6023

You should not believe everything you read. This latest was fed into Heritage Railway by a small faction hell bent on destroying the reputation of the Great Western Society and all the hard work undertaken over many years by a huge number of volunteers to create Didcot. It does little for Heritage Railway's reputation that they are prepared to abandon a truthful assessment for the sake of sensationalism. The vast majority of volunteers at Didcot are very upset at the way the 6023 saga has been manipulated for the benefit of the railway press and its readers.

Let's give you just one instance, back when when 6023 lost it's bonnet, supposedly by a sideways glancing blow from an overhanging branch in deepest Norfolk. Anyone who has ever removed a GWR taper boiler safety valve bonnet from a loco would know that it is secured with six 3/8 BSW screws, if secured correctly, and has to be lifted vertically getting on for 12 inches to clear both the safety valve assembly and the clack valves each side of the safety valve. Unless an overhead sling is used, it is usual for 2 persons to remove the bonnet. Then for it to fall to the ground just at the moment that 2 people were passing by who instantly picked it up and ran a way with it. A safety valve bonnet is heavy and cumbersome and you do not run away with one.

 

The problem with the GWS/6023 currently is, there's so much claim and counter claim, it's difficult to know who's opinion to believe anymore.

 

I think it might be good if it was decided to base the loco away from Didcot as it seem to be more trouble than it is worth for the GWS. Leaving it at the GCR maybe a better solution.

 

i would guess that would be didcot then or a preserved line with mainline connection might be favourable if there is not enough charter mainline work about.

 

Tyseley - perhaps with both GWR experience and a main line connection with a selection of main line work from "local" runs on the Shakespeare Express to "express" runs to London and North Wales.

 

Am sure plenty of railway would love to offer a home to the King, but it's throne is at Didcot.

from Wikipedia (on the real King Edward 2nd..)

 

from Wikipedia (on the real King Edward 2nd..)[/QUOTE

"The reign of Edward II was considered by some to be disastrous for England, marked by alleged incompetence, political squabbling and military defeat"

Also his death was popularly supposed to result from a red hot poker up the fundament , or in this case a graffiti paintbrush in the firebox ( allegedly )

 

couldn't agree more. People obviously dont want the loco there so why keep it there. The team have done a great job getting the loco up and running and this has now all been forgot because of personalities that think they are bigger than Didcot. Maybe it is time to actually talk about the success of the loco and stop with the petty notes (@Persimmon). I for one cant wait for the loco to be up and running and actually see it turning a wheel again. If you cant keep your negative comments to yourself then write them somewhere else. I shall try and keep this post updated on the SUCCESSFUL goings on of the king.

 

The loco should remain at Didcot. Surely the loco (which is owned by the GWS) is bigger than any squabbles that may or may not have taken place. It would be my guess that the loco will still be around long after many of those involved in the troubles have gone.

 

Even if it was not for the other problems you must question if didcot is the best place for the loco if there is mainline running how much is there going to be and how much income is this going to bring in. May be best if its based on a line with a mainline connection where at least it can be seen and bring in some income.
Didcot is a great museum but weather its the best place for a class 8 loco is another question.

The west somerset NYMR or SVR would seem to be far more sensible places where a greater number of people would be able to see and enjoy the only working example of the class in Blue for possibley the only time.

 

I would have thought that the plan would always have been for the loco to be fairly nomadic during the main season and return to DRC for winter maintenance.

 

Saying it shouldn't be at Didcot is a bit like saying my car doesn't get much use so should be lent/given to someone that would use it more! It was given to Didcot to restore and it was largely their funds and equipment along with volunteers that got it back into anything approaching working condition. Its quite likely that it won't spend as much time on the mainline as say 6024, because it is effectively a working museum piece that is sent out enough to satisfy people's desire to see it and ride behind it, rather than having to take on as much work as it can find to pay its way.

 

Shunned? I didn't think the restoration team had been shunned by the society.

 

Whether they were people who were already members of GWS who formed the team or people who joined GWS in order to join the team is probably too far back in history to be clear! I wasn't a member of GWS at the time but the more recent projects like the Saint and County have had teams formed following announcements to members that they were going ahead. I suspect some came to Didcot with the "bag of bits" that left Temple Meads, but certainly Dennis Howells was a long time part of the the Didcot scene.

As for it not being back at Didcot - that's simply fanciful. How do you think its going to go mainline with no organised group backing it? Can you really imagine any promoter (or even other heritage line) contacting the volunteers and risking booking it over Didcot's head knowing that Didcot are the legal owners? You then have a few practical problems - its possible for example that some of the gauges are borrowed from other locos like 5051, the support coach that would go with it will be the one used by 5051 and it would also be madness to say rent space at Barton Hill or Tyseley when there is a fully functioning base available free at Didcot

I've no allegiance to either side despite being a GWS member as I don't know any of the parties or stories (I've not even read the Heritage Railway article yet!). However its fairly clear that if there is a permanent parting of the ways, sadly it will be 6023 back to Didcot minus the team that put the work in to restore it, simply because there is no other possible outcome. Legally it belongs to GWS, and as a charity asset they can't even dispose of it if they wanted to give it to the team! Sending it out to be finished is probably a sensible course of action - it avoids antagonising the team by forcing it to be finished by Didcot staff they have fallen out with, and it also protects those same staff from future allegations if further problems occur. By doing this, it maximises the chance of taking the heat out of the situation long enough that in time a truce (maybe uneasy) can be agreed.

 

Let's hope everything is done before the GWML is electrified.
when work starts, the paths, the routes even the gauge maybe more restricted than currently.