Gresley V4

Whilst IMHO I think a V4 would be a useful performer. I do wonder whether it will inspire the kind if fund raising success that the P2 has enjoyed...

 

We'll find out soon enough. All the while there are hard core Gresley fans around, I reckon the money will be forthcoming.

 

'Teeth with wings' then...

 

I do think the P2 has a much wider appeal than just to LNER fans, I suspect support for the V4 would come from a smaller field, but then it is a smaller and less costly loco.

 

I may be wrong but I think there is only 20% of the A1 Covenanters who are funding the P2

 

I suspect the A1 was funded largely by those who wanted to recreate what they remembered from their train spotting days but the P2 is attracting support from the Gresley faithful wanting to recreate something the vast majority will have seen only in pictures.

 

I think you are right, an old work colleague of mine became a covenantor after he read an article in a national newspaper, he had only a passing interest in railways but he remembered the A1s in his home city of York.

 

The figure ive been quoted was 23% !
I signed up for the A1 because a certain prominent trust member said that the quicker they got it built the sooner they could get on with a P2. When I did the homework an A1 seemed like an excellent idea and a P2 pie in the sky....
Whoops there goes another rubber-tree plant...
Wonder if they could come up with a Boiler sharing arrangement for 'the third boiler' with the icons of steam people. 4 Boilers between 3 Locomotives would see at least two out of three locomotives always available on a 5 yearly inspection/ renewal program

 

You mention "a prominent trust member". I noticed that membership of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, if that is what you mean, is a rather exclusive club, as there were only seven of them as at 31 March 2015, all of whom were trustees and directors, although the annual report states that "any person may become a member..upon approval of an application....by the council of management". Has anyone ever applied?

 

Yes one or two including me, you can be a Trust member by setting up a standing order for at least £10 per month, the trustees and directors are the management of the Trust as any organisation has to have. If you are a bit more flush you can join one of the specialist 'clubs' within the trust, I'm a Founder which is now closed but the boiler club and the Mikardo Club for instance is still looking for members. Take a look at the website and that of the P2, https://www.p2steam.com/help-build-no-2007/

 

I think you need to read the annual report to understand the nature of the organisation you are supporting. Unless you are one of the seven (or whatever that number is now), you are not a member of the Trust.

 

I think you are confusing Trustees with members the seven you mention are the trustees, anyone can be a member and I have a card that tells me I'm Founder No323

 

Although there were only seven members as at March last year.

 

Wrong, there were seven members of the board of trustees I'm not sure how many members or covenantors there are now but could be in the 1000s. I'm not quite sure why you asked the original question, there's not a lot of difference between the A1 Trust and other locomotive owning groups where a trust is common to preserve the loco in perpetuity, Duke of Gloucester is a good example.

 

Yes i understand the diference between trust members and trustees and ive spent a bit of time with a few of them over the years. If I thought I had the time/money/expertise to make a significant contribution to such an organisation then I wouldn't.t hesitate to apply - even so I think you would have to spend some considerable time in and around the groups activities to be accepted. Given that some trustees have effectively retired and others have come onboard its not exactly a closed shop. Perhaps you have to be a Freemason as well !?

 

I think A1SLT are following good business practice by planning for further development beyond the P2 to keep the interest alive. If they didn't plan further ahead then there is a risk that the funding stream might tail off as the P2 nears completion and people begin to think "job done". There will always be the need for significant funds just to keep Tornado and the P2 operational, unless they can earn enough to cover their costs, which I think is unlikely.

However, there is also a need to keep feet on the ground as well as head in the clouds. A new base in Darlington with network access; a turntable; a fleet of renovated and modified Mk3 coaches; two more locos, plus maintaining the A1 and the P2 in mainline condition; operating at 90mph. Meanwhile they still need about another £2.5million to complete the P2. I wish them well but hope they don't over-extend themselves and go bottoms up.

On the other hand, I would dearly love them to build a loco with the Gresley conjugated gear and see what David Elliot can do to improve it. That would be a massive tribute to Gresley.

 

I have a Bradford Barton album Steam in the Western Highlands with a photo of 61701 at Helensburgh Upper. The caption says the V4s were intended for use on the West Highland but had difficulty keeping time between Glasgow and Craigendoran and were rarely seen on the line for which they were built. This seems a bit odd given the success of the K4s on the line.

Dave

 

The two prototype V4's we're sent to Scotland but I don't think that they we're designed with that route in mind. Would the West Highland have needed 12 of these machines ? ( given that the order for another 10 V4's was cancelled by Thompson). The K4 was definitely the horse for that course.