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City of Wells for sale - now purchased by the ELR

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by iancawthorne, Nov 6, 2017.

  1. Richard Roper

    Richard Roper Well-Known Member

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    I'm guessing that one of the main reasons will be that Richard Greenwood and Jock Adams are both feeling their ages a bit more these days...
    I don't know Graham Bentley, but last time I saw Richard Greenwood in the shop at Haworth, his mobility was suffering.
    Whatever the reason for 34092 leaving the KWVR permanently, and changing ownership, all credit must go to the 3 current owners for their superb workmanship on restoring and maintaining a top-class locomotive... What Jock Adams doesn't know about setting up Bulleid valvegear probably isn't worth knowing.
    I'll certainly miss it on the KWVR, that's for sure. The end of an era.

    Richard.
     
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  2. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

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    Don't worry, John. The website quoted by the OP states "Negotiations with the owners have seen an agreement reached for the ELR to purchase 34092", so @martin1656's wibble about IR and Mr Hosking is just that - so long as the ELR can raise the money they need.

    As for the 76xxx - yes, an ideal loco for a line like the ELR, but is it for sale? Besides, a long-term running agreement might be a better bet than purchase. Most lines aim for a mix of owned and hired locos, to spread the risks around.
     
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  3. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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  4. nickt

    nickt Member

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  5. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    Yes the article confirms the fund raising is a contribution to the overall agreed price, remaining funds coming from the ELR who wish to be more self sufficient for locomotives.
    As for suitability: the ELR have had a couple of seasons to assess that and the loco has proven popular enough to invest significantly in.
    Personally I am glad it is staying in the north, it must have spent more time up there than it did pre-preservation now surely?
     
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  6. Tim Light

    Tim Light Well-Known Member

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  7. D7076

    D7076 Well-Known Member

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    Is 34073 for sale still?
     
  8. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I'm surprised that the ELR believes City of Wells is suitable for their line but they are obviously the best judge. By having it there it does at least keep the door open to the possibility of it running back on the main line one day but that's an additional expense that really needs someone with deep pockets. That said, a relatively light Class 7 that is reasonably gauge friendly could be a welcome addition to the ML.
     
  9. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Thats in part why a shared option between Ian Riley and the ELR may be an answer, the loco remains ELR based, but is managed and maintained for ML use by IR,
    That way everyone wins, the ELR get use of the engine when its not on the main line, and ian has a 7p that should based on past knowledge is a good strong engine .that already is in ticket
     
  10. Victor

    Victor Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Seems as though there are quite a few folk keen to spend IR and JH's money. Are they even in the market for something like C of Wells ?
     
  11. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Given her previous base was the shorter and steeper KWVR, I'm not sure why the ELR is so unsuitable.
     
  12. ragl

    ragl Well-Known Member

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    Another reason for this locos suitability for main line working is that it is probably still more 8P than 7P, as was demonstrated during it's tenure on the main line in the 1980s.

    Cheers,

    Alan
     
  13. Hicks19862

    Hicks19862 Member

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    Am I right in saying the ELR already owns the ‘Crab’, a Jinty, and an unrestored GWR 2-8-0T?
     
  14. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Mr. Hoskin was most definitely after a Flat Top about eight years ago.
     
  15. Rob P

    Rob P New Member

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    No. They own the Crab, the other two you mention are privately owned.
    The other locos owned by the railway are a small saddle tank, (Barclay I think but not sure) , and ex Manchester Ship Canal 0-6-0T 32 Gothenburg.

    Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
     
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  16. DismalChips

    DismalChips Member

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    Among others, but only the Crab's in working order. EDIT: seen the post above, they only own the Crab.

    80097 and 92134 should be in steam in the next year or two, apparently.

    Given the cost of overhauls and restorations, if it's a choice between spending half a million (or thereabouts) and getting a working loco with several years in ticket or spending half a million (or thereabouts) and getting a working loco in several years time, which would you go for?
     
  17. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    His fleet has expanded somewhat more since then though, and there's the small matter of setting up his TOC...
     
  18. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

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    It's a big engine with a hefty appetite for coal and maintenance on a line that needs little more than an Austerity to work it efficiently - the classic example of PaulH's "bigchufferitis"
     
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  19. GWR4707

    GWR4707 Nat Pres stalwart

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    From my vague recollections and happy to be corrected, didn't she go to the ELR for a gala or something, and in being moved with the boiler full cause some damage to a bridge on leaving Keighley which for a while precluded anything coming to or leaving the railway by road. However as I think that the weight issue is now solved I am not altogether sure why she didn't go back to the KWVR.

    As for all this talk of her being taken mainline was the overhaul undertaken to 'main line standard' or would loads of additional works bar the usual electrical stuff be needed, in terms of IoS taking her on, whilst she might fill a gap as they seem to have a huge amount out of ticket at the moment, although alternatively would the work needed for mainline get in the way of clearing their present backlog of works to the existing fleet.
     
  20. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    As I recall it was when she came to the GWSR for our 2015 gala, first trip away from KWVR since her overhaul as well IIRC. There were all sorts of shenanigans on the way down, not only the bridge but somehow I think it ended up in a compound overnight or something. It definitely raised the blood pressure of the gala committee somewhat, I recall it only arrived late Friday to be in steam on the Saturday, and hasn't been back to the KWVR since. I may be wrong though!
     

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