4953 Pitchford Hall

Just as a point or order they have bought a 38xx and at best the stripped carcass of a 28xx

 

Sorry, yes frames, wheels and cylinders of a 28xx

 

Nope. That just won’t work. A Nat Pres consortium would never be able to agree on a livery! I think the only option is for you to buy the engine outright and we’ll pass the hat around to fund the divorce.

 

Its all fantasy sure til it isn't and we find whos bought and where its heading. I don't know if a Hall would be cleared for Strathspey. City Of Truro barely fitted and was subjected to some pretty tight speed limits at platforms. I would very much enjoy watching a Hall blast up and over Kinchurdy Road with a decent load but I think they're pretty set for fleet just now.

 

Is the current owner prepared to exchange for something smaller ?
If so that would open up a lot more possibilities.

 

So long as it is more suited to EOR operations, I don't think he'd dismiss the idea.

 

Who’d be willing to swap though? Something like a Standard Tank is pretty much ideal for most preserved lines so why replace it with something not as useful? As @Sidmouth says all roads at the moment lead to one place…

 

Pete Best has said that 44806 will be his last. Mind you, he said that about 2253, as well.

Edit: 61624 beat me to that.

 

I'd suggest that £750K was a bit on the high side.

 

Having recently bought 2 Uglys, albeit in need of overhaul (which perhaps could be done for the price of a Hall), what more could the EOR possibly need?

 

Enough engines to sustain a reasonable service without excessive wear on those in service at any one time?

 

Given the water quality the installation of RO plants would greatly ease the burden of maintenance on the steam fleet

 

Sometimes when an engine is for sale after all the "usual suspects" have been discussed ad infinitum on this forum, a previously unknown buyer appears. This happened, for example, with 2859 and 7027. Indeed, as far as I am aware, Thornbury's new owner has not made his (or perhaps ever her!) identity public. Admittedly, both these engines are restoration projects rather than ready-to run, but a desire to prevent 4953 suffering 4920's fate may perhaps be a factor in someone quite unexpected coming out of the woodwork with a big cheque book. As far as purchase by a heritage railway is concerned, we are up against the usual conundrum - some lines which would obviously love to buy a working Hall don't have the money especially after taking a bit hit in 2020/1 and those that are in a better financial state either have enough engines already or wouldn't regard a Hall as appropriate.

 

Well that puts Bunch back in the picture. He bought "72" after bumping in the press about buying a class 4 locomotive so swapping it and some cash for Pitchford wouldn't be overly mad but maybe just not the type of loco he wants.

 

72 as in Austerity saddle tank no. 72 currently at Peak Rail

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Yes thats on me not laying that one out fully @Pete Thornhill