"Project Miller"/125 Group

Strange that, with 55002, it was the other way around. They cited a lack of competent H&S rep on site, when one of the regular volunteers, was at the highest grade in the UK H&S wise. Then would not engage in any dialogue. As it stands 55002 is probably u/s now, as a liner leak was not attended to, after the donation of a new block to repair the power unit.

Those with FB can read all about it here, the same group of volunteers are now working with The DPS to get 55015 back on her feet,

https://www.facebook.com/55002Koyli...PeX9FkK_XDTAk3pTZad4uYkQADZS92ua5_h6ypJm8Op9Q

 

I have no idea what the veracity of the allegations are in any of these cases, or what the relationship between the NRM & other 'operating' groups is like.

The comment I might make however is that I have often seen situations where someone is looking for an excuse to do something.............

 

Had the same with two Class 19s in torrential rain on the Montagu Pass but that's a story for another thread.

 

Could this be something as silly as someone not answering their emails? One wonders how one side can have such a different experience to the other.

 

Not necessarily as there are also "local instructions" that vary from time to time - as I discovered in the late 1970s. When D7017 was first operational on the WSR we (i.e. the DEPG) asked Network Rail for permission to run it along the line from Minehead but were refused as it was deemed to heavy for the route. When we pointed out that BR had used a Hymek on a daily trip working from Taunton Network Rail pointed out that this was allowed by a "local instruction" for emergency use - even if the emergency arose every day to cover the trip working. Since the loco was now owned / operated by a non-BR group the local instruction was still valid and the "ban" remained; it was only eased when the steam heating boiler was removed - but that's another "tale from the archives".

Your contention that the operation of a standing instruction being "incorrect" should take note that this has been in vogue for many years (decades ?) although I am prepared to acknowledge that the local instruction(s) applying to Totnes may have changed in recent times - including the decision to allow single power cars to operate through Totnes providing (a) that trains do not stop at Totnes and (b) any trains due to stop at Totnes should detrain Totnes passengers at Newton Abbot. Given that my last west-bound run through Totnes was on a sleeper behind D1037 Western Empress I am happy to acknowledge that things have changed in the interim.

 

I accept your apology.

Simon

 

Certainly used to be case that any 125 with a power car out had to take assistance over the Devon Banks.

 

Out of interest I looked on the 125 group website to see what has happened re the Shed building appeal for Ruddington and I found this......

"Total Raised as of 08/11/2020 = £92,024.15"

so hopefully construction will start soon (as the target was £100,000)?

 

Not quite sure what the current situation regarding the depot at Ruddington is, to be honest. I sent a donation to them 18 months or so ago and asked when things were likely to happen , to which I was told that the planning aspects were being delt with and they hoped to be in a position to start work at the end of 2019. That obviously didn't happen, and there has been no mention of what is going on in their magazines since either, having joined the group myself last year.
With the "things" going on at Ruddington , their 2 production power cars and some freshly aquired coaches are having to be stored elsewhere at the moment.

 

The 125 Group have aquired another HST power car for their "fleet", albeit a non-operational one, together with a couple more coaches (one for spares) according to an e-mail sent out yesterday.

 

It's gratifying to note that the lessons concerning the total loss of the Blue Pullmans seem to have been well learned.

 

The 125 Group have now started fundraising with a view to reinstating a Valenta engine in their recently acquired power car 43044.
https://www.125group.org.uk/you-can-help/

 

If you think about the struggles these guys are having. Imagine the fun it's going to be preserving a pendolino etc?

 

I see from the 125 website that the shed fund total is creeping closer to the £100K target.
"Total Raised as of 19/03/2021 = £93,418.06"

 

Whilst at Leicester Station, I took a picture of the loco storage area as there was an HST in view. I thought it was being stored there for the 125 group at Ruddington. However it is no 43045 and, according to the group website, they have been donated from Porterbrook - 43089 and 43048 (which might have been a substitution for 43043?). I also read that 43044 had been bought for the group.

 

I just checked through a couple of the 125 Group magazines and it was said in the January 2021 edition that 43045 was "expected to become a third power car to work for Colas".
The DATS Power Car fleet seem to work out of the depot at Leicester as well.

 

Thanks Johann......There was also another "interesting " old loco moving around. I was surprised to see the old BR emblem!

 

Ah, Slug 5 lives!

 

When I first saw the photo, I thought it was 37 411, but then discovered it wasn't as that was scrapped years ago....
Did a rather long day trip by car back in 2005 from here to South Wales when 411 was doing Valley Lines services - Was well worth doing, but was totally shattered by the time I got home!

 

Some of 37411 survives...