Llangollen Railway

Now all coaches have bids except the RBR. A couple up to over £27k, with VAT and buyers premium to be added on top of that.

 

It is a heartbreaking read, this thread, at times. No doubt tensions run high because the railway is close to many peoples' hearts. I wish the new group trying to recover the railway and its operations the best of luck in doing so. Once restrictions are lifted fully, I'll be making a visit. It's been too long since I last went.

 

I see the bids on the CK have got going now, £16,50o atm. Other ones creeping up as well.

 

Just for information, the IOWSR, with some rather sumptuous First class, is trying a special promotion around it. The first class experience'' includes sandwiches, cake and Prosecco. Early days so far but promising.

A niche product of course. However, I would rather sample a cup of tea or light meal in a terra firma refreshment room than a naafiesque Mk. 1 buffet.

 

Some coaches edging close to £40k now.

 

Its not quite like eBay. 10mins are added to the clock every time someone bids...

 

TSO 4702 seemed to go for £38,250.

 

A bit like when you buy a car at an online action, just as you think your winning, it gets extra time, and that's when someone out bids you

 

That was the highest, most seem to be in the £32k - £38k range. I think the CK was more like £20k.

Certainly not scrap money, like some people were once worried about!

Any clues yet as to the winning bidders?

 

I made a rough total of around £450K +, so even if the liquidator's fees are high there should be a reasonable chance of the creditors receiving some money back.

 

Total sales of £486,200 with £298,000 for the coaches with the Function coach only going for £8,000, with top price TSO 4702 £38,250, Other rail items £110,700 with the Road/Rail crane going for £30,250, Workshop machines £44,550 with the CNC lathe £17,750 and the road vehicles £32,950 with the Telehandler £16,950. So with the RMB added to the total at least £516,200

 

I'm sure that we all hope that the railway/Trust will have secured enough to enable a service to restart once all the approvals have been obtained......and that some (all?) money will be returned to the creditors. A sorry tale, but I'm sure lessons will have been learn't.

 

With prices like that I wonder what the RMB would have achieved if left in the auction? Possibly an error of judgment by the administrators to let it go for low 30s?

 

Oh, hindsight, how frustrating and useless a tool it is!

 

I'm not surprised. The RBR looked like a typical Mark 1 pile of rust. There was evidence of historic problems with skirting along the length of the vehicle. I somehow doubt that the pillars were in good condition.

Restaurant cars are also subject to rot in the kitchen areas for obvious reasons. Given that the kitchen looked very dated, I doubt it has been renovated for decades.

 

Indeed! It could have gone the other way and been the right decision. Well played by the Spa valley though.

 

£30k is about right though, unlikely it would've gone for more than that. A few RMBs have been sold lately, NYMR got one off the ELR so even bigger railways do sell them. SDR have sold their all but RMB (converted TSO) to Dartmouth as well for a CK (ex Llangollen). TSO are always going to be the carriages most highly valued at anytime.