6201, her new lease of life.

Could you expand on that? Both the Talyllyn and Festiniog give generous travel benefits, but most of the funding appeals these days seem to consist of "give us your money", and not much else.

 

Several members of this committee, over the years have had a degree in this particular qualification

 

Add to that, competence in steam loco engineering becoming ever more confined within the "cottage industry", as Bob Meanley sagely describes it, greatly narrows the options for owners lacking the necessary self-sufficiency. Having the wisdom to recognise this and act accordingly is a priceless management attribute.

 

Well the 120 days are more or less up (showing one hour to go now) and just under 4 1/2% (£1750) of the £40,000 total raised. so still just over £10,000 short even just to get the boiler taken off the frames and a proper checking to see what needs to be done. Also their new web site went live 04/04/2017 and on there it stated in the near future they will tell us what the other £28,000 will be needed to be spent on to get the engine running and still nothing listed. https://6201.co.uk/index.php/fundraising-for-essential-repairs/. The other £20,000 they are wanting for the boiler tubes etc they have just got 32% with about 50% for the boiler tubes.

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1143704455695588/permalink/1477855135613850/

 

I am not altogether sure I entirely believe the source of that thread....

 

Nothing on the official website to say they are withdrawing it permanently but I think they will need to find a rich benefactor and perhaps be a bit more open as a Society. Asking for donations on the website is not going to produce the results they need, perhaps a covenanting scheme along the lines of the A1 trust and appealing to the greater public, it is named after our current monarch after all.

 

An interesting thread.

The more I read on certain groups, the more I think that fresh blood and new ideas is required to change the prevailing attitudes found in some parts of our movement. Losing Lizzie from the mainline is a shame, but out of steam altogether is a real blow to railway preservation. She represents a lot of GWR and LMS development of line and hers is a fascinating story.

I'd be happy to donate money if I could see a definite end goal - but at this stage, all we have is speculation.

 

I note that in the most recent SR within the piece on general funding for projects going forward which included the A1 group and Duke group within its content it notes that the the 6201 group were asked for comments and declined.

 

They are a funny lot. Before it's last overhaul when it was known they were short of cash a couple of charter organisers wanted to fund repainting in BR Green for the final few months of its boiler certificate but they weren't interested. I know running charters doesn't create a fortune but they had nothing to lose and it could have got them a few more members and donations. I get the feeling that they are just giving up. They certainly need some new blood with a bit more business acumen.

 

I enquired about membership after the loco's previous overhaul, at ELR, and was told that membership of the society was by invite only. Never heard that one before!

 

Madness!

 

Probably not the first time that the attempt to retain 100% control will prove counter-productive.

 

I have to take this 'news' with 'a pinch of salt'!

The way posts are worded, with both Princess Royals 'needing new boilers' is not the sort of description you usually hear from 'those in the know'. Even Flying Scotsman, while carrying now a different boiler hasn't had a 'new boiler' and only smaller (and hence cheaper) and much older standard gauge locos have, as far as I am aware, had truly 'new' boilers.

Whether there may be a basis of truth that 6201 needs major boiler repairs of course could be a different matter!

Steven

 

It doesn't encourage people to part with their hard-earned, does it?

 

https://6201.co.uk/index.php/2017/08/24/6201-feature-patrons-friends-duchess-weekend/

Maybe someone could ask at the weekend?

 

Forms etc are widely available here... https://6201.co.uk/index.php/membership/ Plus here https://6201.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/6201-Members-Information-Pack.pdf doesn't seem to suggest membership involves any invitation or need to be voted into the group?

 

I was going to ask, is it the whole boiler & firebox that's jiggered, or just the firebox?
Either way, it'll be a damned expensive job, but the grammar of the farcebook post is so poor as to render
the facts rather hazy.
I remember my Dad enquiring about membership of the society years ago, only to receive a snotty response from Mr. Mojonnier,

Richard.

 

The Society needs to demonstrate unequivocally how any new money will be wisely spent. Its status as a prestigious doyen of the preservation era no longer cuts it. Sadly, I fear certain anachronistic factions within the Society are too influential to make progress. If they relinquished some control there would be many willing, able and determined folk to take things forward.
Massive shame because the loco is fabulous.

 

This was probably about 15 years ago, so things have improved a bit since then.