Investigators Report in toDorrigo - 1989

This report (1) of (2) was carried out by the ABC in 1989 reporting on the shambles that had become the Dorrigo Railway Museum. It is in particular very critical of one Mr. Keith Jones - and with good reason. Anyone involved with NSW rail Preservation today should know the contents of this report so they can prevent it happening to their own groups.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• dorrigo
• steam
• railway
• museum
• investigatoprs
• report
• keith
• jones
• 1989

[emanon86]

Are you familiar with defamation and slander laws ?

To me at least, and this is NOT legal advise, the break-away group could have you in a court for your allegations.

Virtually everyone with an open mind will come to an independent conclusion that there is at best, a suggestion of wrong doing, upon the behalf of the volunteers, for what they were steered to believe the intent of the museum was for.

[nurtsurt]

I'll take your comment seriously hartleymartin as a person who is not involved either way if you dispute with evidence and in particular the bit about members funds buying a house for Mr Jones as his own property to do with what he pleases.I'd be betting had they have known this then that money would not have been forthcoming and is it any wonder they took him to court if in fact this is right.What would you do if you thought someone was ripping you off?

[EastwoodBirds]

It is so sad to see all these locos and rolling stock rusting away. This is not railway preservation! I wish some of the engines that have a chance of being restored would go to railway museums (like the NSWRTM for example) that actually would maintain them.

[oldenglishdave]

Would be nice to see some of this rolling stock and locos sold or donated to other Preserved Railways, in steam or not they would look nicer with a coat of paint elsewhere instead of sitting in the middle of a paddock.

Would also be nice to see the gentleman sell one of the Robinson ROD locos to the group that repatriated the Stanier 8f loco from Turkey, he has two of them and how nice it would be to see one in steam regardless of location.

[mark3mark]

I just went there on the weekend, and I was there in 2005, Hasn't changed much maybe a new fence on the station side, When I was there in 2005, Jones let me jump the fence and I spent all day walking around with my camera exploring, I had the time of my life. took heaps of photos. It;s sad Glenreagh has stopped its train rides.

[mrfireblade121]

@einsteinisgreat I've been going there two or three times a year for the past 23 years and yes you're 100% right.A very sad thing to see something with the potential that this concept has be in the hands of a nutter.I think someone commented about waiting for him to die and I laughed to myself.Maybe the comment might have hit the nail on the head.Hopefully someone with plenty of money and vision will complete the project and put this truly beautiful part of the world well and truly on the map.

[einsteinisgreat]

You heard him (1989) "there's no doubt about it, it is going to happen". What a betrayal of the hundreds of volunteers who restored the full length of the line in the 70's and 80's. The locos and rolling stock in this video have rusted and rotted to hell but he's still collecting more - apparently in his own name. The story of one man's crazed obsession. A MAGNIFICENT OPPORTUNITY LOST.

[einsteinisgreat]

This was made in 1989. In 1995 I visited the Dorrigo museum with a group from the ARHS and we heard Jones still telling his lies. "we will restore two steam locos (yes TWO) and have trains running to Megan in one year and along the full length of the line a year or two after that" etc. HEY - its 2010! Another 15 years has passed. Go there, see it for yourself. The entire length of the track is TOTALLY UNRESTORABLE, overgrown with bush which in many areas ressembles tropical jungle.

[rulestherails]

No it is not.

I'm no supporter of Jones but as he said-you save it now or you don't save it at all. Having said that, the collection is of a size it is unmanagable.

at 5:21 he said "and it was always intended to be for my personal use, as well as my heirs and sucessors". Thats our hope...

[nurtsurt]

Was there two weeks ago and apart from more items added to the collection it still looks pretty much the same as the video.

[trains72345]

anyone know if it is open to the public yet