P2 Locomotive Company and related matters

To me it seems that there is some confusion in peoples mind here as to which is the cart and which is the horse. Your quotation certainly does not mention specific types of coaches either as it just refers to rolling stock. It is a bit like saying Mk1s are limited to no more than 60 MPH on the S&C line - well so is everything as that is the line limit.

Peter

 

The reason for this confusion (which BTW doesn't really belong on this P2 thread) is that on one occasion (and I think so far only one occasion) a train was planned to consist of a loco (Tornado) allowed to run at 90 mph and a rake of coaches (Mk I) allowed to run at 100 mph (or 90?), but that train as a whole would have been restricted to 75 mph. The only solution available at short notice was to use a different rake of coaches (Mk II). I've just checked one of the videos and seen that the rake did still include some Mk Is but presumably not with passengers. It made no sense at the time and still doesn't.

 

At one time back in the gung-ho pre-Covid past the Trust was proposing a rake of Mk2 or Mk3s retrofitted with toplights c/w video screens streaming live footage from loco cams etc. There was even the inevitable livery debate with LNER cream and green narrowly in the lead from scumbled teak …

 

What actually prevents them from proceeding with that plan?

 

Dont forget the integral water tanks piped through to the tender...

 

Nothing apart from the means to pay for it. Now it would have to include CDL , retention tanks.

 

Your powers of recall are even better than mine Sean.

 

Indeed, smiled and nodded at the Hengist open day but i dont think you recognised me... but it has been a long time.

 

I think the A1SLT realised that whilst it was a good idea in theory, owning your own coaching stock is a massive burden.

 

Is any work actually happening on the P2 in Darlington? The first new boiler - originally destined for Tornado before the disastrous change of plan - is now almost 2 years late. Still no sign of the tender frames. And I understand that Ian Matthews is no longer part of the team.

This combined with the sad loss of David Elliott and the ‘borrowing’ of P2 funds for Tornado’s overhaul has probably added years to the completion date.

 

Now, I thought there had been movement on the tender frames - but where did you learn about Ian Matthews?

 

Long standing covenantors who are concerned about the Trust’s direction of travel talk… the source is impeccable!

 

Do you have a source for that statement please? I would’ve thought that donations/covenants to both locos would need to be kept separate for legal reasons

 

I’ve heard the same - though I think he’s been working on contract now for several years and has been in and out of DLW depending, I assume, on the availability of work and funds. Not that you’d have thought there’d be any shortage of work, given the endless overhaul of the A1 and the pressure to progress the P2?

In a similar vein, I’m also given to understand that their apprentice has been let go.

Hopefully the Trust will correct any inaccuracies herein. They used to post regularly on NP until a few years ago.

 

If you look at their accounts I believe that the only legally restricted funds are for the new boilers. Therefore although hypothocated to each locomotive, they are able to have intercompany loans. But they are just that, loans that must be repaid.

 

That would have been Foxhunter, aka Graham Langer - who last posted on NP in June last year.

 

I also was

I also heard they had parted company with Ian Matthews - that was last October. I was told that Ian had "left" rather than being let go. I was not told the reason. He is a huge loss. As I mentioned in a previous post, I think the Trust is moving towards becoming an exhibition and operating centre rather than a centre for construction and maintenance. The trend now is to subcontract work, which is a dangerous move without top rank engineering oversight. Parallels with the Patriot project come to mind.

 

As mentioned before; see also 60103.

 

On 13th May I sent an email to enquiries@a1steam.com saying, in part,
(A poster on this forum) 'recently said "I've already made the decision
to cancel the covenant and transfer the payments to another locomotive I
have an interest in." I am somewhat minded to do the same.'

Not a dickybird of an answer has anyone at the Trust bothered to send.

 

When I decided not to renew my Patriot Project membership and explained I was unhappy with the move to Tyseley I very quickly received an email from their chairman, it didn’t change my mind but credit to them for responding with alacrity.