David Shepherd (RIP) and his locomotives.

Very sad news.
The Man who Loved Giants was himself a giant name in our sphere, and so many over the years have benefitted from his generosity and talent.
An old school English gentleman of a kind now passing into history, and we are all the poorer for it.
RIP

 

And I can say no more than I - and all in the MNLPS - concur with that. Amongst all the other causes dear to David's heart, that are well known to virtually all reading this forum, he was a supporter of "Clan Line" since the Longmoor days, and had been MNLPS president for many years. Rest assured we will ensure that his contribution in so many areas of 'conservation' will be marked appropriately. R.I.P.

 

Are there any plans for a suitable headboard om one of your tours or even a David Shepherd commemorative railtour?

 

A kind man who fought for the animals, as the very best among us do. Not bad with a brush either. He is with the giants now

 

Photo' of a Photo' i snapped at The Whipsnade and Umfolozi Railway in 1985 showing Davids ex Rhodesian Railways Locomotive before it was moved elsewhere. Also in the picture is the Ford Popular fitted with railway wheels for use as an inspection vehicle.

 

Certainly it is planned that "Clan Line" will carry a wreath on the smokebox door when working the ACE tomorrow.
As for a commemorative tour, certainly we have discussed 'options' in the past day or so, but a lot of things have to fall in place to make it happen. As ever, watch this space....

 

I can think of one route that may work, Down the portsmouth direct through Goldalming where he lived, past Liss, home of the longmoor system, where Clan line was stored for a while , thence onto Salisbury via Romsey, where 92203 ran its only railtour, to Salisbury , then on to Exeter, returning via taunton and the Berks and hants to Reading then via staines to waterloo, or Victoria .

 

If it is possible it would be nice to have a commemorative gala with perhaps some of the money going to his Wildlife Foundation either at the ESR or, less likely have a gala somewhere that reunites 92203 and 75029 as well as other locos he was involved in saving.

 

RIP to a true gent. A big loss both in the animal world and the steam loco movement. Still I got to meet him in 2001 at barrow hill on the footplate of his beloved Black Prince.

 

That's a nice tribute there of David's beloved locos

 

The world is a poorer place without him, that's for sure. I'm particularly grateful that in his latter years he saw fit to dispose of his locos to organisations that will keep them operating as long as is practical, and didn't decide instead to stick them in a barn on his farm....

 

BBC Last Word - Radio 4

David Shepherd, the artist who painted trains, aeroplanes and elephants and worked tirelessly to conserve wild animals. Matthew Bannister spoke to Sally Case, Trusts and Foundations Manager at the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation

First item, repeated tomorrow (24 September) at 8.30 p.m. on Radio 4 and available to listen or download podcast at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0953bdl

Patrick

 

How many of us would say the same thing?!

 

Was the white paintwork on 92203 something that was added after it was acquired by David Shepherd? It looks great. Maybe it could be applied again?

 

It was painted up for the last steam hauled iron ore train from Bidston Dock to John Summers steel works at Shotton.

 

David Shepherd let me have my first drive of a full size loco.

When he left longmoor his loco's were kept at Eastleigh Diesel depot for a few years. My father was depot engineer and and one Sunday afternoon he announced we were going out. When we arrived at the depot 92203 was in steam. After a couple of footplate rides up and down No 3 siding I was allowed to sit in the drivers seat and have a go! Aged 11.
I will never forget this. When the locos moved on to Cranmore David gave my father a signed copy of the his end of steam painting (the Nine Elms one )
David Shepherd was a true gent

RIP

 

We did this in 2008 at the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire railway whilst 92203 was based there. http://ukrailways1970tilltoday.me.uk/Gloucestershire_Warwickshire_Railway_2008page1.html

It was in conjunction with celebrating davids ownership of black prince for 40 years. We ran her like this on the Saturday, then 12 of us cleaned and polished well into the evening ready for a cake cutting and celebrations in the Sunday. Great times. Will be sadly missed.

 

Oh that's a terrible shame. I met him in September 1982, I was 15 and Black Prince had just hauled 2178 tonnes (loaded bogie stone wagons and a switcher) at Merehead at a special open day for families employed by Foster Yeoman; my Dad worked for BR planning stone trains so had an invite.

Dad and I cabbed the 9f, David Sheppard was in the cab over-brimming with enthusiasm and insisted on opening the firebox doors to show me the fire was white hot. Dave Massey the driver was chuckling. Brilliant. RIP.

 

It’s remarkable just the number of people in this thread who met David Shepherd. I met him briefly as a boy visiting the ESR. His wife Avril sold me a guidebook and said “Would you like David to sign it? He wrote it you know.” Of course I said yes and I still have it.

 

Proving how much an enthusiast he was by making himself available to enthusiasts rather than using his reputation to seek to be above them.

Will be a great loss to both Art and Preservation - RIP