Question re SWT's 3417

Nah..sorry you have moved to the Dark Side...and have no say in the matter.... [smilie=hi ya!.gif]

 

Not necessarily, once the Bluebell are done with it at Grinstead people are more than welcome to put offers in to secure its further future! (Thats what the Chairman said to me today!)

 

But will it have a future after a few months at East Crawley (Grinstead) :-k

 

If I remember right the Bluebell gave one pound for 3417? So maybe when the Bluebell has finished with it they should sell it on for one pound.
:-k :-k :-k :-k

 

\/ \/ \/ \/ :-#

 

i will start saving now then!!!!
:smt021

 

The Bluebell haven't paid for it yet. The handing over of the pound will be at East Grinstead when the VEP arrives. I'm sure if there is potential interest for the unit after the Bluebell are done with her then they will sell for what they paid. \/

 

bluebelle sell the vep for £1 get real!!! for one, they will want as much as they can for it, and if the coach shortage is as bad as it appears, they may have to resort to using it as loco hauled stock, as long as they have an air fitted loco but if the fitters from wimbledon can keep an eye on it , i wouldnt rule out a return to the main line, it will be parked on a railtrack connected line and eastleigh and wimbledon would no dought want to get it where it belongs back on the main line, if the unit could be kept in a state where it could be moved, it would make a very good promotion tool for the bluebelle and the southern scene after all how many of us remember these units from days now past is it worth looking into this im thinking of the eastleigh open day,

 

No chance of ANY of that happening. Sorry.

 

no i should doubt it too. It will quickly become unusable if its just going to stand there. I rememebr them when new, the first few were in all-over blue with stainless steel double-arrows etc á lá 4REP but they were still only gangwayed 4SUB's in effect. Nothing to get too excited about I think

 

No ,it's nothing important to get too bothered about.

Just the last of it's type-bit like C,H,Q,Radial tank,NL tank etc,that is being removed from a nice shed,and dumped on a siding to be vandalised,and deteriorate.

And there are people who do care and would prefer it to be left at Wimbledon,or moved to Eastleigh works where it has been/would be cared for and have a potential mainline future.

At East Grinstead it will no doubt be vandalised,deteriorate,and end up scrapped.

Why not move 75027,80064,80100 or 92240 there instead-they are about the same age,far from unique,and as we all know the public love steam?

 

Apparently people are interested in hiring it for such events, but not sure on Bluebells ideas for that.

 

The last mainline-worthy example in the country?
Nothing to get too excited about?

 

I didn't think she was the last mainline worthy unit in the country?

Everything to get excited about in my humble opinion!

 

What, target practice and / or graffiti competitions! :smt071

 

The Bluebell aren't idiots, chaps. Please bare in mind that they have rather a lot of money riding on this extension project and from what I gather a significant donation from one major sponsor to enable the EG project to go ahead; 3417 was bound up as part of that agreement.

Are they going to allow their gate guardian, along with all the positve press publicity that goes with it, go to waste by not putting measures in place to prevent or at least minimise vandalism? The answer is No; of course they're not.

3417 is a historically significant unit: amongst the first tranche of VEPs delivered to the South Western division, certainly the longest lived and best known of the remaining survivors, the only VEP still capable of movement on the national network, mechnically sound and maintained at no cost to her final operator for no less than five years after withdrawal.

She is Wimbledon's Pride and Joy - and we're very very sad to see her go. But somehow I doubt that East Grinstead will be the final chapter in the story. Or perhaps I should say that I hope it won't be.

I have great faith in the Bluebell; the best thing that anyone reading this can do to ensure 3417 stays in one piece and useful is offer your services to help keep her in good nick. The old girl will need friends.

I'll be mucking in; we haven't seen the last of her yet.

 

Keelar001,

Looking at your photo, has Wimbledon depot converted it to steam power before its move to the Bluebell?! Can't remember that much smoke from an emu usually :-k

Richard

 

That will be due to the lack of Juice round Corfe Castle... And probably a claggy Crompton up front!

 

what was its original number?

 

to all you doughters, i bet you said tornado would never be built either,
lets look at the facts,
1 the bluebelle will have an interest in the unit being cared for, its a big bill board for the extension dispite some who would be only too happy to see it scrapped (anti anything but steam brigade)
2 there are some people with the knowledge to ensure it is kept in a state where it could be made moveable, not under its own power though,
3 possible renenue from hiring fees to aid the extension fund raising i can think of several places where a 4 vep with either an ed or 33/1 running shuttles would be a welcome addition , ie swanage or mid hants, special running day there is an open extension to network rail , and im sure with the will to do it it could be done , even swt could use it in connection with an special day, ie run it between aldershot and alton if the unit can be made fit or from wareham to swanage both with 33/ ed providing the traction