Linking up to promote State's rail heritage

8/6/02
A push to give Western Australia's rail heritage the profile it has earned gathers steam at Midland Rail Workshops today.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said that historic rail engines and rolling stock deserved the recognition given to historic buildings.
"Trains are movable heritage which attracts a particularly passionate following and provides fantastic recreational opportunities," Ms MacTiernan said.
The Minister opened a State Rail Strategy Forum at which representatives of Western Australia's 12 historical rail organisations were joined by delegates and speakers from rail companies and interstate rail organisations.
She told more than 60 people at the forum that the Labor Government was meeting a commitment made in opposition to bring heritage rail operators together to promote their railways.
"Railways were crucial in opening up our State, from precarious forestry networks and the Midland and Great Southern Lines which opened the Wheatbelt, to the nation building Trans Australian line and the now closed railway which serviced mines and pastoral stations as far as Meekatharra," Ms MacTiernan said.
"The Labor Government is not only giving increased attention to rail into the future, but working to ensure our rail history is recorded and celebrated.
"This role has been carried in the main by dedicated volunteers in many parts of the State who have made enormous efforts and sacrifices to acquire and maintain railway stock, infrastructure and operating skills.
"The Government can play a more active role in supporting these impressive efforts, by working with the Association of Rail Preservation Groups to address major issues confronting its members."
Ms MacTiernan said the forum would discuss a range of issues, including:

• recognition and funding support for rail heritage;
• skills accreditation for maintaining and operating locomotives;
• reducing insurance costs;
• improving promotion of WA's rail heritage to tourists; and
• developing a State Rail Heritage Centre.