6984 "Owsden Hall" Restoration progress

Some latest picture updates attached! Bottom end very near completion!

 

This weekend sees Owsden Hall leave for a new home at Quainton.

 

Is this the reason for the Facebook page disappearing?
Seems a slightly odd decision as Quainton doesn't have anywhere to give a Hall a decent run when it is complete.

Keith

 

True, although I would also say the S&C is hardly a place (2 miles?) "to give a Hall a decent run" either?

 

I do feel a bit sorry for the Swindon and Cricklade, that's the second Hall they've provided space for a restoration for that's left without providing any service for their trouble. It does seem like a curious place to go, Is Wightwick Hall still nominally based there? I know that's been out and about, presumably to try and get a bit more mileage than would be available at Quainton Road.

 

I take your point, but I think they'll have 5 miles when their extensions are complete. I guess 2 miles are better than the short run (400 yds?) at Quainton. I feel sorry for the small team at the S&C who have made remarkable progress and this will come as a bit of a slap in the face to them.

Keith

 

perhaps the loan of its tender to the Quainton hall was a clue such a move was likely?

 

The loss of the engine is a blow to all involved at the scr.
Personally I think the owner of Owsden always intended to take the loco to Quainton.

 

The owner of the Engine did tell me himself that it was going to the Buckinghamshire railway centre so the boiler can be worked on by Steve Underhill, who apparently wants to do the work there and also previously did some work on it's boiler at Toddington. I was busy working when he was chatting so didn't ask much, but it does pose the question. Well why not move just the boiler ? Maybe he has other reasons for wanting it to move.

 

I think the scr have lost out yet again.
5637, Foremarke and now Owsden.

 

And 34072/35027 in the distant past. Admittedly too large for the line, the S&C still provided facilities for those locos for a period and seemingly got nothing in return.

Keith

 

When I've visited any preserved railway, it's to see locomotives under restoration as much as any running although I recognise this won't be the norm. I'll still want to visit S&C to see how 35011 is coming along, just as I have 35027, 34072, 7903, 5521, 5637 and 6984

 

& 3845...

 

It's more a case of the loco owner or group gets a better offer from another site and then upsticks and bug#er off.
5637 is tied to the East Somerset till the end of is current ticket. If it were to return to scr it would be down to the East Somersets good will.

 

It is to be hoped that 5637 will work its last turns at S&C.

 

Are the S &C then left to repair it so it can disappear off to the ESR again?

 

It is interesting to note that the Swindon & Cricklade Railway was formed in 1978 with only a bare trackbed to start with. Contrast this with the GWSR, which, although also starting with a bare trackbed in 1981, had the benefit of some original structures such as Toddington station building and the 2 goods sheds at Toddington and Winchcombe. Since then, one Railway has grown into a major heritage line whilst the other still moves slowly towards the destinations which bear its name. It's a comparison of apples and oranges I admit, since all projects have to live within their means, but it illustrates how some heritage railways have benefited from growth and investment whilst others have perhaps had to set their sights lower. Both are relatively close to each other geographically. Both offer a good railway heritage experience in my view which will doubtless be even better for the S&C once Cricklade is reached. It's worth mentioning that Owsden Hall was based at Toddington, undergoing some restoration, for several years.