45699 Galatea

Leaking information on the Internet versus having an engine with leaky pipes and having to be taken off the train as has been the case with the 4932 and 6115 so often. You pick, which is worse.

I'm no longer surprised when something occurs to Scots Guardsman.

We want 5699 to be in 1st class condition when she hits the rails on charter work.
Carnforth has gone through too much trouble with the Black 5 and the Scot. Thank god for the 8f, 61994 and 5305 this past summer.

 

Can we keep this on Galatea please, not personal comments or attacks on the company.

remember that said company which is after all reinvesting the money in makes in restoring this and other engines.

If they didnt do it.. 5699 would still be in a siding, 6115 in bits over the country and without a Bulleid (or more) to look forwards to in the future.

 

Well said.

 

While agreeing with what you say, at the same time they are not doing out of the goodness of their hearts, they want to make money, from the very people they are hiding their "work" from.You would think showcasing there work would be a good advert for contract work.

Its there perogative of course, just area 51 carnforth is not 30 miles away in the desert, and as such accesible, they should remember that before blowing a gasket at any opportunity, at anything that does not fit in with their scheme of things.

 

I hope it wasn't my statement that came across as being critical and wish that it may not have been seen that way.
I really want this restoration to be a huge success. It shall be great once she is here. Is their anything wrong in wanting a locomotive to perform at its best with a good consistant track record.

 

Well that's news to me. Must be a Reading thing?

 

Do you REALY think they make a fortune out of spending millions on restoring a fleet of main line steam locos? C'mon!

Will

 

It's the way it was put, a Nuneaton thing?

 

It is disappointing that any topic that links to WCRC, seems to incur some critisism of the company, and to an extent even bringing in personalities, of Mr Smith and Mr Shuttleworth.
When I read these, I often ask the question “OK, you have your opinion, but have you contributed to the operation of the respective locomotive operators, you are moaning about; by being a passenger or making a donation, or do you just take photographs lineside and contribute nothing”. I do travel and take photos by the way….
We should be grateful, that in regards Galatea, that Mr Smith, and others, have acquired locomotives, spent money and time, to bring them up to main line standards, for charter train passengers, and railway enthusiasts, to see and enjoy the sight of them steaming, at speed, through the countryside on the main lines.
In support of WCRC – and DBS; doing a quick tot-up of the number of steam charter operating journeys in 2012, it came to a total of 494 – including the Jacobite. This a phenomenal number of steam operations scheduled, requiring a massive logistics operation, including train crews, support crews, catering crews, tour company staff, rolling stock movements, planners, and not forgetting the carriage cleaners.
Alas, a quick tot-up of cancellations is quite high at 100 plus cancellations or postponements. But that is another topic.
We should be grateful that such complex operational structures and processes are possible thanks to WCRC and DBS.
With 2013 looming up, and the current credit crunch? I wonder if there will be enough charters available for locomotive operators to generate income, rather than have their pride and joy sat silently in a shed!
I would guess that the locomotive owners have done their income forecast and planning, and when the time comes Galatea will be “out and about on the Northern fells”– hopefully with its class mate “Leander”. Now that's something to look foreword for us Northern souls!
I did have visions of men in long raincoats, with the collar up, wearing trilby hats, with their camera and zoom lenses, lingering on Carnforth street corners, or in the farm fields above the depot, watching for the illusive sign of exhaust as the boiler is tested on a green – or red locomotive.

 

Although WCRC are a commercial operation and presumably need to make a profit of sorts to remain in business, I do wonder if other parts of the business subsidise the steam operation, and if it were not for Mr Smith's enthusiasm for steam they would tend to concentrate on the other elements of their business, such as diesel and rolling stock hire and use.
On a commercial basis I doubt if overhauling a Barry wreck makes much sense.
Consider the recent return to steam of 34053 "Sir Keith Park", Southern Locomotives Ltd ( not the Bulleid Society as I have erroneously stated here)-- gave a figure of some £770,000 for returning this loco to steam. In accounting terms, how long might it be before WCRC see a return on their capital invested in the restoration of 45699 and 46115? A very long time I suspect.

As enthusiasts we should respect the excellent work WCRC do at Carnforth, and equally respect their privacy. Our knowing how a particular overhaul is proceeding does not advance at all the moment when the engine is turned out on the main line. Let them get on with it!

 

Lets just let the guys at WCRC get on with the job and when they have something to announce or show to us we will hear it/ see it then.
In the meanwhile lets just be grateful that there are people such as this prepared to spend vast sums of money in restoring steam locos that will give many folks lots of pleasure.

Stan

 

Southern Locomotives Ltd. surely. They're the ones who spent the money and did the work.

 

Agree 100% with the above quotes. Regardless of the furore about this photo, West Coast have restored 45699 and it should be gracing the main line in 2013. Well done them. Remember, there was a huge fuss 18 months or so ago about the poll over 46233's livery, and whether it had been totally fair. That's now been forgotten, with everyone concentrating on enjoying its performances on the main line. Likewise, in a couple of months' time we'll all have seen the "official" pictures of Galatea and be looking forward to news of its first main line runs. Indeed, with 34046 and hopefully 6023 gracing our main lines for the first time in many years as well as 45699, it looks like 2013 is going to be a good year.
One

 

So why do they do it, out of the goodness of their heart, remember they run a business, do they run it to subcidise restoring steam locos????

 

Because its a hobby. Football fans spend £100s/1000s following their team all over the country and in some cases Europe, and this is seen as perfectly acceptable despite the fact end of the day they will only really get to see 90minutes of football.

Same situation, WCRC enjoying the sight & sound of a working locomotive and so are prepared put their hands in their pockets in order to see such. Who are we to question them?

 

I don't know why Smiffy doesn't exploit the merchandising and marketing potential of his restorations. This would provide him with a revenue stream to help keep costs down and could continue during the running of the locos. It's too late now for Galatea but British India Line would benefit.
He should allow a 'Friends of British India Line' society to exist and indeed, take a non-exec seat on the management comittee: the other members being volunteer marketing/merchandising experts. One initiative I can think of would involve a steam charter train stopping at Carnforth and include a visit to the works to view progress on the restoration. At departure, the patrons would receive an A4 size glossy photo of on of his locos, signed by Mr Smith personally..

 

Spamcan81: Apologies, my posting above corrected, Sir Keith Park is owned by Southern Locomotives Limited and not the Bulleid Society.

 

That's OK. There's a lot of Bulleids about so keeping track of who owns what can be a bit confusing.