S&D Railway Trust

Surely SDRT should get something out of it for owning the engine? Why would any railway want to buy an engine if they can have free loans of them.

 

Given the number of appeals for overhaul costs, it seems to me that the S&DRT have a very good deal

 

That also depends on the SDRT finding a site with enough room; and likely to get planning permission for the shed. And having enough money and/or volunteers to dismantle, move and rebuild. What then happens to the ownership of the shed & track if SDRT can’t remove it in the short time available? It’s a nightmare for them.

 

Not that good a deal, they could of tied it in to the lease of the Washford site and this wouldn't be happening.

 

As long as WSR plc keep their side of it, perhaps.

 

Well, exactly. I can see that they don't get 'normal' steaming fees, since the WSR is responsible for the upkeep, but... if they get nothing (other than a steaming day or so), they own an expensive asset which produces no income. Why not sell it and invest the proceeds, and get some income out of it? Hence my supposition that the low station rent might be an implicit trade for the (effective) loan of the loco.

Noel

 

It would be difficult / inadvisable for the railway to commit to a date, either a hard date or by reference to say the last day in service, by when an overhaul has to be completed, so it would be interesting to know how this is tackled in the agreement. If it is a commitment to overhaul but without a time limit then it puts the railway in control of the timetable. I imagine the railway would only agree to commit to it doing the overhaul itself, and not including a commitment to procure its overhaul.

 

I think it’s already been said on here that the agreement lasts until 2030 at which point the WSR have to hand back a loco in working order and good condition.

 

Assuming you are referring to Tom's post with a summary from the SDRHT accounts, it does not quite say that, and as a practical matter the agreement itself is unlikely to expire as you would want rights and obligations to continue beyond that date.

 

It's not actually free though - they still have to pay to overhaul the loco at the end of the deal

Keith

 

Isn't the benefit to the SDRT that they have rescued and retained one of the engines that ran on the railway they commemorate? Making an agreement that sees the loco both operating and maintained at little or no cost to themselves could be considered a real bonus.

 

Although that news article has now been somewhat overtaken by events

 

What protection does the S&D (or any loco group) have to stop the WSR (or any other line) from basically running the loco into the ground and returning it to the owners in a completely knackered state with a load of deferred maintenance? I am assuming that the deal is overhaul and run, not run and overhaul. I assume you have to trust that the wsr would not behave so badly, but then would you trust the wsr on the basis of recent behaviour?

 

''A new fund has been opened to raise money for the winter 2020-2021 track works''.

Unfortunately due to recent events my funds will go elsewhere. <BJ>

 

I voted with my feet and wallet and joined the S & D this week to support them. And very impressively, my first copy of the Pines Express arrived this morning.

 

I have seen in this blog a desire by some people to help the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust overcome the problems arising out of our notice to quit.

One way is to show support of our aims and work, by joining the Trust. It would also encourage the volunteers who work in the workshops/station/museum at Washford

This can be easily done via our website. The Trusts web site is sdrt.org and on the web site is details of the benefits of joining the Trust. Applications can be completed via that web site. There are various different classes of membership.

We have had three new members this week, please look up our Web Site and then consider if you would like to show your support in this manner for an interesting and worthwhile Trust. Thank you in anticipation.

 

Here is a link to the appropriate pages. <BJ>

http://www.sdrt.org/

http://www.sdrt.org/Membership.Html

 

I strongly doubt that the SDRT will have any problems finding a new home for the 7F, if required.

 

On a normal hire contract with daily steaming fees paid probably no problem. But a run and repair contract may be harder to come by given how far into its ticket the 7F is.

 

If they haven't convened since January 2018 (?) who knows if anyone is still in position ?