Collection X

Mr. Rampton's collection is his own private property; the collection owned by the charity is, obviously, not. Both collections are believed to have items kept at these premises.

 

I'm not sure that follows. I have curtains, but it doesn't mean that I don't do the hoovering.

 

As I said they appear to be a private collection.

The PRNGT fulfils its charitable aims by supporting the VOR.

 

That id quite different: Lots of people enjoy owning things and telling only their own circle. Memorabilia doesn't have any function except to hang somewhere. Presumably it gives you pleasure, and the rest of the world can't see it anyway unless you want they traipsing through you're WC, so why would we care who owns it?
Steam locomotives on the other hand are supposed to steam up and down railways being awesome. Being shoved in a dark barn somewhere where no one can see them properly and they can't move can't give even the owner much pleasure.
I have never heard of anyone restoring a unique steam locomotive and then hiding it, because what would be the point? And, to be honest, human nature likes a bit of affirmation after that kind of achievement.
However, at least they are still existent, for which we should be grateful.

 

A steam loco stuck away in a barn is like a stuffed eagle in a museum: perhaps of some educational value to someone who has never seen an eagle, but ultimately a sad dead thing and very little like the glory of the live beast.

 

The glory of the love beast?

 

Ahem, edited.
I am a bit worried what you were thinking of, though...

 

Yes, but look at 'Newstead', which despite being hidden in a barn for a quarter of a century was fully overhauled by its owner before being tucked away.

 

That does not mean a private collection of steam locomotives has to be in the public domain. It is the owners prerogative to do what they like with their own collection.

 

So what should be done and how should it be paid for?

 

Of course the owner can do what they like with them, including doing nothing. Personally I would think it more public spirited to occasionally let the interested public know a little of what is going on, say once a decade. But there can be no obligation to do so.
(As an aside I do wonder whether all the "owners prerogative" people on here would be so sure about that principle if it was actually tested, e.g. if Mr Beet wanted to scrap 'Leander'...).
From what (little) we know of this collection, the steam locos are not in general especially well suited to the main UK NG lines, being mostly too big or too small.
Statfold has shown what can be done, but that requires a lot of money and a real desire to share the fruits.

 

I agree. Collection X is so called for all those reasons.

 

There is not really a great need for any more narrow gauge locomotives in this country. There are plenty sat around out of ticket which are surplus to commercial requirements.

I was talking to the part owner of a moderately large narrow gauge loco this weekend and we were musing on where it could be relocated if it needed to leave its current base. It is too small for F&WHR, VOR and BMR. But too big for LBR, apedale, west lance, Bala, Llanberis etc... The only possible options would be L&B (for now) and STR?

Statfold is a commendable collection and runs to capacity 3 times a year donating all the ticket/invite income to charity. This is not a viable model for anyone to follow unless you have A LOT OF MONEY!

The only reason for collection X to be restored is "wouldn't it be nice if..." (C) Paul H.

 

Whilst we might not like the idea of someone else having his/her personal collection hidden away from enthusiast gaze at least the locos and rolling stock still exist. I have absolutely no doubt that the 6 Isle of Man Railway carriages would have been destroyed had they not been sold to the Ramptons. I'm equally sure that several of the imported locos would have been scrapped in their home countries.
Ray.

 

That won't have been a green Peckett by any chance?

 

An objective that is more than met by the operations at the Vale of Rheidol i would have thought. Considering they have have overhauled locos, coaches, wagons, relaid the whole line, rebuilt stations, built a new workshop, built undercover storage for rolling stock, are training apprentices, are attempting to establish a museum, and of course running the vofr itself.

Tim

 

I'd certainly agree with that in terms of the IOMR stock. At that time much historic stock was lost, literally being burnt to the ground where it stood. The cleminsons in particular would have been in a very poor state by then and obvious "bonfire" candidates. I seem to recall reading somewhere that even one of those rescued was so structurally weak that its roof pretty much disintegrated during the recovery process.

I did, probably 3-4 years ago, speak to somebody who knowing my interest in things IOMR orientated and who was occasionally involved in activities with the Trust at the farm in Surrey, told me that one of the IOMR coaches (I don't know which one) was the subject of what he described as an extremely high quality "every last nut and bolt" restoration to original condition. One hopes this would be an early candidate for display at the VoR museum in due course.

In respect of the comments re the test track, based on its condition observed at the back end of last year, I don't think it has seen use in many years, or possibly even since the 1970's/1980's.
One of our, now sadly deceased, members at my local model engineering society, who lived local to the farm did use to say that he could recall seeing a steam loco operating on the line on at least one occasion, and doing the maths, that would work out as being around that period. Again, which loco it might have been is unknown, although I do recall seeing a post some time ago on another forum somewhere from somebody purporting to have seen a photo of the Avonside Heisler hauling a re-gauged IOM coach, presumably on that track. The photo in question was never posted however.

Chris

 

Nope.

 

Clearly there must be a need or desire to use the test track again if they're bothering to apply for the planning certificate. For our younger readers here is an older NP thread about this mysterious little railway.
https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/disused-tracks-in-surrey.31905/

 

That's OK then, but if the owner was considering a move to Devon, then I would not leave it to long to find out, what with LYN hopefully being there next year along with Isaac and Charles Wytock that may be more than enough steam locos they need for now, I don't think there are any plans to dispose of AXE which I hope no one would seriously consider anyway, to my way of thinking she could be keep for cab rides and driver experience course etc.

Now if I had the money and the L&BR were interested I would suggest that a certain 0-4-2T loco which is currently on display would be a useful addition to the fleet as she is in the same power group as the (as built) Manning Wardle 2-6-2T's not the 'LYD' version, but like as has been said else where I think she need's almost a new boiler and firebox.