Strathspey Railway motive power

The two main engines for the 2011 season, 828 and 46512 were outside the shed (60B) at Aviemore today. 46512 made her first moves since 2005 today.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f....10150166910555409.336772.86369190408&theater

 

Please could you update on the position with other locos at Aviemore. I am aware that there are problems with the boiler for No.9 are these being rectified?

I also thought that No.48 had had work done on its wheelsets some years ago, are these engines still progressing?

Thanks

 

Regarding the 3 Austerity 0-6-0Ts:

9 - believe the boiler is at Alan McEwen's for work.

48 - hasn't been touched for almost 30 years - no-one knows or can prove who owns it.

60 - the rolling chassis was completed a few years ago. Boiler is at LNWR Crewe for overhaul when time and money permits. It will not run on the Strathspey when it's finished.

 

I always believed 48 was owned by Stephen Woods dad's motorcycle business in the NE of England or something like that.

 

No-one can prove that.

 

Interesting. I'm sure someone would come forward if an attempt to sell was made.

I wonder if 828 will make a visit to Bo'ness to reciprocate the week Maude spent at Aviemore in the late 80s/ early 90s that no one seems to remember but was featured in Ron Black's "Dream coming true" DVD.

 

You can't sell what you don't own!

I'm not too bothered about 828 visiting Bo'ness. There are better places for her to run.

 

Surely someone would come out the woodwork if they saw that their "precious" machine was being sold. In all fairness, Bo'ness has Scottish rolling stock, most of which is in a decent condition.

 

Seems a bit negative. Where else could she pull genuine Caley carriages to match the stunning livery?

 

+1

Its that sort of attitude that turned me away from returning to volunteer.

 

I've no idea what you think I do with the Strathspey Paul but when you live in Worcester, Aviemore is quite faraway.

There are better places to take her than Bo'ness - Bridgnorth for example to obtain better exposure to the general public than somewhere like Bo'ness.

 

I'm sure that would end up as a day in court.

 

True. Hope I didn't cause you any offence, Neil. The SVR visit will undoubtedly raise awareness amongst the general enthusiast public regarding a very beautiful locomotive. I'd still like to see it visit the B&KR for a charter with the Caley carriage pair, though.

 

I know you have little involvment these days but that comment about better places to run reminds of the attitude the higher-ups had which would be fine if the railway was a big player on the national scale. To be honest, its 400 odd miles to Aviemore from Kidderminister so I don't predict exposure there to do much except remind visitors the railway exists. But by the time it visits, the season peak is over and there is only a few family events left at a time when the weather can go from lying snow to scorching weather. Plus I've always felt like theres bad blood between SRPS and StR so 828 making a visit might be seen as a step in the right direction.

How can this not be attractive?: http://www.srps.org.uk/railway/419-foreshore.jpg

As I'm sure its obvious, Im not up on loco ownership but somebody must own it.

 

No of course not Jamie, nothing you said could be interpretated as being offensive.

This time round I want the engine to be seen by as many people as possible which means taking to England in a limited measure during its 10 year ticket. Going to the SVR for one of their biggest events of the heritage railway calender is an ideal opportunity to show the engine to those who won't or can't make the long trip up to northern Scotland. As a heritage organisation the owners (the Scottish Locomotive Preservation Trust Fund) and the operator (the Strathspey Railway Company) acknowledge their responsibility to make sure the public get the chance to see her more often without damaging the commerical appeal of the engine while based at Aviemore.

A spell at Bo'ness with the Caley coaches will be nice for a charter but not ideal for getting the engine out to the mass public to appreciate her design and heritage.

 

I'm willing to admit I was wrong there as its alway SRC thats asccoiated with the loco.

I apologise as the people I use to volunteer beside were a bit more veteran and as such their comments afflicted my own.

 

Don't worry about it.

 

Both Myself and Penny visited Avimore back in 2001, our first holiday in scotland, camping just the two of us. We stayed at a campsite at the top end of Grantown and the railway old railway line was part of the campsite, we actauly walked down every dayend, with penny keeping a close eye on the rabits, before return via the town centre on reaching the main road. In those days I was still working on golf courses, but we did take a ride to Avimore and back. Always wonted to get back there as we had a great week and since becoming a fully fledge steam nut I have been keeping an eye on developements, now Strathspay have not one, but two impressive engines again working on the line we are more eager than ever to make our return Also looking forward to SVR, but hopefully we will make it this year, as you say it is a long,long,long way. Last time I had to stop on the way back short of newcastle and go for walk along the coast just to brake it up a bit.

 

A perfect example of why 828 needs to be seen down south during this incarnation.

You'll get a treat with 828 and 46512 in the coming years but wait until 5025 is finished and all three are available for traffic...