5972

And it isn't heaven either according to this

 

I'm amazed that an error on our website (now corrected) can generate four pages of unsubstantiated hot air! A quiet month, obviously, and NatPress at its inglorious best.

As far as I'm aware, 5972 remains - as it always has done - in the sole ownership of David Smith and I'm happy for the assumption from that error to be corrected. However, it never ceases to fascinate me that railway preservation attracts such petulant views, such as those of Master Martin. The locomotive was sold by BR for scrap but happened to be bought by and individual (not a museum, society or charity), who funded its restoration. It is therefore his - and no one else's - right to do with it as he pleases.

I'm sure that the small group of individuals, who worked on the loco, are more than happy to be involved with the other locomotives now in David Smith's stable.

You would all do well to think about that before posting hot-headed and inflammatory comments. If you really want to get involved with a 'Hall', try supporting the one that is gradually oxidising at Appleby!

 

Speaking of hot air, seems like someone has had the hairdryer treatment from WCR. To describe the now utterly retracted [without apology] basis of the original advert for the Wizards Express as simply an"error" seems rather disingenuous. Either the "premise" for the tour was invented to attract bookings or it remains true but is now embargoed. Either way, criticising other people on this forum for errors of judgement is poor form and lacking humility.
The side issue of what WCR do with their assets is just that - of course they can and should do as they see fit.

 

Rumour has it that the owners of 4936 are very happy for it to stay at the SVR - as that way it gets some work, which it does not on the mainline.

 

I might be ruffling a few feathers by saying this, but it's not the first time errors on RTC's website has caused confusion and issues, bit unfair to slag people for believing what's wrote on a tour promoters page to be accurate afterall.

Certainly singling out Martin when he was just reacting to what someone else wrote (wrongly) seems out of order.

 

{!I'm amazed that an error on our website (now corrected) can generate four pages of unsubstantiated hot air! A quiet month, obviously, and NatPress at its inglorious best.

As far as I'm aware, 5972 remains - as it always has done - in the sole ownership of David Smith and I'm happy for the assumption from that error to be corrected. However, it never ceases to fascinate me that railway preservation attracts such petulant views, such as those of Master Martin. The locomotive was sold by BR for scrap but happened to be bought by and individual (not a museum, society or charity), who funded its restoration. It is therefore his - and no one else's - right to do with it as he pleases.

I'm sure that the small group of individuals, who worked on the loco, are more than happy to be involved with the other locomotives now in David Smith's stable.

You would all do well to think about that before posting hot-headed and inflammatory comments. If you really want to get involved with a 'Hall', try supporting the one that is gradually oxidising at Appleby! }


My original e-mail :-

Someone just reported on one of the Yahoo groups that Olton Hall has been sold to Warner brothers and is going to America
Fact or Fiction?

Neil




I am sorry to have caused so much confusion all I was doing was asking if a e-mail I had seen on a Yahoo group was true or false

Neil

 

So.... to confirm? It isnt getting sold...?

 

we await confirmation with bated breath
though from Carnforth that could be never

 

The other way to look at it is that there is now no public statement to the effect that she is coming out of service.
As for confirmation of sold or not, they could say no today and have some billionaire come up with an offer they can't resist tomorrow, so you can understand people not wanting to hold hostages to fortune: especially with this forum...

 

I don't think we can quite go that far. My inference from the rumours, RTC's faux pas, Melton North's contribution to this thread, and so on, is that there will be an anouncement about 5972's next role quite soon, and that it's likely to involve one of the Warner Bros tourist attractions, but the folks involved aren't quite ready to say anything yet, so the "news", whatever it is, is embargoed for now.

 

A friend of mine just asked an interesting question: "Is Mr Smith really going to put 5972 back on the mainline just for one trip?" It is a little while since her last mainline movements, so she will at least need a 6-month exam and certificate, possibly a little more than that.

Now, this is complete speculation on my part, but... might WCRC, or someone else, be planning a few other trips with her in the spring, and RTC have got their publicity for their farewell tour out quickly, while it looks like a unique event, rather than just the last in a series? Being a sneaky sort of fellow myself, that's what I'd do if I could

 

So No. 5972 on the Jacobite's....

Only other wild speculation I can make is she'll be the sole engine on all days of the CathEx...

 

Hot air or not, your website issued it, people reacted, what do you expect. an apology for the "error"WOULD have been the decent thing to do instead of having a rant.
And I would bet a shilling that Mr Smith has "had a word"

 

Its not that long since it went on the mainline, 20.9.13 seen about to leave Carnforth - http://philmetcalfe.zenfolio.com/p48649454/h7df875a1#h7df875a1

 

We will find out in due course what is happening. But, why would Warner Bros need to own 5972 if they weren't going to steam it, they already have several replicas? If they are going to steam it, then perhaps we might see the Hogwarts express operating in the UK? That might offer some serious competition to a number of current mainline and heritage operations if they did. Equally several people I spoke to in Orlando over the New Year period were pretty adamant that WB were introducing a service there with "real" steam engines.....didn't quite look that way to me at the time, but who knows?

 

Could prove a Gerald Ratner style moment from MeltonNorth. Astonishing. Making a mistake is one thing but compounding it by blaming others for speculating on the basis of the published misinformation is quite bizarre.

 

I doubt it, in the unlikely event WB did go down that route, it's appealing to the Potter fan market, different area to the standard railtour market with daytrippers and enthusiasts looking to ride behind a train from years gone by.