West Somerset Railway General Discussion

My apologies. I cannot find anything on the page on shareholder information (such as it is ) on the plc site http://westsomersetrailway.vticket.co.uk/article.php/292/shareholders or in the share application form http://westsomersetrailway.vticket.co.uk/shopimages/articles/extra/Share Application form.pdf, which mentions EIS. This to me would be a fundamental attraction of any share offering but possibly I am looking in the wrong place.

 

As of yesterday afternoon 6695 was still sat behind the Swindon shed near the jacks though vehicles had been cleared from the north end. We still await clarification on certain details from the loss adjuster (appointed by the insurance company) before we can proceed with dismantling the engine to investigate possible further damage which can only be assessed by taking her apart. Whilst we have people waiting to be given the go ahead, there are ongoing negotiations and discussions taking place. I can't really say much more at this stage but rest assured that we will make appropriate announcements as and when we are able.

 

4110 was the 100th engine to leave Barry, in May 1979. While it hasn't had quite the TLC show to the Ivatt Trust's two Barry locos (41313 and 46447), it certainly ought to be a more straightforward project than some of the last escapees which, by all accounts were pretty rough engines (4253 at the K&ESR or 80150 at the Mid Hants spring to mind). When I visited Barry in 1974, 4110 had been subject to a bit of TLC and was nicely positioned for a photo. It's good that over 40 years later, the road to restoration is going to begin before too long.

 

John, you wouldn't happen to have a copy of that photo you can put on this post?

DJB.

 

Pete, you beat me to it! Originally 4110 was planned to go out before 6695 but then mysteriously got delayed.............

 

Sorry, Dennis. not at the moment. However, I could possibly send you one at a later date. It's a black & white negative and I do my own b&w processing at home, but it needs to be a bit darker in the evening thn it is at the moment. This is subject to the negative still being in good condition.

 

The eagle eyed among you might have noticed a loco swap on Monday with Kinlet Hall appearing rather than 4160 as per the diagram. Blocked tubes was the reason we left 4160 on shed and "stole" the Hall to replace her for the day. Luckily the blockages were cleared and there was a warming fire in 4160 by 14.30 on the Monday (and if our traction inspector reads this - it wasn't me guv - honest!).

 

John, please don't go to any trouble, I was merely interested to see how complete & up-together she looked then as compared to now.

Dennis.

 

Found these two photos of 4110 on Flickr:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/8755708@N07/4134683876
https://www.flickr.com/photos/taffytank/9336336639/

Looks to be rather good, but I doubt the last 36 years have done the tanks & bunker much good.

 

Thank-you, on the first photo of the first link look closely at the buffer cross-member & 4110 is chalked on, but look at the cylinder (NS) shield & it says sold to the WSR.How's that?

DJB.

 

If the 'purchase' date is to be believed (17/2/75) & the loco was still there in August, then I'm thinking that it might have been a step up from the fairly meaningless 'Reserved for...' brandings.

Perhaps the WSR (or someone thereon) had negotiated a price with Dai & then went off to raise the funds but it all went pear-shaped – if the first photo is indeed from August 1975, then that's a four year gap to account for before it left Barry.



P.

 

So yes the WSR wanted it but lacked the money to buy it.

 

Better than my picture anyway, especially the first shot.

 

There was a change of plan around that time – Severn Valley Railway News of Spring 1975 included a comment in the Rolling Stock Notes stating Although shown in our Stock Book, 4110 is not now coming to the S.V.R., but will go to the West Somerset Railway.

Edit. Earlier items in SVR news were:

Winter 1973/74. A group of SVR members are hoping to purchase GWR prairie tank No 4110 for Severn Valley service.

Summer 1974: Steel prices have been rising extremely sharply in recent months, and Mr Dai Woodham informed enthusiasts involved in Barry purchases that prices would rise yet again in June. Hence three groups attempting to purchase locos for the S.V.R were forced into purchase earlier than originally intended, although loans were necessary, which must be repaid. The engines concerned were 2857, 9303 and 4110. Readers may like to know that the latter locomotive is coming to the S.V.R., and Mr P.B. Whitehouse’s offer of a loan to complete purchase on condition that the locomotive became based at Tyseley, reported in the "Birmingham Post", was not taken up.

 

An update on 4160, she is now back to peak performance thanks to the sterling work by a member of the Minehead shed crew who had to travel to Bishops Lydeard to unblock the tubes on Monday. Top work!

 

I know it's a Thomas weekend coming up, but I have vague ideas of visiting on Saturday on my way to Heathrow to pick up my son - desperate to make the best of a fatherly chore! Will all the locos have funny faces? Well, I can still enjoy the trip even if I leave my camera in the car. Mind you, some attractions aimed at the kids' market have a policy of not allowing lone adults!

John

 

No problem about 'lone' adults, but you may want to think about what you want to do, depending on the time of day you expect to get to the railway and your starting point. In the mornings the trains from BL are pre-booked, and as far as I remember, there is still space on all except the 10:25, BUT they will be busy, as will the MD-BL return trips from mid-afternoon. If you're starting from MD the station will be awash with kids from soon after 10:00, but there will be no problem getting on a train in the morning, and returning from BL after lunch. I'm afraid that most locos will have Thomas and Friends faces.

 

Thanks, Ron - very quick response, which will guide me in planning the weekend. It's great to see that trains are going to be busy, and bringing in much needed dosh, but perhaps it is best for an old fa*t like me to go on Friday!

John