SVR General Discussion

I suspect the logistics of "your nearest loco is 400 yards away by rail" is probably rather easier than "it's fifty miles away by twisty road"!

Tom

 

In a routine sense yes, this is correct, a loco would have to be mainline registered and fitted with the appropriate safety kit. The driver would also have to have a UKTDL. There have been exceptions though with a lot of pre-planning and additional safety measures (such as working within a possession), Tom has pictured one and Locomotion last year would be another. Not quite as simple as just getting a possession, so not something to be arranged in a hurry to keep a line open.

I'd be intrigued if NR rang the SVR off their own bat, I'd suspect they tried Hanson & Hall (a private freight company) first who may have suggested asking them, does anyone know?

 

They may have, but with the Class Fifty Alliance having close industry links, and senior people at SVR being railway employees, I can also believe that the approach may well have been as direct as reported.

 

The SVR have a collaboration agreement in place with NR. This has borne fruit a number of times already, particularly with last year's landslip.
A number of railway professionals volunteer on the line, right up to the GM himself who held a number of senior railway management positions, but who was also in charge of the Fifty Fund (50049's owners), before becoming GM.
Either way, this industry collaboration is fantastic for both organisations, long may it continue. I understand the next one is the visit of a brand new Colas tamper which will attend to the new track work for the Kidderminster platform 2 extension and several other locations up the line - whilst providing a training opportunity for staff on the new equipment.