North Staffordshire 0-6-2T

don't forget BEL 2.



Jon

 

They have given a Mark One suburban coach to an obscure railway in Cornwall which to my knowledge doesn't have any suitable locomotives or shed accommodation.
There are plenty of established railways crying out for vehicles such as this.

Bob.

 

They're probably fed up with jumped up journalists and enthusiasts criticizing their actions all the time - but seriously if you find their actions so wrong speak directly to them, or even your MP*, you'll not get a lot done moaning on here.

* PS it is after all government cuts that's causing the problem.

 

If what you say is correct the question arises as to what this 'obscure' railway intends to do with the coach?

 

Glad you have written pls let us know of the response I'm sure others will be interested. With regards to being accountable they are indeed that's why I suggested you contact your MP.

 

Interesting list. It would be nice to see the official rationale for each decision. Comments below:

Nord 628 - Only the most tenuous links to GWR loco development. Irrelevant to a UK collection.
Eustace Forth - Nice loco, but well represented in preservation. The Black Hawthorne loco is a more suitable exhibit.
Respite - Remains only - might as well let someone use it as spares.
RSH7746 - Interesting item. Good home but could have been loaned.
D433 - Plenty of Class 50s preserved and plenty of English Electrics in the National Collection. Can't argue with this.
HE9227/86 - Plenty of mining locos preserved around the country.
NSR L Class - Plenty of debate on here about how unique/priceless it actually is.

It will be interesting to see what happens next. Obvious candidates for thinning out, on the grounds of duplication, are the Ivatt Atlantics. But I would argue that both items are national treasures, and I would prefer them to remain in the national collection. The same goes for the NER 2-4-0s and anything else pre-grouping. Unless there can be a cast-iron guarantee of their continued preservation and public access.

I know I keep mentioning it, but does anyone else see the point of the Bullet Train being part of the collection? Or the Chinese 4-8-4?

And isn't there a disproportionate amount of space and attention given to Royal Train vehicles? Lovely as they are, they represent nothing but themselves.

 

can't argue with that. It would certainly be nice to see more ordinary coaches represented or a goods shed display of the type that Quainton have achieved.

 

That's true. And so is the African 4-8-0, which along with its carriage also represent Britains colonial railways.

But doesn't that raise the question of the scope of the NRM's mission? "To tell the story of railways....." Surely that's too broad and needs to be limited to our own home railways?

 

Not in my opinion. The UK exported railways to the world so that needs to be a feature of the museum.

 

You're right. The UK introduced viable commercial railways to the world, built railways throughout the world and exported equipment throughout the world. Part of the story, then. But there must be some limit to the scope of the story. I'm desperate to get rid of that Bullet Train!

 

It was a gift from the Japanese so would be rather rude to get rid of it. Just because it doesn't fit in with your idea o what should be on display, it doesn't mean it's not of interest to others. The NRM never will be able to be all things to all men.

 

So the NRM is diplomatically obliged to keep a large item of Japanese rolling stock while it gets rid of the last NSR steam loco. Doesn't make sense to me.

Sure, people are interested/impressed, but which part of our story does it tell?

 

Perhaps it's a good job that the NRM is not run by enthusiasts, otherwise it would be filled with engines just in BR black and drab green! Seriously it appeared to me last time I was in the museum that the public were taking just as much interest of the Bullet Train as any other exhibit and that's what it's all about. We all know a big proportion of the UK rail enthusiasts are for a reason I have never figured out blinkered against any foreign stuff, but that's their problem as the museum is not just for them, much as they would like it to be.

 

I know - but Tim appears on a mission to try and rid the museum of an interesting and unique (to the UK) exhibit for no other reason than the blinkered view exhibited by many 'enthusiasts' in the UK.

 

I love railways the world over ... definitely not blinkered. But we're talking about the National Railway Museum not an International Railway Museum.

Of course the public will take an interest in it, as I do, but I disagree that that's what it's all about. The NRM doesn't exist to pander to the public's appetite for the unusual. Unless it wants to be a freak show.

Like the NSR 0-6-2T, the bullet train is interesting and unique. Unlike the NSR 0-6-2T it's irrelevant to the UK's railway heritage.