If you won the lottery what heritage project would you back?

I was thinking if I had around 250k to spend after winning a few million on the lottery, what heritage project would I back?

Personally it would be to bring Taff Vale 28 back in to steam as it would be huge for Welsh standard gauge heritage movement and is an ideal size for a heritage loco.

What project would you back and why?

 

Personally

Waverleys 2023 dry docking
Kingswear Castle rebuild
Boiler for Maid of the Loch & Freshspring
Sort Balmoral
Rebuild the L&B
Fund as much undercover storage as we have space for
Endow Crofton
Fund as many renewable energy installations - PV, Wind Turbines, Hydro for Heritage sites as we can find space for, and fund energy efficiency, insulation, more efficient equipment etc.
Apprenticeships!

 

A spare 250K would go to overhauling the ELR Horwich Crab, on the proviso it was liveried back to BR Black, Would 250K be enough?

 

Great Eastern bogie set - Would rely on the cooperation of the owners of the 3? extant and unrestored GER bogie coaches

 

I'd fund a second LNER B17 to be built, to run with the LNERCA teak train. Of course it would have to be 2828 Melton Hall" in apple green.

 

If only, But if i were to, I would pay for 53808's overhaul, or at least the shortfall, to enable it to remain on the MHR, i would donate to the vintage carriage group on the railway also so that more of the vintage coaches can get restored, so that there can be an all bogie southern railway/ LSWR rake. and an 4 wheeler rake . so that with suitable engines , vintage running days can be offered.
Fund the building of an H16 tank, either new build, or using the parts of 830 and spare boiler to make an tank version of an urie s15, but with the appearance of an H16.

 

I'd get 46235 out of that museum, get it to Riley's, get it fettled, get it steamed, get it on the front of a rake of Mk 1 stock and get it over Shap!

Sorry, I'll be OK in a minute.

 

The original poster suggested spending about £250K. Some people seem to have no sense of what could be done with that amount.

 

Post withdrawn

 

A new build K2 2-6-0 to work on the West Highland Line. Right loco for the line and a mixed traffic engine that can be legitimately named. Would West Coast use it? Probably if I named it Loch Smith!

 

Didn't read the post carefully enough to spot the 250K cap - but if I had I'd have said "put it towards the LNERCA's NER FO, 2118. It probably wouldn't get the job done, but it would get it well under way! (For those who don't know, 2118 is a rather special vehicle, imho the match of contemporary Pullmans - I just hope I live long enough to see it restored).

 

Renovate the original Wansford LNWR station.

 

I think probably do the same as @johnofwessex, in slinging a few quid towards some youngsters to get some sort of apprenticeship scheme.
Don’t think it’s a bad idea to invest in Yoof.

 

There are many causes I'd support if I won the Euromillions but as there is a £250K cap, it would have to be towards the next overhaul of 34081 when it comes due.

 

I would imagine the any other business being rather interesting at the next committee meeting when the other members have found out you’ve come into some money…

 

Saving Thornbury Castle and using what was left to start an overhaul fund.

Chris

 

Buy that Brighton Belle driving car that's for sale, and use it to create a fully accessible Pullman car for a dining service, complete with cab re-equipped as a guard's van.

 

I'd have this: https://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pics/abgtearoom.html and this: https://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pics/1601.html restored; and then see how much - if any - was left.

Tom

 

I'd get Tyseley to finish the Bloomer and Didcot to get their broad gauge beast running again. If there was any left after that I'm not sure what I would do with it.