Talk:Operation Phoenix (railway)

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A few clarifications on possible conflicts in source material

Hi there,

I was just looking at some details to add to the article and thought I'd check some of the details as there seems to be a bit of conflict on some facts.

My sources suggest:

Victorian Railways patronage was not in decline in the postwar period - VR carried more country passengers in 1949-50 than in any year before or since, with petrol rationing (in force until the Libs were elected in December 1949) forcing people to take trains (even though the trains were dirty, crowded, and slow).
Z cars were not introduced until 1957. They had nothing to do with pre-Operation Phoenix rebuilding

Any problems if I correct these two points?

I'd love to see the VR publicity department brochures - they seem to take a little liberty with the truth here and there. Eg, the claims about the mileages of the "best steam engines" are not entirely correct - in the early 50s the Rs were averaging up to 1250 miles per week and H 220 was running 1875 miles per week - though it's probably a fair call if you take into account slower goods locos etc. Zzrbiker (talk) 10:17, 8 July 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Z cars - that was my incorrect interpretation, what they are isn't mentioned, but the extended order of 'S' cars might fit. The patronage figures you mention are correct as well, just how it is written has been simplified a great deal. That's part of the issue of using primary sources - The Railways of Victoria 1854-2004 touches on Operation Phoenix and would clarify a lot of things, but I have just been looking at the pretty pictures in it so far. The VR publicity brochures are in the State Library of Victoria, and in the box they come in, there are a whole lot of other VR brochures from 1948 until 1955 or so. Wongm (talk) 00:03, 9 July 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I have dug up my notes, and added the corrections. Wongm (talk) 00:13, 9 July 2008 (UTC)[reply]