Llangollen Railway

But is it?
Not sure about SRPS but if you look at RTC, Steam Dreams and WCRC's own programmes (that are only planned I admit) they loo pretty normal for this year from May 17 onward, do they really have many coaches spare?

 

Tom didn’t mean hiring the Plc coaches that the receiver has up for sale. He meant hiring in other coaches from elsewhere that might be available for hire.

 

I think WCRC struggled to spare the 4 coaches they hired to Swanage for the Wareham services.

But anyway I think we’ve established that the LR trust hiring in coaches from anywhere is a non starter. They’ll have to use their own coaches, either existing ones or additional ones purchased from the receiver.

 

Is that what I meant? <confused/>

People are saying there aren't carriages available. But if the LR wish to carry on operation, the fundamental requirement for carriages across the sector as a whole doesn't change - same number of operational railways needing the same number of operational carriages. So if the railway has a future at all, but is struggling to raise the likely sizeable six figure sum to buy a rake of carriages, why not some kind of lease-back arrangement - either from the receiver or some person / organisation with the necessary cash to buy the carriages? Turn a capital spend into a revenue spend.

Tom

 

Foxfield have had a Llangollen TSO M4234 on hire while their own TSO has been at Llangollen for contract repairs. A report on Foxfield's C&W Facebook page on 5th March said that this carriage had been purchased privately for Foxfield in an agreement made just before receivership.

Jon

 

The only realistic hope is that supporters of the railway purchase some coaches from the receiver privately, and then place them on loan to the trust, so at least there will be some stock to run a service with, Selling locos, unless its to people who support the line, and will continue to base them on the line, isn't going to be the answer either, selling a loco, or two, and then losing them, so you can buy coaches might end up with a scenario where by you will have sufficient coaches, but no motive power to haul them.

 

A DMU service would not require additional coaches or steam locos.

 

But also fewer customers without steam to attract them. Although lower costs might help compensate for that.

 

DMUs can be hauled by steam locos. If you’re in dire straits, something is better than nothing.

 

Another point to consider is that, with the workshops being closed and equipment being sold off , will there be the facilities or even staff competency to overhaul those locomotives and stock that remain after the receivers have departed. Given the poor standard of workmanship on the contract jobs ( as alleged by the customers) what condition is the home fleet in?

 

@Alan Kebby When I travelled on the WCRC operated Wareham-Swanage train it was an ex LU 4TC unit which I am pretty sure was not owned by WCRC?

 

It was initially run using 3 WCRC Mk1s and a WCRC Mk2 as the 4TC wasn’t ready in time. After a few weeks, once the 4TC overhaul was complete, it took the place of the WCRC coaches.

 

Ah, thanks for clarification.

 

They won't need to. As pointed out previously the Suburban Group have 4 (shortly to be 5) Mk1 non-corridors which are eminently suitable for a Covid restricted service. The Trust also own some Mk1 corridors themselves.
Ray

 

Sub coaches are very very comfortable and make a very nice journey even nicer

 

Owning is one thing, being in a position where are suitable for public service is another. I have no if they are all in A1 condition, sitting under a tarpaulin waiting to repaired or a mixture somewhere in between.

 

And if they ride in the Wickham set they are in for a treat.
Pat

 

Goodness me there is a lot of idle speculation on here about what the Llangollen Plc should or shouldn’t have done in the past and what the Trust should or shouldn’t do in the future! Why not just be patient, I’m sure the Trust at the appropriate time will provide an update on establishing a way forward, including any arrangements made with the Receiver.

 

It was not ex-LU and was hired from them during a period it was not being used by them. At the end of Project Wareham's first trial period the 4TC was returned to West Ruislip depot to resume service on LU special trains.

 

I think a few spectators, when considering "essential rolling stock requirement", are confusing steam gala weekend with "Llangollen 90% of the time".

Others have said that the core activity of transporting passengers was indeed profitable. One only has to examine Llangollen timetables to see that for most of the year they ran either a 1 train service (Steam or DMU), or a 2 train service. (Steam X2 or Steam + Diesel). This is very typical of a 5 to 10 mile railway.

As enthusiasts I'm sure we all want to see 5 rakes of stock running during a gala, but as others have stated, there's enough "non plc" rolling stock (I won't comment on steam locos) for 2x short rakes, and the DMU fleet is unaffected.

The phoenix which (fingers crossed) will rise from the ashes will hopefully be concerning itself with the ability to run a "back to basics" railway, and secure the equipment to maintain a simple 1x steam and DMU service. Everything else, given the recent disaster, could be considered at this point an "unnecessary luxury" and therefore perhaps in the "nice to save, but only if we can" category?

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