Maitland Mercury (Heritage rail event): Festival running out of steam?

[Red_Rattler]

Could another very popular heritage rail event that celebrates the end of steam in Australia be in jeopardy? And that being the end of steam in the mid 1980's (yes that is correct, not counting tourist railways that use steam, steam didn't officially end in Australia until the mid 1980's.)

http://maitland.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/festival-running-out-of-steam/1331644.aspx

Just the important details, click on the link for the full story.

Festival running out of steam
BRIONY SNEDDON
13/10/2008 8:30:00 AM

. . .The viability of the event could be further affected by the availability of the Newcastle engine road to allow return steam train trips between Maitland and Newcastle.

RailCorp has indicated that the line, which allowed trains to “run around” the carriages and change direction, would be unavailable in 2009.

Scrapping the journeys, cutting the trips at Broadmeadow or bringing in another engine to run push/pull services could affect the lucrativeness of the long-established service and one of the most popular during the Steamfest weekend. . . .

. . .Steamfest attracts more than 80,000 visitors to Maitland and the Newcastle trips were among the most popular.