If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

St. Blazey Turntable

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by spicer21, Jan 10, 2015.

  1. spicer21

    spicer21 Guest

    You would have thought so yes. It'll be interesting to see what happens. I hope a solution can be found.
     
  2. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2006
    Messages:
    11,930
    Likes Received:
    10,088
    Occupation:
    Gentleman of leisure, nowadays
    Location:
    Near Leeds
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Knowing Network Rail, a six figure job is probably just for painting it.
     
  3. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2006
    Messages:
    16,510
    Likes Received:
    7,753
    Location:
    1012 / 60158
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    More likely just for a feasibility study.
     
  4. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2007
    Messages:
    35,121
    Likes Received:
    20,773
    Occupation:
    Training moles
    Location:
    The back of beyond
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    A friend of mine was a project manager with NR and is now holding the same post with an NR contractor. Having heard some of his tales of what goes on, I'm no longer surprised at the cost of railway projects.
     
  5. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    10,440
    Likes Received:
    17,941
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cheltenham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Or indeed, just the biscuits consumed at the meeting to decide whether a feasibility study is feasible...
     
    Bean-counter likes this.
  6. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2006
    Messages:
    16,510
    Likes Received:
    7,753
    Location:
    1012 / 60158
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    You done this sort of thing before haven't you :)
     
  7. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    10,440
    Likes Received:
    17,941
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cheltenham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    :Wasntme: Well, when we have up to 5 tea breaks a day in the workshop you get to recognise these things... :rolleyes:
     
  8. class8mikado

    class8mikado Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2009
    Messages:
    3,610
    Likes Received:
    1,438
    Occupation:
    Print Estimator/ Repository of Useless Informatio.
    Location:
    Bingley W.Yorks.
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    So its too expensive to even think about fixing it. How much would they give to let someone else cart it away ?
     
  9. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2006
    Messages:
    16,510
    Likes Received:
    7,753
    Location:
    1012 / 60158
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    If memory serves me correctly; it was 'sold' many years ago to a loco owner, but the installation was found to be part of a listed building, so the purchase had to be cancelled?
     
  10. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    5,922
    Likes Received:
    3,829
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    East Grinstead
    In the latest HR there is mention on the listing in a quote from DBS " We will comply with the terms of the turntable's listing , but those do not include keeping it fully operational".
     
  11. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    10,440
    Likes Received:
    17,941
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cheltenham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Was literally just about to ask if it could be argued that keeping it operational could be put under the listed status - apparently not. :(
     
  12. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2007
    Messages:
    4,496
    Likes Received:
    1,079
    Location:
    Winchester
    Maybe a national lottery appreciation should be put in for the repair of the turntable.
     
  13. jamesd

    jamesd Member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2009
    Messages:
    598
    Likes Received:
    302
    Location:
    S Wales
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Surely this is not in the spirit of privatisation. DBS (or EWS) inherited this facility upon privatisation, they didn't pay for it. It is an asset used by other private operators but it seems that as DBS happen to own it, they can do what they want with it? As it is utilised by other operators there should be some kind of obligation on DBS to maintain it, or at least relinquish ownership and allow other operators to maintain it?
     
  14. Jimc

    Jimc Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2005
    Messages:
    4,052
    Likes Received:
    4,665
    Occupation:
    Once computers, now part time writer I suppose.
    Location:
    SE England
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I'm sure DBS would have no objection at all to other operators giving them a few hundred thousands to repair the turntable. But if it needs say 500k to keep it running for the next 5 years and it's only used 10 times a year...
     
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2015
  15. John Stewart

    John Stewart Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2011
    Messages:
    4,206
    Likes Received:
    2,072
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Hilton, Derby
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I detect hope here. DBS say fully operational which suggests that there may be scope for repair work to make it operational on a restricted basis. EH's website isn't showing this up as being listed but that may be my interrogation methods. I can see why DBS can't justify repair of the vacuum system as they have no locomotives that use such. However, the ability to turn a locomotive can be useful, for example in the event of an instrument failure, so they might have some interest in a restricted repair possibly with some contributary funding.
     
  16. spicer21

    spicer21 Guest

  17. John Stewart

    John Stewart Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2011
    Messages:
    4,206
    Likes Received:
    2,072
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Hilton, Derby
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I have now tracked down the official listing and it is Grade II*. Set out below is a short extract from the quite comprehensive listing description.

    "............The turntable in front of the engine sheds is complete and in working order, the line carried on a pair of plated and riveted H-irons. ........ This complex is a virtually unaltered example of an industrial railway terminus with good attention to architectural detail, one of only 3 planned groups of this type in the country. .......".

    With the Grade II* listing there is likely to be interest from English Heritage in ensuring the preservation of all parts of the group. Neither EH nor the LPA could require restoration to working order although both could apply pressure on the owners to do so. It seems to me that what is required firstly is a thorough survey and report by an appropriate professional on what work would be required to bring it to operable condition for the restricted use that it is likely to get. This is a form of engineering risk assessment and should lead to a reliable estimate that all stakeholders could negotiate on. Likely sources of funding could be: (1) DBS because of the residual utility of it for the company and because they would, one assumes, want to be seen as taking reasonable steps to look after a grade II* complex in their care. (2) English Heritage which does have budget for assistance and which is directed at grade I and grade II* buildings as a priority. (3) Cornwall Council in view of the benefits to Tourism. (4) A consortium of rail tour operators. (5) A public appeal!
     
  18. Sir Nigel Gresley

    Sir Nigel Gresley Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2006
    Messages:
    880
    Likes Received:
    148
    Occupation:
    Retired Soldier of Fortune
    Location:
    Dorset
    Why not buy one of the hundreds that still abound in Germany, Poland, CZ, SK etc?
     
  19. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2006
    Messages:
    11,930
    Likes Received:
    10,088
    Occupation:
    Gentleman of leisure, nowadays
    Location:
    Near Leeds
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Do they come complete with their own hole and foundations?
     
  20. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    10,440
    Likes Received:
    17,941
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cheltenham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    And surely whatever the listing says I wouldn't have thought it would allow replacement by one from somewhere on the continent?
     

Share This Page