GNR(I) 4-4-0 171

Sorry - I made a wild guess because you asked for a reason!!!

If there are legal issues involved then I doubt you'll hear much from the owners

Keith

 

as you were at the meeting, we can, I assume , take it that they aren't telling what the present situation is and where the loco is?

 

if 131 is now on its final leg to completion, then is it possible that 171 will take the slot in the workshop? if there is doubt over the work done then i would imagine that the loco would have to be stripped so that an assessment can be made by a 3rd party as to if the work done was up to a required standard,

 

No, as I mentioned, there was no location given for 171 and no mention of what the current state of the overhaul is, just that it had to be 'rescued' and work was not completed.

No4 and 3BG are currently in the workshop, so I don't think there's any workshop capacity until much later this year. If the tender is anything to go by, then you could be right about everything having to be checked.


Keith

 

I'm surprised no-one asked or wasn't it the slort of meeting you could do that

 

Not that sort of meeting. There's a brief 'Newsreel' of happenings and then it's straight into a talk/slideshow/filmshow. County Donegal Railway last night - excellent evening!

Keith

 

So the tender was a poor job? Hope that serves as a warning to anyone considering letting future work to this lot!

 

Just caught sight of another pic showing 171 on the back of a low loader, apparently taken in Scotland. Loco is wheeled and has her bogie but is missing buffers, coupling rods, chimney (I think I saw the petticoat pipe in the earlier Whitehead pics), smokebox door, dome, boiler cladding and much else besides. Boiler looks like it's been blasted clean (or it might just be the weather making it look that way!) and part of the firebox has been painted.

Looks like the idea of sending the loco to RRNE for overhaul to free up the Whitehead gang has backfired. Not a good situation.

Keith

 

she's en route...this is in Scotland and no, that isn't Caley Blue

 

That's the pic I was describing. Didn't post it here as I don't know who owns it!

As you can see, it's far from finished!

Keith

 

wasn't credited afaik.... saw it in several different places.

 

How much did that token gesture of work cost? I assume the grant to restore 131 was significant. I assume they have had most of the money for the work?

 

it's n good speculating. Looks like it has a new smokebox at least

 

Intriguingly, has recently been spotted on TV:

 

Well i should imagine that a 3rd party will have to examine the loco,and the work done, so then and only then will any information come to light, so anything is just guess work, if whitehead has no workshop space till later, can the RPSI delay any inspection till they can clear the workshop, or is there a time limit if there is to be any claim against the contractor,or the reciever infact, can they claim anything if the contractor is no longer trading?

 

Regardless of whether or not RRNE is in liquidation, there is a continuation to trade under another company. New work taken in from LNERCA yet jobs where money has been spent turned away and sent back. I would suggest there has been mismanagement of projects, this and Weardale Railway No40 boiler as examples we know of. Any claim needs to be made directly with the directors as they have duties to manage the company in a responsible manner and if failing to do so could be struck off! You cannot just take money and not provide the service. You certainly cannot hide behind an administration or liquidation of a business.

RPSI should involve a legal practictioner to get support and advise on the matter, though I'm sure they are considering that when viewing the evidence in the photographs!

 

According to the RPSI website, 171 arrived back at Whitehead on 12th March.

http://www.steamtrainsireland.com/locomotives/loco171.htm

Scroll down to bottom of page.