wales) shortly after the Canberra operation "went under", so they would appear to be in safe hands.

NOT ANY MORE.

https://www.slatteryauctions.com.au/pro ... locomotive

http://vendor.slatteryauctions.com.au/c ... ochure.pdf

To put this into proper perspective, imagine if this were done with AT&SF 3751, UP 3985, or N&W 1218--literally a couple months after the flue time expired.

70000 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 30, 2017 1:47 am

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

70000 wrote:

Apparently the Garratt (6029) + 3016 (a 4-6-0) were moved to Thirlmere Museum (New South Wales) shortly after the Canberra operation "went under", so they would appear to be in safe hands.

NOT ANY MORE.

https://www.slatteryauctions.com.au/pro ... locomotive

http://vendor.slatteryauctions.com.au/c ... ochure.pdf

To put this into proper perspective, imagine if this were done with AT&SF 3751, UP 3985, or N&W 1218--literally a couple months after the flue time expired.

Certainly wasn't expecting to see this happen - will be interesting the outcome of the auction. For some reason, I thought that there was still an element of State (ie NSW) ownership in this loco.
At least it won't be able to go overseas due to restictions on the export of "heritage" items from Australia nowadays.

Canberra Railway Museum (Australia) Closing Down

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