Rotting away?

Do you mean the S J Claye box van which was at Bitton for many years and I believe previously at Mid-Hants? Although thought for years to be a GCR van I measured it at AVR and convinced myself it wasn't - it doesn't match any of the GCR diagrams. At which point I lost interest, but I was told later it had gone to Statfold but whether this is true I don't know (not sure why they'd want a standard gauge van).

Edit: took some finding: http://www.ws.vintagecarriagestrust.org/ws/WagonInfo.asp?Ref=6418


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Add to that list Ribble Steam Railway and even the Isle of Man where all the stock goes under cover.
Ray.

 

Sadly neither WSR or Swanage stock goes undercover and it shows I am sorry to say

 

As for stock rotting away ...
like Sawdust, and many others, I do my bit to preserve / restore what I can. But it is a costly exercise, both in materials and workshop time. Another factor is that the traditional skills required (even when suitably updated) are also a finite resource, as "old age" catches up on people.
.
Currently my next contribution is in the early stages of work, specifically, the third restoration project for the Knotty Heritage Train ...

 

Hi PMH_74 That wagon came from Lee's yard in Farncombe, and was an LMR survivor, and cost a mighty £25 each + 1 free. One was a LSWR 4 plank, a chassis of no origin, and the box van, which we lifted and found had GCR stamped wheel sets. The LSWR open was restored, but was destroyed in the Ropley Runaway, at Alresford. The chassis was broken up. and I took over the van and for many years used it for loco bits. It moved with our other stock the the AVR in 1985.

For some reason best known to MLV, my Jinty was taken out of the shed I built for it, in 85/86, and dumped my engine in the yard, and started taking the GCR van to bits, and made two new sole bars from Oak. That was 1996 ish, and was the last time I saw the Van. I was copied a letter noting it had been sold, but no mention of to whom.

 

The day in 1975 we bought the van, The White lettering read S.A.R. so must have been used in a film at Longmoor.

 

Hi PolSteam, the van must have left AVR in or around 2008 as that was the year I recovered some Conflat container bits from there. I no longer have my emails from back then unfortunately but I do recall a name and will PM you. It may not help as it isn't someone I know personally.

When I saw the van it was in the workshop building but they wanted it out so they could start on the 4F. The oak solebars (I'd forgotten about them) had not been fitted so it was looking rather sad. I think the solebar on one side had rotted into two pieces and it was looking a bit saggy.

The GCR stamped wheels are interesting, I was unaware of them, but as I say the van doesn't match any known GCR diagrams. I couldn't work out what it actually is. It has four S J Claye axleboxes and they are an unusual enough builder that you would have thought someone could work it out, but the only vans they built for the MSLR/GCR either had steel frames or a different wheelbase (I forget which it was now). The style combined with unusual wheelbase (9'6" rings a bell?) didn't match any of the 'mainstream' companies I could find details for so I concluded it was probably either a private owner wagon or from one of the myriad of minor companies. It's an interesting one and I'd certainly like to know if it's being cared for somewhere now.


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Polsteam. The S.A.R lettering was for a film at Longmoor, "Young Winston".

 

Made in 1971 ? starring Simon Ward

 

Young Winston was filmed in South Wales using 0-4-2t 1466 I thought

 

Filmed in both locations! You are right with 1466 in South Wales. But 30064 (USA Dock Tank) and 9F 92203 "Black Prince" at Liss Forest on the Longmoor line.

 

Well, that info is worth adding to the history books. I had a quick look for my letter and it's dated 03/2008, Which means the wagon was removed as a kit of parts? The 44123 tender rebuild must have started when the van left in 2008.

 

No, the wagon was in one piece but very tired.


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Agreed. I say this to ALL heritage railways.

Get your rolling stock - your coaches and wagons undercover and in storage. Look after them. They don't tend to do well out in the open, exposed to the elements, season after season, year after year, and in general crappy British summers. And that's not considering the loser jobless arsonists out there, who take great pleasure in destroying what is attractive.

Really boils my blood when I get on a ride, to see eyesore after eyesore, parked forever in a siding, ruining my potential view of your line/route.

Can't believe we're in 2017 and I still have to tell people to invest in storage and security.

 

This Pullman, Cambria, together with other unrestored K&ESR coaches had a final swan song, ‘starring’ with John Hurt in the film of George Orwell’s 1984. You catch a glimpse of it crossing Newmill Bridge near the end of this clip together with equally rough looking Maunsell & Birdcage coaches.

 

You are absolutely right. Trouble is there are still plenty in thrall to "big chufferitis" and "extension fever"

PH

 

When the perfectly restored steamer is standing at the station, with no serviceable train to pull, maybe the penny will drop.

You can't earn money from steam, or diesel engines, without rolling stock, be it goods or passenger.

I recently traveled on a railway in the UK, and although the coach looked OK, a closer look revealed bubbling paint, rotting wood, dirty windows, and seats not really fit for service.

All signs of a lack of maintenance. I know this is repeated around the country, even on lines with paid staff. The humble coach is the number 1 point of contact for passengers, and is probably as important, if not dare I say, more important that the big thing pulling the train. Bums on seats is what it's all about, and the passenger has to enjoy the trip, or they will not return.

I dare to any of you, to take a pencil and pad, and fault a rake, or even just one coach. After the missing toilet floor incident, I'm sure it was a symptom of not having enough service stock, and a rushed job going wrong,

 

Aye.... the lovely chuffers may well be what attracts the punters initially, but if the stock (and other facilities) are poor, Joe Public (and just as importantly .... their money!) won't come a second time.

The days of a flaky green carriage with tatty blue BR moquette need to be confined to memory .... however fondly some of us recall earlier times!

 

I've been on more than one railway with poor Mk1s in service and other's with immaculate ones. Some DMUs need work too.