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East Midlands Railway Trust/GCR (Nottingham)

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Flying Phil, Jan 25, 2021.

  1. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Thanks RSH for your input to keep us informed. I am surprised that there has been no more information to the volunteers. It is all the more to their credit that various teams are still working hard to keep the operation going and re -opening soon - we all hope.
    PS Congratulations!
     
  2. Johann Marsbar

    Johann Marsbar Well-Known Member

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    The latest Main Line has a 2 page report on the bridge situation from EMRT. Haven't read it properly yet, as it has only just arrived, but 2 other "problem" bridges are mentioned in there with a quick scan, one of which (Bridge 307 - Bunny Lane) is also preventing any rail traffic running, as it needs a detailed structural investigation, with Bridge 312 at East Leake supposedly needing work before long.
    It all looks rather expensive and requiring fairly prompt action, so whether anything will run any significant distances on the GCR(N) this year is seemingly a moot point.
     
    Last edited: Jun 4, 2021
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  3. ruddingtonrsh56

    ruddingtonrsh56 Well-Known Member

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    Interesting. That must be a recent development as the last update I had was that there was due to be a bridge assessment at Rushcliffe (which one was not specified). Certainly a big blow. Although I must admit I am rather miffed that this was communicated to GCR members before it was to GCRN staff...
     
  4. Johann Marsbar

    Johann Marsbar Well-Known Member

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    The 2 page article is written by the (New) Chairman of the EMRT and makes some interesting points. It appears that the EMRT Charity has had a recent infusion of "new blood" as Trustees to attempt to get things sorted out at the "Northern End" and move the whole thing to a higher level. Apart from pointing out that GCR(N) are responsible for the upkeep and operation of the line and the NTHC, they don't exactly get mentioned very much in it.....
    Apparently the GCR(N) appointed Consultants "solution" to the A60 Bridge problem was to jack it up and support it - which would have had a life span of 18 months maximum. Appears that either a "Canal Bridge" remove/restore option or a complete new bridge is the way forward for that, with nothing now able to pass that point until the thing is fixed, hence the ££££ aspect.
     
  5. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    What is also interesting is the fact that the 125 group is being involved in some of these discussions. Obviously there are some big changes - which I am sure will prove positive, going on with the Northern GCR.
     
  6. jnc

    jnc Well-Known Member

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    That 'like' was for passing along the news, not the news itself (which is rather unfortunate).

    I'm not familiar with the geography there; are those two bridges used for the gypsum traffic?

    Noel
     
  7. J Rob't Harrison

    J Rob't Harrison Member

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    A point I've raised before though, and I'm sorry to be having to make it again, but it's another article from the north in another issue of Mainline that whines about the cost of repairs but without telling us how we can help them out... I see there's a general gift aid/ standing order form on the EMRT website (would have been useful if that were mentioned in the article... it's here if anybody is interested), but that assumes people have got access to hardware to get a physical copy out of the computer (not necessarily the case). Not very helpful for those of us who either aren't familiar with computers/ the internet or alternatively do the majority of their banking on-line. It's infuriating, to be honest, to see how they need money but won't implement an easier means of donating.
     
  8. Johann Marsbar

    Johann Marsbar Well-Known Member

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    Bunny Lane seems to be the road bridge just to the north of the Gypsum plant, so that wouldn't affect trains running there. The A60 bridge is the "job stopped" one, adjacent to the Brush Works in Loughborough, which means nothing can access the northern line from the National network.
    Presumably, if the Bunny Lane bridge is deemed to be OK after the required inspection (or if it only requires minimal work), you could run trains between the Heritage Centre and Rushcliffe Halt, assuming all the other ORR requirements have been met.

    If, as it appears, there have been recent changes within the structure of EMRT with a view to actually getting things sorted with the infrastructure they own, it's still going to take some time before things start to happen from what I can make out. They seem to be hoping that attempting to go for the money supposedly available from the Government for the "Reopening your Railway" will prove to be the answer to where it comes from to fund the required bridge work(s). That's where the 125 Group have been apparently involved in supporting them in their application, as have GCR(N).
    Presumably there must be a plan B (or C...) available if this doesn't happen, and as J R H put in his post above, they don't appear to want money donated to fund it all as yet.....
    I can see the A60 Bridge phase of the main GCR Reunification scheme being brought forward to be the next appeal after the "Factory Flyover" is complete, assuming money is not available from other sources to do the repairs in the meantime.
     
  9. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    I agree with J Rob't that the lack of a funding call is surprising but I suspect (hope?) there is much going on in the background, trying to get access to alternative major funding....
    The other bridge (s) that were mentioned are further North than East Leake and so the gypsum trains are not affected - but the ability of the GCR(N) to run trains any distance must be curtailed.
    ........As Johann has pointed out whilst I was slowly typing!
     
  10. Hirn

    Hirn Member

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    Generally very much my sentiments: first anybody in these circumstances should make it obvious, straightforward & easy to donate whether by writing/typing posted in an envelope, a computer transfer between banks, credit/debit cards or indeed cash at the booking office, second - certainly when when what is promptly required is as much as this plainly is - very much aware that the effect of reclaiming income tax via a charity effectively increases any gifts by a quarter so this should be readily and self evidently doable too.

