Is it really so bad.......

I had been thinking that it had been quiet on here and most threads were a little doom and gloom, but wondered if that was just on here.

But then the new SR dropped through the door and there is barely a positive story on the first 10 pages, what with the NRM (Scotsman, Dyno Car, Losses at Rail Fest), The Duke etc it really does look like its been a very bad year for the movement.

It may just be the normal SR trying to sensationalise everything but did make me wonder if there are problems developing?

 

While it appears that there is plenty of bad news that the SR team feel is newsworthy and wish to highlight to their readers this month (how many pages have "Scotsman" mentioned on them?)... if you widen your lens, I would tend to disagree that its been a bad year... just have a look at the page with the HRA Nominations (P.S. VOTE FOR EOR, project no 6 please!!)... in addition you have the Bluebell about to open up to East Grinstead, Glos Warks have managed to stitch their line back together, the Moorland & City boys keep chipping away to get to Endon, Llangollen is track laying, the Keith & Duff boys are about to see steam for the first time (well done all those guys), and of course Epping Ongar has restored itself after 4.5 years of volunteers efforts (most of it "behind the scenes") and brought back regular steam after an absence of 55 years....

All massive steps forward, as a result of huge efforts, and milestones in the history of preservation that we will remember and be written about for many years to come.

Keep a positive approach - Life is what you make of it, "cup half full or half empty" type of thing...?? )

 

It's not all bad news. The E1/46447 deal between the Isle of Wight Steam Railway & the East Somerset is good news. 6023 has gone off to the Great Central, and is on the way back to returning to steam after its problems. Work has resumed on 6100 - another engine that has not had a good time recently. Not mentioned in Steam Railway is that progress continues with Braunton, while the rumour mill is expecting Galatea to stir for the first time in preservation this year. 76084 shold have its first fire lit next month, and 4270 isn't far away. 34051 Winston Churchill looks like it will receive some long-overdue TLC before too long, and the ASLEF/DBS dispute has been resolved. How's that?

 

I think preservation mirrors life to a certain exetent, you get peaks of great things happening and troughs of horrible stuff that feel like a kick in the teeth, it's a bit negative currently, but that will change again in time.

 

The things which you have highlighted are infrastructure and are far better value for money than overhauling steam loco’s

 

steam alive

 

I think the year so far has been a bit of both good and bad.Like years gone before.Looking at one bright light Sir Kieth Park steaming down the valley at their gala weekend.Does anyone know what is happening down at the Shillingstone project as its all gone quite from the lads down there.Are they still active.Would be a shame to loose them.

 

Would somebody from Shillingstone care to enlighten us as to the changes with the project ?
The things that went on recently on Facebook ( all posts have disappeared ) wern't exactly helpful
for the project. The progress up to recently was impressive ,and now....

Keith

 

Well there are two ways of looking at this,the everything in the garden is rosy volunteers & money grow on trees way. The other way is the only way is down I say this because if the group I used to volunteer with is anything to go by, I would say 80% of the volunteers are over 60 some must be getting well into their 60s.Time will tell which way things will go regards John PS have not the 92219 group already hit this problem ?

 

I think we are going through a bad patch and it doesn't help we have two magazines that seem to thrive on it ( to sell more mags by any chance? )

We seem to have quite a few high profile ongoing projects that don't seem to of been treading on the path of straight / honest / well managed etc, dare I mention 4472 6100 6023 and now even 71000? All seem to pop into the frame on a consistent basis with others in the background.

With all the wealth of knowledge we as preservationists etc should possess by now, I find it a disgrace that so much money and time can still be wasted. In my view heads should roll and people should be held accountable within all societies, for as soon as the egos & the great "I am's", not forgetting the self interest and "your views don't count" people start flexing their muscles the results speak for themselves.

With all this not so pretty stuff going on it can tend to overshadow the success stories, which is shame as they need our support and a press that does not bring all the good to forefront is no good for the movement.
Look at the Bluebell extension, the Patriot and 82045 plus other new builds. The recent return to steam of Joffre at the West lancs after 30 years, restored the way only the NRM and its accountants can dream of !!!

Lets hope one day the railway press have a rethink and start to fill our heads with success and moving forward.

 

As a country, we are in a double dip recession. The general mood now that the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee euphoria is over appears to be dipping as well. This is not only in the preservation movement but throughout the country. As has already been said, the press sell better when sensationalised bad stories are portrayed.

Ok, it hasn't been a golden year with a high number of steam mainline tours being cancelled for one reason or another and the high profile ongoing saga of 4472. But let's remember that amongst these doom and gloom headlines, good work is being undertaken by staff and volunteers throughout the country. Already mentioned is the EOR and the Bluebell extension pressing on but that hasn't been without its scaremongerers raising doubts in the BB's ability. Add to that the latest deal involving 46447 and 110. A real win, win only possible through good relationships, hard work and devotion to the movement. Add to this the return to steam of 34053, the "no hoper" sources of spares BoB and Schools 925 "Cheltenham". Not bad for bad year really?

 

Oh - and one more piece of good news - a working future for 35018 British India Line. I visited Barry in 1974, and this engine was fairly well placed for a photo. I've always had rather a soft spot for this engine ever since, and was delighted when it was sold for preservation. That was a long time ago, and of course, it ended up in Portland with nothing doing for ages, but once Carnforth set to work, we can be confident of much better things to come.

