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6984 "Owsden Hall" Restoration progress

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by Azrall, Oct 16, 2014.

  1. Azrall

    Azrall Member

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    Some latest picture updates attached! Bottom end very near completion!
     

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  2. Biggles633

    Biggles633 New Member

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    This weekend sees Owsden Hall leave for a new home at Quainton.
     
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  3. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

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    Is this the reason for the Facebook page disappearing?
    Seems a slightly odd decision as Quainton doesn't have anywhere to give a Hall a decent run when it is complete.

    Keith
     
  4. fergusmacg

    fergusmacg Resident of Nat Pres

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    True, although I would also say the S&C is hardly a place (2 miles?) "to give a Hall a decent run" either?
     
  5. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I do feel a bit sorry for the Swindon and Cricklade, that's the second Hall they've provided space for a restoration for that's left without providing any service for their trouble. It does seem like a curious place to go, Is Wightwick Hall still nominally based there? I know that's been out and about, presumably to try and get a bit more mileage than would be available at Quainton Road.
     
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  6. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

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    I take your point, but I think they'll have 5 miles when their extensions are complete. I guess 2 miles are better than the short run (400 yds?) at Quainton. I feel sorry for the small team at the S&C who have made remarkable progress and this will come as a bit of a slap in the face to them.

    Keith
     
  7. 3855

    3855 Member

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    perhaps the loan of its tender to the Quainton hall was a clue such a move was likely?
     
  8. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    Without wishing to belittle the sterling efforts of those involved at the S&C , one factor maybe a group with recent experience of returning a modified hall to steam with time on their hands now . Reading the facebook posts for 6984 i get the feeling it was a small team and more hands would enable much faster progress
     
  9. Biggles633

    Biggles633 New Member

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    The loss of the engine is a blow to all involved at the scr.
    Personally I think the owner of Owsden always intended to take the loco to Quainton.
     
  10. toplight

    toplight Well-Known Member

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    The owner of the Engine did tell me himself that it was going to the Buckinghamshire railway centre so the boiler can be worked on by Steve Underhill, who apparently wants to do the work there and also previously did some work on it's boiler at Toddington. I was busy working when he was chatting so didn't ask much, but it does pose the question. Well why not move just the boiler ? Maybe he has other reasons for wanting it to move.
     
  11. Biggles633

    Biggles633 New Member

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    I think the scr have lost out yet again.
    5637, Foremarke and now Owsden.
     
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  12. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

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    And 34072/35027 in the distant past. Admittedly too large for the line, the S&C still provided facilities for those locos for a period and seemingly got nothing in return.

    Keith
     
  13. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    Presumably the S&CR go into these loco arrangements in the full knowledge of the possibilities.
    I believe that 5637 is still regarded as being S&CR based and will be returning there for the last few months of its current ticket?
     
  14. misspentyouth62

    misspentyouth62 Well-Known Member

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    When I've visited any preserved railway, it's to see locomotives under restoration as much as any running although I recognise this won't be the norm. I'll still want to visit S&C to see how 35011 is coming along, just as I have 35027, 34072, 7903, 5521, 5637 and 6984
     
  15. 1472

    1472 Well-Known Member

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    & 3845...
     
  16. Biggles633

    Biggles633 New Member

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    It's more a case of the loco owner or group gets a better offer from another site and then upsticks and bug#er off.
    5637 is tied to the East Somerset till the end of is current ticket. If it were to return to scr it would be down to the East Somersets good will.
     
  17. 32110

    32110 Member

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    It is to be hoped that 5637 will work its last turns at S&C.
     
  18. 60044

    60044 Member

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    Are the S &C then left to repair it so it can disappear off to the ESR again?
     
  19. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    5637 belongs to S&C members as far as I understand, presumably loan arrangements elsewhere are done with the agreement of the lines management.
     
  20. Kinghambranch

    Kinghambranch Well-Known Member

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    It is interesting to note that the Swindon & Cricklade Railway was formed in 1978 with only a bare trackbed to start with. Contrast this with the GWSR, which, although also starting with a bare trackbed in 1981, had the benefit of some original structures such as Toddington station building and the 2 goods sheds at Toddington and Winchcombe. Since then, one Railway has grown into a major heritage line whilst the other still moves slowly towards the destinations which bear its name. It's a comparison of apples and oranges I admit, since all projects have to live within their means, but it illustrates how some heritage railways have benefited from growth and investment whilst others have perhaps had to set their sights lower. Both are relatively close to each other geographically. Both offer a good railway heritage experience in my view which will doubtless be even better for the S&C once Cricklade is reached. It's worth mentioning that Owsden Hall was based at Toddington, undergoing some restoration, for several years.
     

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