Save Sgt Murphy.

Following on from the TVR upset thread it seems the locomotive Sgt Murphy is being left to decay and rust in the open air, is there a way that we can do something to change the situation, how about all of us chipping in to save it ? A forum mascot ?

 

Please could any knowledgeable reader provide a guesstimate of the reasonable cost of a loco such as Sgt Murphy?
From what we know, its boiler has been refurbished (but that work not paid for). Reassembly and other such work is clearly needed, but we don't know the extent of overhaul needed.

 

Could Elizabeth or anyone else in the know please post to let us know the current ownership arrangements of the loco?
Who (and how) should one contact to see if a sale might be considered?

 

To answer my own question (!), looking at various sites selling restored and unrestored steam locos, one comes to the conclusion that a partially restored Sgt Murphy might not cost a vast amount See, for example, a fully working standard gauge 0-6-0 at Spa Valley (http://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk/enthusiasts/For_Sale/).

Any thoughts from readers??

 

Good point. I'll edit that out of my original post and maybe you could edit it out of the quote part in yours?

Cheers

 

According to a poster on RMweb.................... "just read about this on facebook, apparently a lot of its parts have been skipped, though i doubt it" ?

 

Absolutely need to do something, and something quick. Until we speak to someone at the Teifi this is all irrelevant. Anything I can do to help let me know

 

I and a friend have sent messages to Elizabeth Perry to try and find out the name of the owner(s) of Sgt Murphy and their contact details. If we can get those then we might be able to find out if they are even willing to consider a sale. If so, then we'll have to gauge interest on here in terms of pledges of money, and also discuss location of the loco after purchase.

 

I now have the details of who to contact. As a non-UK resident, I'd prefer if someone else did the attempt at contact. This is in case there is a response, then phone calls or visits etc are much easier if you are in the same country!

The details are:
Ray Sanderson, Society Chairman
Teifi Valley Railway Society
Henllan Station, Henllan, Llandysul. SA44 5TD
Phone: 01559 371077 (not sure if this still works)
Email: teifivalleyrailway@yahoo.co.uk (no reply to previous messages)

Mr Sanderson is also the sole director of the company.
The comment I also received was that a reply to a letter was not likely. On the other hand the society seems happy to let the TVR be run by the tenant who it is claimed is not interested in the expense of the railway side and wants to simply run an amusement park. In that case, then, selling Sgt Murphy may allow that to go forward and clear any amount still owed to the boilermakers.
Probably worth a try?

Anyhow - please do post if you'd like to take on the task of trying to get in touch with Mr Sanderson; perhaps first by mail and email, then by phone.

 

This might need to be a coordinated affair...if loads of us suddenly contact Mr Sanderson he may think there is a huge amount of interest and hold out for a higher price. Might I suggest that all interested parties identify themselves on here, or via PMs, and then a single individual is select to approach the Teifi?

 

Good idea.
Chris - would you volunteer if no-one else wants to...?

 

Yeeeeeeea, I suppose

 

Only needs a letter in the first place, I guess?
Anyhow, I'm now away from keyboard for rest of Saturday!

 

Ray Sanderson is the director of TVR Ltd. The locos are owned by the TVR Society, a charity, which, so far as I can tell, has the funds to pay for Sgt Murphy's boiler overhaul.
(There are many railways where dismantled locos can be seen lying around outside, sometimes for years on end, but I don't hear anyone forecasting doom and gloom about those locos.)
Peter Johnson

 

It has indeed become clear that there is no likelihood that the loco will be sold.
We therefore would request the Mods to lock this thread.

 

Thread locked at request of the posters.