Colne Valley Railway

I see on the front of the latest steam railway this is due to shut?

 

Does appear to say that: https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/h...=2c26164e07a41b6aea375f1bafdb2fcf&oe=55B4B018

Sad if true, surprised the railway hasn't made a statement about it on it's website or Facebook page etc.

 

A few years the railway was sold to a carpet bagger who thought he was going to shut down the railway and sell the station site for housing and make a quick killing until he came and saw it for the first time that he had purchased a line in the middle of nowhere with no chance of planning and I think he has been trying to unload it ever sense. If still under the same owner he most is likely trying to see what he can get for scrap to get some of his money back.

 

What will happen to the Black 5, Merchant Navy & Pullman Cars ?

 

if they are owned by private groups they will have to relocate, assuming they have the funds to, if not then they will be the first preserved locos to be cut up in many years, the pulmans may be of use else where, i dare say that the black 5 will provide a boiler for 44901 , 35010, well 35011 needs a crank axle, a spare MN boiler may be of use to to carnforth

 

Sign on the website says

The Railway is now closed for maintenance until

Tuesday 31st March 2015.

 

Well lets get rid of the myth that "no preserved loco to be cut up in many years" as you are most likely to mean the inferior mainline locos and not the preserved industrials which have been scrapped in that time.

 

I haven't seen the SR story, weren't the supporters of this line supposed to be preparing a big grant application to buy it and expand? If items do get sold off I'm sure they'll find new homes readily enough, whether moved or sold, and I really can't see either of the Black 5s being donors to 44901. The Merchant Navy, perhaps, but not the others.

 

Considering both Black 5's are being actively restored I can't see why being used as spares/sold as scrap should even be thought of!?

There was an article in the local gazette about this, the society were originally given this year to come up with the cash to buy the lease but the landowner has now changed his mind and the railway doesn't fit into his plans.

The railway is usually closed till about Easter anyway so the message on the website is nothing new.

A big shame though for the 40 years hard work put into the place. Been visiting since I was a kid but in recent times have always felt the place should have branded themselves more of a Museum than a Railway owing to the size. I have visited both in a day on a couple of occasions and it has always resulted in more time being spent at Chappel than the CVR....

 

Quite correct, except for one point in the second paragraph; I don't think that the landowner has changed his mind, but is simply acting upon the ultimatum which he gave the railway society in January 2014.

To avoid misinformation and conjecture in advance of the publication of the "Steam Railway" report, which may or may not be correct, here are a few facts:
In 2005 the owner and founder of the Colne Valley Railway decided to retire. He informed the supporting society of his intention and invited them to purchase the railway lock, stock & barrel. A price was agreed and the CVR Society then set about fund raising, primarily by applying for a HLF grant. This application was successful, but the sum granted fell short of the amount required, the Society were unable to obtain sufficient match funding and could not complete the purchase. The owner had already been approached by an Australian property investor, with whom he then concluded a sale in 2006.

The new owners planned to develop the site as a leisure attraction, incorporating the railway, for which outline planning permission already existed. However, to make the development financially viable they needed additional permissions for a hotel, etc., which were not forthcoming. They continued to lease the railway to the Society on an annual basis, but in January 2014 the owners informed the Society of their intention to sell, giving them first refusal and one year in which to raise the necessary funds. The Society again made an application for Lottery funding and recently announced that they had been successful in the "first round", but progressing an application for the full amount needed, let alone sourcing match funding, will require time. It should be noted that the one year period specified by the owner, within which the Society was to purchase, expired two months ago.

The present owners purchased the assets of the railway, fixed and movable, lock. stock & barrel, which presumably means that they own the Austerity WD 190, Pullman cars, some other rolling stock, 03 diesels and railbus etc. Some other items of rolling stock, including the ex BR steam locos and DMU vehicles, belong to third parties.

 

So if the owner wanted to all his stock it could be put for sale by auction, and if the scrap man bids the highest it will go for scrap.

 

Thanks for that information., and although there is a list of Loco,s and pulling power, I cannot find any list of rolling stock and wagons even on their website.
Could some kind person please point me in the right direction?

many thanks Chris

 

Chris try the Vintage carriages trust website, carriage register, I find it invaluable.

 

True, but then, one only has to bid a bit higher and one might get a bargain...

 

As ever, thank you gary

 

How much was the railway up for sale for?

 

Room for two more 03s on the farm?

 

Shame though, all that hard work over the years gone.