I don't mean to drag this thread off topic, but really, one can't let rubbish stand unchallenged...
Steam in NSW in generally in a bad state.
By all means, make a sweeping blanket statement. Going from your lack of information, I assume you do little to help any of these organisations, either financially or on a voluntary capacity? Get a bit bored chasing the same locomotives around with your camera?
3801 - out of action - New Boiler problems
Yes, this is a shame, but as this is being funded by the Office of Rail Heritage, I fail to see how the locomotive would be any better off without all the external funding. Will the boiler get fixed, or won't it? Who knows, but the locomotive has the best chance the way it is right now, with the ORH and RTM trying to fix the problems.
3830 - at Thirlmere, cant be repaired quicker due to PHM staff unable to get to Thirlmere.
Nevermind that the PHM staff have worked tirelessly returning 3265 to service, that'd be a
positive thing to say - better to bash on the delay returning 3830 to service!
5917 - Out of action - i'm unaware of the problem
When undergoing a mechanical overhaul, a large amount of asbestos was found that needs to be removed properly. This takes a lot of time and a LOT of money. You happen to be opening your wallet, at all?
3642 - failed yesterday on the Blue Mountains Flyer at Lawson
I'm sure you've never heard of a car breaking down at all. Things happen, we're talking about steam locomotives that are many decades old, and continue to work long after all of their classmates were scrapped. They are maintained by a small workforce using volunteers, donations and limited reasources. The skills to maintain these locomotives are dying because they are not readily avaliable in the commercial world anymore - and nobody has time to learn what is really a second job. So yeah, these things will happen, and will continue to happen.
You've conveniently ignored 3526, which has had a number of improvements made to it over the summer to enable it to run more tours. Never mind that ARHS ACT is making great strides restoring 6029, and they continue to run tours with 3016, a fantastic little locomotive. I've already mentioned 3265, but LVR continues to run tours with 3237, including shuttles in places that have not seen steam since it went out of service (or the once-a-decade-visit-from-3801). Ignore 2705 which continues to provide shuttle services on the Thirlmere loop line, pleasing families on regular occasions. Don't forget Marjorie and SMR30 up at Richmond Vale, or the two SMR 10 Class at East Greta. I'd say steam in NSW is in a pretty good condition considering the challenges that the groups out there face.
By all means though, continue to whinge, but until you put your hand in your pocket and see some of the expenses and troubles that these operators continue to face (and overcome), you will never see how good we have it. I regularily take my hat off to those hardworking men and women that keep heritage trains running so selfish gits like us can go for a ride on occasion.
