SVR General Discussion

5110 is always going to divide opinion but for me it was the best possible outcome for both railway and locomotive.

Railway - Bennefitted from an influx in cash at just the right time. We are still struggling and the pennies matter. Created some space on the railway and that’s badly needed currently.

Locomotive - Let’s be honest here, where is more appropriate to that engine? Was 1T57 over the SVR or the S&C? With WCR the loco has got every chance to head over its old stomping ground, recreate the famous run and generally get used. On the SVR it wasn’t getting that.

I think people forget preservation cannot stay the same forever. Locos, stock, etc will move around. It’s how it works. The SVR did a job in preserving 5110, without the SVR it might not be here. Now has come the time for 5110 to move on, to a new preservation life. There’s no harm in that. It’s only the same as 60532 Blue Peter moving round owners, or any other loco that’s done it.

 

Very tongue in cheek:
You could always convert it to oil, a la Dame Vera Lynn...

 

In that case then, what’s the point in having 34027? Harry I didn’t say that 600 should be steamed immediately, I said that someone with a bit of thing for 600 approached the previous GM (you know her who’s mate’s previous qualifications for running a real ale pub was running a gin bar) and offered to set up a group similar to that with 4930, they were prepared to put their own time and effort into making a start of some sort of fundraising effort for 600, please tell me what’s wrong with that?

 

Should a Friends group’s fundraising abstract from the Railway’s own appeals (successively Falling Sands, Covid, roof and crane, survival/resilience) then wouldn’t that be a thing?

With the amounts involved, how long would it be be a potential drag on the Railway’s own fundraising? 4930 Friends started in c. 2001, the loco completed in 2022, and even then required the CT to apply a £500k bequest to it.

I’ve no particular opinion on it being a good or a bad thing. But was there a decision not to sanction a group, there’s an arguable reason for it.

 

In that case then Patrick maybe we should have a word with the 813 group and The EMF about having retail spaces at places like Bewdley because raising funds for their various pieces of kit abstracts from the railway?
Maybe we should send 40106 back to Bury because it’s operation at the SVR will encourage people to join the CFPLS rather than the SVR?

Whilst I appreciate no railway means no trains to play with how could setting up a group to do something with 600 in the future be any different to the groups I’ve mentioned above?

 

The difference to my mind is those other groups own the items which they're fundraising for. It is therefore their prerogative what activities they undertake to support their aims for their own rolling stock. In the case of 600, it is owned by the SVR and therefore ultimately the decision on whether to endorse fundraising (or whatever other action) for 600 lies with the SVR as owners.

 

There’s being sensible and being extremely. 813 and the EMF are succesful active groups. They work in harmony with the SVR happily and aren’t asking for millions of pounds. Any appeal/fund for Gordon is almost going to be impossible to raise enough money. It will then dilute the funds available to active groups and as such they will struggle.

You’ll be talking £800,000 to a £1 mil for Gordon. What actual chance have you got of getting that in an appeal, particularly starting from fresh. Even setting up the group will be a challenge

 

If it is going to go mainline there is the small matter of ETCS to consider. That is another pot of money to find and the fitting of the system to a class 5 should happen but we haven't, as yet, managed to complete fitting a class 8. More pressure on finances, something might just have to give.

 

So if the railway were to approach Paddy and the 813 group about their retail space and how it "fits" within the railways image and fund raising. Say the railway were to take the extreme view of charging them rental space for that priviledge, therefore taking a sum of money away from the group. The money raised by 813 goes into the restoration/ overhaul of the vast collection of wagons and 813 that are based on the railway. That being said, the 813 fund were/ are still looking for funding to plug the gap left by the dragbox replacement. The wagons form part of the fabric and image of the railway (we dont use them often enough to portray that image at the moment, in my opinion).

The groups you mention are long standing, private groups that are here for the benefit of their locos/ rolling stock that in turn benefit the SVR. I dont see how Gordon benefits the railway, certainly at the moment and in 10 years time. If we were still able to run Thomas weekends and, when most other railways were running them, then an overhaul could be seen as viable for the loco to then be hired out to be a star attraction, with the potential to earn a substantial chunk of hire fees towards its next overhaul/ pay off the previous. Gordon is/ was always seen as a marmite engine, whilst this shouldnt be an excuse not to do something about it. As Harry has noted, the cost of an overhaul would be high, running costs high. Heritage railway economics as they are, just dont add up for it at the moment. That is not to say that things wont change in the future.

 

What you don't seem to be recognising, though, is the fact that people will spend their money on the projects they prefer to support, not necessarily on those the railway would prefer them to support - and removing one option will not necessarily cause them to support the remaining one.

 

That is true, but such is the drain that Gordon would potentially be on the SVR, they might rather not have some if that money if it means no millstone round thir neck.

 

That someone’s prepared to do.
I’m not saying Gordon should be steamed immediately (if it ever does) what I’m saying is someone’s prepared to go out their way a set up a group to help and support it for the future. Please can you tell me what’s wrong with that?

 

Be interesting to know what the drain is on the rental of that scaffolding on whatever’s being built by the P-way hut at Arley, that must be a bloody big millstone round the neck for how long it’s been there.

 

Give it a rest will you.
That scaffolding is part of a project to move the workshop space at Arley. Its an assisted project through Arley station fund and guarantee company, I believe.

 

I do not agree, although I think the T3 shows that you need many people to want to see it run.. There are a number of things I have or may donate to, the P2 would never be one of them, so my money would have always gone elsewhere.

 

Not sure that's much of an argument - most overhauls seem to be costing that much now.

 

Having read the article about DVL in this month's Steam Railway this isn't as daft as it sounds, there is a very strong argument made by the NYMR and it seems the loco is especially suited for this purpose.
If something similar were suggested for dear old Gordon it would give it a purpose and a reason to be restored, something that is lacking at present sadly.

 

Not everybody prefers the P2. To some our more modest "genuine" locos with a bit of their own history both pre preservation and more recent are of greater interest.

 

Not all. Some are still being turned out for a further 10 years (without skimping) for less than £500k but with a significant volunteer time contribution.

 

I can only see one benefit of resurrecting Gordon, it would bring in the families with young kids, Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends are still as popular as a ever and who knows it may be the spark that makes them a volunteer in the future.
Having said that, a million quid is one hell of a price to pay