6024 King Edward 1

I think it is worth reflecting on some of the early aquisitions such as 6024 . 5029 was also acquired quite early . At the time there was no Crewe , No LSL , no saphos trains so in theory have a supporting group who knew the loco's fairly well and could assist with operation and maintenance probably more than fitted the bill

5029 had a very active support crew , with it operating from Tyseley , however when it went to Crewe following premature withdrawal that seemed to be the end of their involvement .

in relation to 6024
What follows is from the society accounts so on public record
"In the face of an uncertain financial future and the difficulty in raising funds for the next overhaul, the Society successfully concluded negotiations during the year to sell its principal assets in the form of the locomotive and support coach to a like-minded charity the Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust (RSLGT). At the same time an Agreement was reached with the Trust to place locomotive and coach back in the custody of the Society for the purpose of management, operation maintenance and overhaul.The overhaul of 6024 was commenced by the supporting group at Minehead "

"Brought forward and arising fund surpluses will be used to match fund the forthcoming excess overhaul cost over £500,000 under the terms of the Management Agreement."

Clearly an agreement that worked for both parties . The society could overhaul the engine and continue to be the custodians and day to day operators of the engine whilst it was secure in a new Trust with solid financial backing.

by 2017 and with the overhaul the following is in the trusts accounts
"Income is derived from membership and management fees for the upkeep of the locomotive and is used to maintain and train the support crew, publications and circulars to Members and governance costs running the Society. Brought forward and arising fund surpluses will be used to fund the forthcoming excess overhaul cost over £750,000 under the revised terms of the Management Agreement."
I think this means that the society provided funding for costs over £750k arising from the overhaul. Not unsurprisingly with an overhaul costs have risen considerably as the scale and scope of work expanded

up until the last filed accounts in 2022 the tone is similar . then no accounts filed for 2023 but liquidator appointed . Society had a positive cash position at the time

Whilst nothing has ever been said from either side and nor would you expect it to be there clearly has been a fundamental breakdown between the parties

over the time as well we have seen the engines under RSLGT / LSL control move to an in house operation which is entirely to be expected with control reverting to LSL and RSLGT to the point where 71000 and 60007 whilst not in ownership are operated fully by LSL .

 

The legal case and the settlement is seen as the causal factor to the loco being sold by the society . Having read the annual reports reference is made to insufficient funding to undertake the overhaul so something would have needed to happen anyway and who knows but it may have been the case that a transfer to the RSLGT would have been to solution to secure the engines future.

The salutory lesson of the legal case of course is what is written can have profound implications and those advocating to have the freedom to say what they want in word or writing , here is an example that those on the receiving end can have legal address and there is a massive cost to that. The other learning for any owning group, that in agreeing to indemnify the society officer whose words were the cause , the society put their prime asset and reason for being at risk.

 

The test steaming video's shows some work remained . It was running as a gentlemans sporting engine (no cab roof) and I can't tell if all the tpws, otmr etc was fitted