Llangollen Railway

Maybe so, and I’m sure they want it to remain there. It just depends if the economies of the situation dictate otherwise.

 

What economies?

 

I think that you are misunderstanding things. Forget the SMS; the legislation is the Pressure Systems Regulations 2000. This requires the locos owner to have a written scheme of maintenance. That written scheme will require the boiler to be inspected at intervals by a Competent Person - the boiler inspector in our terminology. It has nothing to do with insurance. Although some insurance companies employ boiler inspectors there are many independent inspectors out there. If someone competent inspects your boiler and producers a satisfactory report you are complying with the law and can steam it. If you want to use it, that is a different matter and such as public liability insurance will come into play. You do not have to insure the boiler, which will be against damage but that is a sensible step. If locos are on long term hire the hirer can take on the liabilities and responsibilities of the owner.

 

Whether the Trust run railway can pay the necessary hire costs for it to remain at the railway and facilitate it’s overhaul, or if another railway offers a more beneficial deal.

No problem. I wish you all the best and hope 80072 can remain at Llangollen, buts it too early to know exactly how this will play out.

 

I am puzzled. What hire costs are you on about?

 

Obviously none at the moment while it’s not in working order. Presumably in the future a running agreement would need to be drawn up with steaming fees agreeable to both parties?

 

And your point is? If they have no money to pay for the overhaul and neither does the Trust, if an attractive offer comes along from , say, the XXX Railway , for it to move there in exchange for help with the overhaul, are you saying that they wouldn't consider the possibility?

 

Indeed. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time that a loco owned by supporters of one line was moved to another line for financial reasons.

Hopefully it won’t happen, but it remains to be seen how healthy the finances of the revived Llangollen Railway will be.

 

Quite agree. The engineering director for 80072 has been leading the overhaul on 7754. He is also now voluntarily running the MPD. It was never planned to start on the standard until the pannier was nearing completion anyway. It was rebuilt from scrap by volunteers, and maintained by them during its 10 year ticket, so nothing will change.

 

All this talk of the standard tank. Is it a closed shop or is there a support organisation you can become a member of ?

 

As far as I know the scenery and the stations haven’t changed, and the vast majority of visitors aren’t going to notice the difference between one steam loco and another so I don’t think the LR is ever going to be a mundane operation...

Granted it might take a little while to re-establish itself but with a good business plan there’s no reason why it can’t stabilise it’s finances, focus on its core market initially and then gradually start doing more of the ‘nice to have’ activities that excite enthusiasts!

 

That side of things went a bit quiet when the restoration finished but it was (and probably still is) possible to buy shares in it or be a member of the owning group. I’ll see if I can find some information on how to get involved if you wish to.

 

The important thing is not what tier you are in its being well run and sustainable in the long term if that is only a few loco that is fine

 

It isn't what necessarily brings in the visitors, though. Enthusiasts are very fickle For my part I wonder how viable the LR may be, particularly now it has extended. I get the impression of a line that felt it had to extend to try to increase business because the pre-extension levels weren't sufficient. But I expect we'll find out soon enough.

 

There was an appeal posted in the Unofficial Llangollen group earlier about the crane allegedly being bought by a scrap dealer who intends to break it up on-site soon. It has caused a bit of stir, but the original post has been screen-grabbed for those who cannot access FB.

 

I know he asked, but did the scrap dealer get permission to cut up on site?

What does the crane weigh? Just trying to work out home much profit is it it for him. Does sound like he might have overpaid, and perhaps would bite someone’s hand off if they made a decent offer.