    NB there has been extensive discussion here to the effect that a good and sucesslul relationship between charity and railway is not to be taken for granted.
    Also - this probably deserves another thread - I reckon quite a number of people would give more to charities that can reclaim tax because they are spooked lest they give more than the amount of tax that qualifies and then complications if the inland revenue chase it up. If they could readily, reliably check exactly how much they are entitled to give this way, at the moment they are inspired to generosity it should usefully round things up - in particular the people who
    do not complete a tax return.
    Is there an obvious way to do this?
     
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2021
  11. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Yes and no. If you pay income tax, you will get an annual tax statement so will have a reasonable idea what you paid in the last tax year. Multiply the tax paid by 4, and you get an idea of the amount you can donate with Gift Aid attached. Obviously, that’s backwards looking so if your circumstances have changed, the numbers need adjusting to suit. Obviously, that isn’t very easily checked online at the point of donation, especially as how much an individual has donated will depend on their circumstances, and may not be claimed immediately by the charity (there’s 4 years in which to claim...).

    In practice - and I see this from the other end as a gift aid administrator - that information isn’t high in people’s minds when setting their donations. I also find in the church context - and I’m sure similar applies for railways - that many donors are on relatively limited pensions where they pay little tax because of how the income tax thresholds have been increased over the years.

    What all donors should remember is that, when giving to a charity, it can only reclaim tax if authorised to by the donor.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     
  12. ruddingtonrsh56

    ruddingtonrsh56 Well-Known Member

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    Gypsum traffic may be affected by Bunny Road Bridge, depending on how far beyond the northern point of the Rushcliffe Halt loop Bunny Road Bridge is, and whether there's enough room to fit a 66 inbetween. It has been 18 months since I've been down there, so my memory isn't perfect, but I have a horrible feeling there may not be enough room...
    To be fair, propping of bridge decks as an expedient to enable continued use, is standard civil engineering practice. Especially if it was hoped at the time that more of a running season could be achieved between the propping of the decks and the need to replace the bridge to enable more funds to be raised for its replacement.
     
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  13. ruddingtonrsh56

    ruddingtonrsh56 Well-Known Member

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    Also, for those who have (rightly and more than once) pointed out the wish to financially support the work that needs doing is being hindered by lack of appeals or obvious means, there is a donation button on the Membership page of the GCRN website (http://www.gcrn.co.uk/membership/) and details on where to send a cheque (apparently they still exist) or how to set up a standing order on the Donate page of the EMRT website (https://emrtrust.co.uk/donate/). Granted, it's not the same as launching a funding appeal, and I'm not sure if there is an option to say "I would like this money to specifically go to such and such a project / fund", but it is better than nothing!
     
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  14. J Rob't Harrison

    J Rob't Harrison Member

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    Thanks for highlighting this- Paypal donation duly made. And I hope I'll be able to make a monthly donation too.
     
  15. Johann Marsbar

    Johann Marsbar Well-Known Member

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    I called in at Ruddington this afternoon having spent the earlier part of the day on the NET system in Nottingham. Not a lot of activity in evidence, though there appeared to be some work being undertaken in removing the radiator from an 08 shunter, plus another small group appeared to be doing some work on the track area in front of the infamous carriage shed 4 .
    The model engineers seemed to be running a few trains (including a B1 and a Class 20), though without passengers, so something was running on site...
    Only significant work done since I was last there in September 2020 appeared to be the extension of the cafe into the former shop area - creating a better seated dining area - which has had a rather good job done on it. I used that area when I had one of their all-day breakfasts today!
    The cafe did seem to be getting a fairly steady trade whilst I was there and there were several families walking around the site.

    The view from the bridge looked like this today.....

    DSCF5463a.JPG

    Some of the rails did look as though things had moved around recently, compared with the rather rusted platform road on the right, but the foliage (and the weeds) have sprouted a bit since the last photo I took from there 2 years ago.
     
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  16. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Thanks for this update Johann. It does look a bit sad, but hopefully, as we move slowly out of lock down, more people will be back and get on top of some of the backlog of work.
     
  17. Johann Marsbar

    Johann Marsbar Well-Known Member

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    From comments overheard whilst I was at Ruddington, it would seem that some of the volunteers on the site don't actually know what is going on there at the moment.......
     
  18. Johann Marsbar

    Johann Marsbar Well-Known Member

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    I noticed on the "Cutting Edge" FB page today that they cut the foliage away from a stack of 3 track panels down near 50-steps bridge last Saturday. The panels are apparently required for the Carriage Shed approach, so something does finally seem to be happening regarding connecting Building 4 to the existing track layout at Ruddington.
     
  19. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Thanks Johann
    I take it that Building No 4 is to the left of the brick building with the pitched roof and roof lights in your previous picture?
     
  20. Johann Marsbar

    Johann Marsbar Well-Known Member

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