2999: Lady of Legend

Quarry Hunslet- or maybe Fire Queen.......

 

Drat!! Wrong weekend for me. I've already got something on that weekend and even if I didn't SWR have, yet another, strike on the Saturday and engineering works on Sunday.

 

I wonder about the economics of a "Photographers' repaint".

For a loco that size, having it painted professionally is probably a lowish five figure sum. If you do it using volunteer labour, it would be less, but the elapsed time is likely to be longer, all the while - if the loco is operational - you are losing revenue earning potential.

So my gut feeling is that for an unnecessary(*) repaint to be financially viable probably has to generate around £20k or more, over and above what people would have paid to see / photograph it regardless of livery. Alternatively, the pressure to see it in service may result in it running for an extended period in BR black. Income from photographers on the condition of doing a repaint is not 100% profit, since the repaint has a significant cost, both financial and opportunity.

(*) Unnecessary in the sense not required for protection purposes. The loco has to be painted once in any case, but painting it once and then immediately again requires one unnecessary repaint.

Tom

 

Some say it’s because BR livery is what they remember from their youth but surely nowadays the majority of photographers are younger than that?

 

It seems like a bit of a strange thing to me too, at the end of the day if it makes Didcot a few quid that speeds on the overhaul of the next in line and gets the Saint into traffic that bit sooner then its got to be worthwhile.

I always looked at repaints into different liveries as a way of 'refreshing' the appeal of the locomotive as and when its existing paintwork becomes a bit tired.

I guess that the paint will not have to be up to a particularly high standard if its only for a limited time- black primer with lining perhaps- and I thing I read somewhere that she will be paired with 5322's tender so that saves the cost of having to completely repaint a tender too as 5322's is already black.

Chris

 

I think Didcot would have done the sums. When the Duchess went green during it's first boiler certificate the painting was done by volunteers at no cost apart from the paint. What we need a a black C Class on the Bluebell!

 

Yes indeed - if you can just write the cheque for the paint and labour you will see 30592 appear before your lens. Oh and don't forget the matter of the small matter of a new set of tyres, a new cylinder block and a full 10 year boiler job.

Think Bluebell take Paypal and credit cards as well as cheques...

 

I only said it to wind up Tom, I know it needs a lot of work. How far down the overhaul queue is it?

 

It depends entirely on who's providing the quote, but also to what extent the repaint is carried out.

Considering it's for one weekend only, I'd be willing to bet that it's a one coat black with lining, no varnishing. Including the lining and signwriting, plus cost of materials and labour, I'd be expecting around the £6k mark personally.

 

Dunno to be honest as I haven't picked a spanner up at HK for years but I still keep in touch with a bit of gossip. Its one of those locos that keeps coming back quite quickly so somebody obviously loves her!

 

I recall the black is basically being used as an undercoat and thus is a coat of paint that would be required anyway, and is also securing some financial benefits so a win for all concerned it appears.

 

I do as my first railway memory was watching the Bromley North branch goods which was always worked by a Hither Green Class C

 

City of Truro?

But that doesn't apply to all 4-4-0s as I'm sure Prince George will look spiffing in it.

 

I remember that magazine wind up for April fools!

 

I thought I saw a post some while ago that, if and when an after dark photo shot was arranged, she will be renamed as "Lady of The Night"

 

Lady Gaga, maybe?

 

No - she’s got to be a Star

 

I'm not so sure, trying to think of a suitable locomotive class for Gaga...makes an irritating noise, surrounded by lots of bluster and publicity but ultimately lacking in ability.......?

Chris

 

I actually like Gaga, sorry! It would have to be a slightly unusual type which made a great start (her first album was very good) then tapered off.

 

I think it would be nicer if they'd put her on show in photographic grey (Lady of Legend, not Lady Gaga).
An idea for Pendennis Castle maybe?