The Semi-Retired Foamer has been a railfan since he was around 5 years old, oh yes a very young age, an age when one really should avoid being involved with the gunzel community to any great extent. A few rather unsavoury people bringing that fact home.
After a few decades of train chasing, one decided to break with protocol and get married, thus leading to a severe cut in railfan activity.
Subsequent dealings with hate breeders, lunatics, mental defectives and self-appointed preservation overlords lead to an even greater decrease in my hobby participation.
However things have changed thanks to our small group of trusted mates, interest has returned, and now I have become a bit more involved yet again.
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Over the years I have tried my best to further both the hobby, as well as the friendships that it brings. I have done this by setting up proactive groups both here in Australia, as well as the Philippines. It is with huge honour that I am often considered the founding father of the railfan hobby in the Philippines (my second home).
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I don't take the hobby too seriously and I am a friend to anyone who is good and genuine. But never forgive those who have used their hate to destroy my hobby or hurt the friends within it.

Let's Make The Hobby Great Again!
I aim to share the era that I considered mine, the 80s and 90s. I also like to help promote, and even raise funds for, the various heritage societies that keep the era alive
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**** LOCOMOTIVE/ PUBLICATIONS ****
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All are available for
FREE at our ALR WEBSITE.




Please email me should you wish to use anything from this site !



Monday, December 17, 2007

PN's Plans! (A View From Tassie)


Forwarded from the LocoShed forum with permission.


Many thanks for this interesting post.


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Tasmania's problem is a history of exceedingly poor management andincompetent operators. No customer service, no marketing, no trafficcultivation or growth (bar a short golden age under the Ed Burkhardt managed ATN) coupled with the usual structural and political biases to road.

Despite politics and public support finally swinging back in favour of rail again with new traffics on the horizon and a State Govt. finally prepared to takesome responsibility, which should make any normal rail operator cheer and say with relief, "About time" - what do PN do? Give up saying it's all too hard (it's not - they just can't be bothered to make an effort).


The Tasmania traffic base would be close to comparable with South Australia's non seasonal domestic (non interstate) base. G&W seem to make S.A. work? I don't hear them saying, "Oh the drought's stuffed it. We are shutting down all of the domestic S.A. network bar the Whyalla iron ore traffic" - yet they have less local capital compared to PN?

The situation in Tasmania is similar to the Eastern provinces of Canada, where CP pulled out altogether and CN only do long haul (interprovincial).

The big entities don't work. A smaller localised "Regional" (in American parlance) operator is needed.

Cheers,Steve Z

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