Actually, 35018 is one of several forgotten/"no hope" engines which have started a new life in the last 2-3 years with a brighter future. OK, their steaming is a long way off and will cost a lot of money, but I still think it's good news that we have 110, 2874, 2885, 3855, 4253, 5967, 46447, 75079, 80150, hopefully 92219 and any others I've missed to look forward to. There are some exciting New Build schemes, which aredoing well in spite of the economic situation. 82045 has been mentioned. the LMS-Patriot project seems to be doing well, and the LNWR George the Fifth people sound pretty serious. That's just the steam locos. Swanage have a Bulleid coach in use for the first time in ages, and the Mid-Hants are starting work on a 3-car Bulleid set. Several extensions have been mentioned. Another one that is really developing some momentum is Bodiam-Robertsbridge. A long way off completion, but a glance at the RVR website is a good tonic for anyone feeling a bit depressed.

In summary, what I'm trying to say is that it's a bit of sticky patch for a few engines, and the economic outlook isn't easy, but there's plenty of cheering news is we look around for it. However, as other contributors have pointed out, the slow, painstaking work being done on some of the engines listed above, especially if it is dismantling, de-rusting etc, is hardly the stuff that sells magazines.

 

I dont think 2012 is a vintage year for railway preservation but 2013 should be a corker - the Bluebell's long awaited extension to East Grinstead and LU150 are just two that spring to mind.

Chris

 

More good news is the full reopening of the SKLR and the fact that we're about to outshop our 3rd loco this year from overhaul!

Nigel

 

Actually, it's a pretty good year for the KESR and the RVR. The extension work done at Robertsbridge has served as a real signal of intent to the local community. It's no longer seen as a project that is happening "somewhere else". The recent running to Junction Road served to increase interest in both volunteers and passengers. The restoration of 4253 continues to run ahead of schedule, due in no small part to volunteers getting involved who have never helped restore a loco before. 6619 being secured for the line also represents a statement of intent, as it is clearly more suited to running longer distances than the present fleet. Carriage and Wagon continue to turn out impressive restorations, including the full overhaul of our disabled coach "Petros". There is a feeling that, with all this going on, 2012 is a good year, and we hope for an even better 2013.

 

I think Rudyard Kipling hit the nail on the head when he wrote this:

"If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same..."

Seems quite apt for the preservation movement in all its guises.

 

I think in fairness to the magazines, they do perform a role in highlighting situations which may in turn generate a "response" from the readers. A very good example of this is/was the GWSR appeal, other examples include the Bowes Railway recently. If SR highlights that the Duke needs investment and people step forward then that can only be a good thing.

 

Lets look at 2007..

UK mainline steam rail tours 2007

comparing 2007 to 2012 mainline steam has lost (7) : 4953, 5051, 7802, 850, 5690, 60800,76079

still with us are (16) 4936, 4965, 5972, 30777, 35028, 34067, 6201, 45231, 45407, 46233, 48151, 60009, 60019, 61994, 62005, 71000
New since 2007 are (13) : 5029, 5043, 44871, 44932, 45305, 46115, 60007, 60163, 70000, 70013 and 9466, 9600, 7752

this is a net gain of 6...

forwards to the future...

affected by money, problems, or politics (4) 6023, 34046, 6100, 4472
plus still to come within the next 3 years.... (13) 4079, 6024, 7029, railmotor, 34092, 35018, 35027, 44767, 45212, 45699, 5690, 61264, 61306
and to leave in the next 2-3 years (5).. 4953, 9466, 30777, 6201, 71000 ?

in around 2015 there would be an additional 12 locomotives...

apart from the rail motor and panniers.. everything else will be class5 or greater.

source..Uksteam.info - Mainline steam locos

of course by 2015 who knows we could also be speculating about 2018-20 ... and 1014, 6880, 34016, 35009, 45551, 45596, 46203, 46229, 60532, 73096 (10) and others yet to show their hand..with around 12 departing the mainline for overhaul.

2012 hasnt seen the new high profiles expected, but the delay is just that, not a curtailment but on the whole at least to me the trend is more larger mainline steam locomotives with a plateau in 2012. 2013 has a lot of potential..

 

The Isle of Wight has built station buildings at Smallbrook Junction and at Wootton, won the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, successfully obtained Lottery money for the new carriage shed, construction of which begins imminently and now we have the E1 and Ivatt arrangement. I think they have done extremely well this year.

 

I get a sense that SR are equating "success in the heritage sector" with "locomotives outshopped". But to take some more examples: in the last twelve months, the Bluebell has opened a carriage shed at SP that can put 17 full-length vehicles under cover; greatly expanded its museum; put a birdcage brake back into service; recreated an SECR dropside ballast wagon; restored 263; created an underframe for a new-build Standard 2 and made huge strides on Beachy Head; obtained outline planning permission for a new 24 vehicle carriage shed and related works at HK; quite apart from what has happened north of Kingscote- not to mention raised well over £1million to pay for all of the above. The IoWSR have I believe put another pre-group bogie coach into service this year as well as the achievements noted above; and many other heritage railways have other success stories to tell.

So gloom and doom might sell papers, but don't underestimate the achievements across the sector; nor conflate "heritage railways" with "steam locomotives". And don't forget, "they also serve, who only [metaphorically] shake a collecting tin".

Tom