Latest news with #PeterCohen
Sydney Morning Herald
12-08-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
How to catch a real-life Thomas the Tank Engine steam train in Brisbane
They were retired when the state's steam era ended in 1969, but Queensland Rail kept two, the 1079 and 1089, which are maintained at the Rail Workshops at Ipswich and rolled out for special events. The 1089 entered service in March 1958, and was the last main line steam train to enter service in Australia. But despite being 67 years old – retirement age for an Australian worker – this beauty has been polished up, and the coal loaded for QR celebrations, including to the general public to the Ekka on Wednesday. Steam trains have been described as like a 'living breathing' creature, with personalities all of their own. There's a nostalgic 'chugga chugga choo choo' noise as steam hisses, the wheels rumble, and the whistle shrieks. Tutor driver Peter Cohen said there was a lot of preparation involved in getting the steam train running, including a day or two of polishing. 'To line it up takes three, four hours, get it all oiled and greased, and ready to go, it's a lot of hard work, a lot of shovelling coal and keeping the water up, it's a big day,' he said. The Exhibition Station at the RNA Showgrounds was reopened this year after a renovation, and it will only operate for major events until Cross River Rail opens in 2029. People can board the steam train at Roma Street to the Ekka at 9.05am, 9.55am, 10.35am, 11.25am, 12.05pm, 12.55pm, 2.05pm, 2.55pm. Loading People can either exit at Exhibition Station, or stay on for the loop back to Roma Street, and there will be no boarding onto the steam train from the Ekka. The heritage carriages are not accessible for people in wheelchairs or using a mobility device, and boarding is via ladder style steps and a grab rail.
The Age
12-08-2025
- The Age
How to catch a real-life Thomas the Tank Engine steam train in Brisbane
They were retired when the state's steam era ended in 1969, but Queensland Rail kept two, the 1079 and 1089, which are maintained at the Rail Workshops at Ipswich and rolled out for special events. The 1089 entered service in March 1958, and was the last main line steam train to enter service in Australia. But despite being 67 years old – retirement age for an Australian worker – this beauty has been polished up, and the coal loaded for QR celebrations, including to the general public to the Ekka on Wednesday. Steam trains have been described as like a 'living breathing' creature, with personalities all of their own. There's a nostalgic 'chugga chugga choo choo' noise as steam hisses, the wheels rumble, and the whistle shrieks. Tutor driver Peter Cohen said there was a lot of preparation involved in getting the steam train running, including a day or two of polishing. 'To line it up takes three, four hours, get it all oiled and greased, and ready to go, it's a lot of hard work, a lot of shovelling coal and keeping the water up, it's a big day,' he said. The Exhibition Station at the RNA Showgrounds was reopened this year after a renovation, and it will only operate for major events until Cross River Rail opens in 2029. People can board the steam train at Roma Street to the Ekka at 9.05am, 9.55am, 10.35am, 11.25am, 12.05pm, 12.55pm, 2.05pm, 2.55pm. Loading People can either exit at Exhibition Station, or stay on for the loop back to Roma Street, and there will be no boarding onto the steam train from the Ekka. The heritage carriages are not accessible for people in wheelchairs or using a mobility device, and boarding is via ladder style steps and a grab rail.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bakersfield VA clinic faces new setbacks, legal challenges
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A new Veterans Affairs clinic for Bakersfield is facing new setbacks even as a court hearing is scheduled for June over an appeal to an environmental impact report. The hearing, scheduled for June 20 in Kern County Superior Court, is over an appeal of the City of Bakersfield's approval of the project's EIR — environmental impact report. The city approved the project in 2023. Groundbreaking for new Bakersfield VA clinic delayed after 2 new appeals filed The environmental impact report is being challenged by the groups Progress for Bakersfield Veterans and Friends of the Bakersfield Kit Fox. The groups say SASD Development, which was awarded the project contact by the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2018, failed to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act. Progress for Bakersfield Veterans — in effect — is a front for Cardinal Equities and Beverly Hills developer Peter Cohen, who owns the land where the VA clinic currently sits. 17 News previously reported, Cardinal Equities receives as much as $400,000 a month from the Veterans Affairs department to lease the property. There are also now two federal lawsuits challenging the project. The plaintiff is Shawn Smallwood, a professional ecologist and wildlife photographer from Davis. VA secretary: Cutting 80,000 jobs 'is our target' Smallwood is suing both the VA and SASD Development alleging they ignored evidence that the property where the clinic would be build is habitat for the San Joaquin Valley kit fox. The kit fox is currently protected by the Endangered Species Act. Alan Fenstermacher, who represents the project's developer says it could take several more years in court before all three lawsuits are settled, one way or another. Fenstermacher and veterans who support the project, say the litany of legal challenges against the new VA clinic are a glaring example of environmental 'green mail' — broadly described as using environmental regulations as a means of extortion. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
