Nene Valley Railway

As a fan of small steam engines, I think the F class looks really cute. Two will be even better!

 

I do wish them well with Derek and the 'new' F class. Though I would one day love to see No 101A steam again. Its now over 20 years since that engine moved under its own steam. I don't know what the appetite there is for another big engine after City of Peterborough eventually returns but it was a fantastic sight to see when it was operational.

 

I'm sure @Nathanjw032 will confirm, but the plan was for 101 to enter the works once 73050 is complete. It'll be a few years though, unless some mystery benefactor gives the railway loads of money.

 

Again, not wishing to be negative here but the NVR is still asking for money for its "resilience fund". Is the ESPS going to be a self-financing operation? Because you do need a railway to run engines on.

I can certainly see the attraction of 654 and 656 at the head of the continental coaches which could be an attraction to the NVR in the future.

 

That's certainly my understanding. Although I'm a member of the NVR, I have to say I've not been there since 92 Squadron left...

 

So the overhaul plan of locos is flexible, but as it stands 101 is still being looked at as the next big engine to go in - however if benefactor was to come along and propose all the money to fund something else then that could change potentially. Fundraising is open for both 101 and Jacks Green at the moment, but the main concentration is on finishing DC and further for fundraising for 73050.

Regarding ESPS, it is a separate society to the NVR and is currently going through the charity registration process. The fundraising from ESPS will be separate to the NVR, and the agreement between ESPS and NVR will be similar to that of a private owner locomotive and host railway.

 

I don't do it as I can't spare the cash these days but I always said if I ever won the "Euromillions" lottery, a lot of heritage railways, loco groups and new builders would be getting most of it

Oh - and I'd commission a J70

 

My lottery win is to get 996 at Railworld back in traffic!

Edit - wrong loco number!

 

For me, the international engines have always been the NVR's USP. I remember being so excited to go there as a kid for the first time in a half term in maybe 1989, seeing something strange and black approaching wherever we were getting on and then being gutted when it got closer and I realised it was just a tender-first Black 5!

I've only been once since then, and that was for a mid-week Cl.14 running day in 2014 when I happened to be in the area. Its diesel galas these days look a bit Pacer and HST heavy for my tastes, but a few international steam engines running together would definitely entice me back to the NVR.

 

N

Nathan,
Was not intending to be disrespectful with my initial reply and I wish the group well. Is there a timescale yet for the loco’s move to the UK?

 

Is that the Pacific?

 

Oops - 996, not 1200. Yes, the E class pacific. 1200 is the one at Gävle in Sweden.

 

I thought 1200 was the diesel "switcher"?

 

Hi Ian, thanks for the well wishes, the current aim is to have the loco at Wansford during March next year if all goes to plan.

regarding the Danish pacific at Railworld, that’s 996, and the Alco Switcher was 801 but that has been scrapped. There is another, 804, currently in store at Wansford.

 

Tornado operating on the NVR at the weekend - last train of Sunday's service and then the Fish and Chip special from Saturday evening

 

Interesting announcement - but does it not make sense to put the funds towards overhauling one of the European locos already at the NVR rather than the considerable cost of buying, transporting and overhauling a loco of a type that is already operational in the UK?

 

The costs of the overhauls of the other two locos, which are considerably bigger, will take more time and more money than the 654 project put together. 654 is also in better condition.

This is also a totally separate organisation to the NVR - we are based at the NVR to restore and operate 654, so the overhaul of those are down to the NVR.

The point about the same class as an operational one - surely that applies to the multiple austerities, Bulleids, Black 5s etc that are running here as well. The F class has proved itself as an ideal loco for the NVR so the opportunity to get another one to operate on the line was too good of an opportunity to turn down, and the decision has also proved very popular with the reception we have received both in person and online

 

There are several railways that have more than one loco of the same type and I’m sure there would be an outcry if it was suggested it was not a good idea. In any case, the Danish F class tanks are ideal locos for the NVR and, not being superheated ( I believe!) are going to be a much cheaper option to overhaul and maintain. It makes a lot of sense to have multiple locos of the same type when it comes to operations, especially when it comes to spares holding.