Jeremy Hosking is after another BR Standard.........................

Of course we're all assuming that Mr. Hoskings is the only bidder?

 

From the thread I didn't think the loco was for sale full stop, it is just that this offer has been made which would see the loco back in steam and kept on the SVR. I think reading between the lines this could be an acceptable scenario to the present owning group whereas a sale to any other party could mean the loco moves on which I don't think they want to see.

 

But if they are open to offers from one, they may be open to offers from another, subject to similar provisos. Just conjecturing out loud.

 

TBH I don't think there are many people around with the resources to buy and restore 80079 and I doubt they would be as flexible as Mr Hosking. If there were other people wanting to buy steam locos about then I am sure 7760 or the 38xx would have been snapped up by now as they are in far better condition than 80079 and potentially very useful locos to one of the new heritage lines or an established one. As an SVR supporter I would love to see one of them come to the SVR via a benefactor! From the HR article it would appear Jeremy has wanted a standard tank for a while and 80079 was the best option for both parties, I hope the meeting brought about a positive outcome.

 

A very important point - there are plenty of people who would like to buy one of the steam locos up for sale, but they don't have the money. 4588 and 6619 can be added to this list - the latter is in working order and a useful loco for a preserved line, but AFAIK so far no bidders have come forward. It has visited the Kent & East Sussex a couple of times, and (as I live quite near this line) it would have been good if it ended up there, but rather than buy this working engine, a working group of K&ESR members/supporters have gone for the unrestored 4253, as it presumably is a cheaper if longer-term solution to providing suitable motive power for what will one day be a 14-mile route.

Money is also a problem not just for the owning group of 80079 and 75069, but for a good few other owning groups who made heroic efforts to restore their loco(s) from Barry condition to working order, ran them until the end of the ticket but now are struggling to raise funds for a further overhaul. It will be interesting to see what the owning group decide regarding Mr Hosking's offer, but certainly in these trying economic times, it is good that he is being so active in helping keep going the sounds and sights of working steam that we all enjoy.

 

Railway Herald reports that the vote was unanimously in favour of a sale to Mr Hosking, a figure of £300,000 being mentioned. Hopefully this will now mean a much quicker return for both 80079 and 75069 to SVR service.

 

Yes, I saw that article, too. The figures mentioned were about £350k to buy and perhaps another £500k to overhaul. The proposal was actually reported to have been "approved by an 'overwhelming majority'", which is not quite the same thing as unanimous (sorry to be such a pedant).

One aspect mentioned in the article, that I hadn't thought of, is that the overhaul will mostly be done at Bridgenorth, so bringing even more income to the SVR.

 

Article is on page 16 of http://www.railwayherald.org/magazine/pdf/RHUK/Issue290.pdf

Patrick

 

If that is the figure, I just hope that the owners of all out of ticket locos needing major reapirs don't think that it is the value of such locos when the proposed buyer isn't a multi-millionaire!

Makes some past deals for working locos look liek the bargin of the century.

Steven

 

The rumours that Jeremy Hoskins is about to acquire Riviera Trains might be significant too.

Regards

 

Apologies for being grumpy but it's a recurring theme throughout this thread...

Could people at least give this gentleman the courtesy of spelling his name correctly?

Thanks

 

I see Steam Railway has listed 80079 as being Jeremy's 13th loco. But what are the others? I can think of 11 he either owns or has an interest in.

6024 King Edward I
5029 Nunney Castle
6990 Raveningham Hall
GWR 2-8-0T
Royal Scot
70000 Britannia
92212 9F
35022 Holland America Line
35027 Port Line
34046 Braunton
4496 Dominion of New Zealand (aka Bittern)

I can't think of any others right now. Any takers or have SR got it wrong?

Quite a train set by anyone's standards and thing most of us can only dream of! I'd love to be able to have two of these!

Matt

 

He owns a GWR 2-8-0 Tank too, I can't remember the number off the top of my head. I believe it's at the Glos Warks.

 

I don't suppose they're not making up their own news about Blue Peter are they???........................................Silly me, of course they won't be, when has SR ever been known to do that!

 

4270 perhaps?

 

He is head of the Royal Scot Loco trust too. They may be counting that loco as "his"

 

My understanding was that whilst this locomotive's restoration was being funded by Mr Hosking but that it was owned/cared for by a group on the GWSR. Clearly it may well be that the deal for funding its restoration may incur "ownership" or overall responsibility for 4270. Someone may wish to clarify this. In any event, what matters is that 4270 (currently away from Toddington at a site in the West Midlands) is being returned to steam thanks to a very generous benefactor, who may or may not be the owner.

 

Think you mean 4492 :wink: