The editor,

In recent years there has been a lot of 'political rhetoric' and other such 'hot air' concerning carbon emissions and carbon trading!

Residents, on their power bills, are shown how much carbon emissions their premises generate during a specific period of time.

Indeed we are constantly warned about such matters through the media.

When it comes to all the hype and the political hoopla of this situation, what about the railways?

Oh yes! Railways! I live near the railway line in Tassie Street and indeed apart from putting up with or tolerating the general loud noisiness of trains, bells and lights etc, I (among others) have to tolerate dirty, stinking, filthy, uncleaned locos belching out stacks of carbon emissions not only into the atmosphere, but homes, lungs and so on!

Are the railways sort of exempt from such measures or don't they care as in reality whose got the time to service a loco motor and wash down a loco using a bucket of water here and there … eh?

Maybe ministers Garret, Wong and Maywald could do the job!

Before I hear a certain person from out of town telling me to 'move' I'll say this.

Who is responsible for maintaining these smoke belching bloody things anyway?

On many a day I can't have my front door open because of the crap that's floating across the street and contaminating, not only my home but roof, windows, garden and other areas!

I get back to the point of responsibility because whoever it is, should be jailed for polluting the atmosphere when householders and motorists are being warned and literally taken to task for doing the same thing!

Some of the locos I have observed either entering or leaving Spencer Junction are so filthy, it's a wonder any drive can see the lines let alone smell what is coming out of the exhaust!

If I was to light an open air fire in my yard, I'd be taken to court for it!

Are the railways an endangered species or something?

Isn't it about time the railways realised it is not above the law and cleaned its act up!

Perhaps the Member for Gray, Rowan Ramsey could sniff out a solution or maybe Member for Stuart, Graham Gunn could make a point or two in Parliament over this situation!

Maybe … just maybe this is a 'case' for the Mr X Factor … in Canberra … who knows!

Rob Williams

Port Augusta