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71000

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by leander, Sep 13, 2012.

  1. leander

    leander Member

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    The report in Steam Railway (that David Briggs was quoted) about the money problems does not look very good regarding the loco comeing back on the main line this year, lets hope they can get some money to repair the captotti vave gear.
     
  2. buseng

    buseng Part of the furniture

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    Just read this, looks pretty grim.
     
  3. Standard 4MT

    Standard 4MT Member

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    Not very good news at all. Sounds poor even for next year!
     
  4. buseng

    buseng Part of the furniture

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    One option was a static exhibit until 2028!
     
  5. xg125

    xg125 New Member

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    There are solutions to this. Somehow the trust needs serious funding, or the trust could join with new owners. Maybe someone like Waterman or Hoskin could take her in as a part-ownership agreement.
     
  6. sowerbylad

    sowerbylad Guest

    Has there been anything official from the society or is it another of steam railways reports?
     
  7. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

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    SR quotes various members of the operating company and the loco trust, though the ultimate owners, the 71000 Locomotive company, were not available when the mag went to press. The impression I got from the article is that the support crew were feeling very depressed when the loco retired from the Oxford train in August, but the loco trust people were not quite so gloomy.
     
  8. xg125

    xg125 New Member

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    71000 has been swapped for 4464 on the NVR steam gala coming this weekend.

    This is a real shame as the Duke was the loco I was most looking forward to seeing.
     
  9. Big Dave

    Big Dave Member

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    Note for the trust, get the cambox off and assessed before the doomsayers get into overdrive.

    Seriously hope the problem is not too severe, in my view this engine is way beyond anything I have seen on the mainline.

    Cheers Dave
     
  10. Ruston906

    Ruston906 Member

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    The question is why one year from the end of the mainline certification running out is there no money left or been put asside for future works there is not always somebody with loads of money to bail you out may be better to take it of the main line and reduce the cost of the next overhaul.
     
  11. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Some people seem to think that running a loco on the main line is a licence to print money when in fact it's often the opposite. It can be a very expensive business.
     
  12. Lplus

    Lplus Well-Known Member

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    I got the impression from the article that the money had been spent on various repairs during the mainline period
     
  13. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Even running frequently on the main line does not bring in vast amounts of money, and lets face it 71000 has not actually been a regular performer due to one reason or another. You cannot put money aside when it has to be spent just keeping a loco in running order.
     
  14. BillyReopening

    BillyReopening Member

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    1st post - be gentle! just my opinions and all that!!

    Read the article in SR with interest as was looking to go out and photograph 71000 on the main line this autumn. It must be very difficult to keep a locomotive of that size running on the main line with limited funds. That said, the proposed figure of £7500 doesn't seem THAT bad for the valve gear repairs - if you can't afford that, why would you consider overhauling early and take the locomotive out of action for even longer while funding is sourced to complete the overhaul?

    I guess it must be a fine balance between using the locomotive to self fund its own repair's/overhauls and keeping the locomotive in a condition where it can earn money. Certainly 71000's unique valve gear makes it more of a challenge.

    This is not meant as a criticism, more of a suggestion - that a lot of people (myself included) would love to hear more information about these problems and challenges direct from the source as they happen. The 71000 trust's website is probably one of the better websites supporting a preserved locomotive and with such a good platform, regular updates, good or bad, with photographs and plenty of "How you can help the Duke" links would keep interest in the locomotives future in the forefront of the railway press and help to get in the much needed funds.

    The website doesn't even mention that its out of action - just the tour dates has been taken down...

    I think this could be true of many of the highly popular locomotives - facebook, twitter and a constantly updated website can only hope to promote the locomotives and gain funds. This would help to stop bad rumours spreading about the state and condition of locomotives, and what is going on where and when - and possibly make it less of a closed shop to find out information - even the NRM who use youtube and their own (excellent in my opinion) website to post some information, could go a lot further in describing whats going on.

    I do hope they find a way of repairing 71000 though, I would be such a shame to have another superb engine as a static exhibit....
     
  15. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Irregular updates of websites seems to be a problem with some, and can only harm the efforts of the team trying to run and maintain a loco. Yet many fall down on this aspect of their publicity.
     
  16. BillyReopening

    BillyReopening Member

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    I guess its hard to take a picture of your poorly locomotive and post to the internet from your smart phone, when your hand is covered in grease from taking it to bits!! :)
     
  17. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    I'm afraid that's a very lame excuse and you know it, others manage to post photos of what's going on at very regular intevals.
     
  18. conireland

    conireland Member

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    Indeed it might but it takes someone to have the time and the inclination to deal with a website on a regular basis, it doesn't detract from the locomotive, 71000 is still a brilliant engine and we should still back it 100%. They didn't have an internet page to update back in the days of steam did they?
     
  19. Lplus

    Lplus Well-Known Member

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    I thought the £7,500 was the cost of a loaded test on NR rails.
     
  20. BillyReopening

    BillyReopening Member

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    They didn't have a web page back in the age of steam - but they did have a massive public infrastructure specifically designed to support the operational maintenance of mainline steam engines :)

    I know that it takes inclination to take on the media side of running a locomotive, but I think it's essential to help the image of preservation and aid the support.
     

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