7027 Thornbury Castle

.... and the water scoop Churchward?

 

It's a moot point, but I suspect that Barry could only have happened with a particular conjunction of forces and at a particular time. A subsequent generation (technologically, anyway) bought a lot from BR on withdrawal, but with less focus on the scrapyard experience.

My own view is that if there are credible purchasers, there's a deal to be done - but at values that are eye wateringly higher than those of the 1960s and 70s. But I also have a nasty feeling that the passion for restoring another Castle, and the demand for use of that additional Castle, will be limited at a time when time, money and energy are likely to be limited. And that, however appalled at the sequence of events that have led to this press release we may be, is likely to be the dominant factor, rather than the enthusiasm you commend. If this is pessimism is proved wrong, I shall be glad of it.

 

There are two photographs recently shown and they are of the boiler on a flatbed and another showing the frames and wheels. I assume the boiler is what the 4709 Group have bought and the rest is what the GWS will offer for sale when in their possession.

 

I can tell you now mine is starting to go out! Spent all of my adult life faffing about with these things (typing whilst sat in a firebox of all places...!) and the shine is fading quickly. A few things I want to see finished then time to move on/take a back seat, more to life and all that!

The entitlement & want want want culture of today is hard work to keep up with!

There is much rejoicing on Facebook that folk have got the result they wanted. That is fine, but it is a very hollow victory if nobody whilst fighting was coming up with a plan. Hopefully that will soon change but the opportunity to have launched something at yesterday's announcement has been lost. Have to strike whilst the iron is hot or the world moves on to the next item of interest overnight these days!

 

Presumptuous that anyone could have organised a group and funding in one day after an announcement. Nobody even knew the locomotive was up for sale the first time, now it is potentially available, and there are I understand serious discussions taking place.

Talking about "entitlement and want want want culture" whilst also expecting an instant response to an announcement that came out of the blue is a tad bit at odds with reality.

These things take time. It would be prudent before any announcement on forming a group/funding/whatever was made that those behind such a venture did their due diligence on what the announcement from the GWS/4709 group actually means.

Do things properly, and by the book, or not at all.

 

If internet fury was bankable it could have been funded 100 times over (or some other made up statistic).

The bottom line is that there's a finite amount of financial support available, a finite amount of technical capability to complete restoration, a finite amount of safe secure indoor space to carry out a restoration and prevent this or other locos returning to their post-Barry condition, and lastly there's a finite amount of trains and railways for steam engines to operate on.

That's a hell of a lot of constraints, and as @35B eloquently describes, this isn't Barry in the 60s/70s, where engines and railways operated to a different rhythm, its the 2020s…

Like I say, I hope it works out, but I suspect the resources are all spread a little thin right now.

Simon

 

There were plenty of mutterings that the loco was potentially up for sale, what may not have helped was a statement from someone at the GCR staying it wasn't when it turns out it was.

However, an item was subsequently purchased and enough people have put the pressure on to turn that around over the last 5 weeks. Having some sort of plan in place for that eventuality doesn't seem at all unreasonable to me, be prepared or be prepared to fail and all that.

Sorry that is of a different opinion!

 

Who says that there isn't a plan in place Mike? My point was and remains very specific: expecting there to be an announcement straight away after the GWS' one is presumptuous.

Strategy is required in circumstances like these. Not instant responses.

 

That is not what the RailAdvent states. According to the GWS the parts will be offered and the 4709 Group are progressing will and will give RA an update soon.
That doesn't sound like they are selling the boiler to me.

 

And from such details will the eventual outcome of this fiasco be realised.

 

In a scrapyard in Lancashire...

 

Gents, it's probably best to leave the Stuart Reeder discussion to rest and off this topic.

Enough commentary has been made online; it doesn't need to be dragged up again.

 

Shall await the grand plan then, hopefully it is a good one with a bright future for the loco. Would be a shame if it was to just stall and languish for more years after an initial flurry of interest...

 

I would humbly suggest that the lack of a group magically appearing the moment the GWS backtracked is not evidence that nothing is happening behind the scenes.