3801 Limited
3801 locomotive leading a Newcastle Flyer charter in October 2005
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| not for profit | |
| Founded | June 1985 |
| Headquarters | Eveleigh Railway Workshops |
| Products | Heritage railway operator |
| Website | www.3801limited.com.au |
3801 Limited is a not for profit company limited by guarantee formed in June 1985 to operate steam locomotive 3801 and its associated rolling stock.
The setting up of an organisation to manage and operate locomotive 3801 was first formalised in March 1984 when Professor John Glastonbury, representing the interested enthusiast societies, and the State Rail Authority 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 returned to service and operated as the flagship of 3801 Limited for the next 20 years. In 1988 3801 and its train became the Bicentennial Train and operated tours to all the mainland capitals as part of the nation's 200 year 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.
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Wikipedia