A2 60532 Blue Peter

That is not true. If you pay higher rate tax, the net cost to you of the same donation is lower, but it is still a net cost. Let's clarify by an example.
A basic rate taxpayer donates £80. The charity claims £20 from HMRC so gets £100 total. The net effect is the same as if the taxpayer had donated £100 from their pre-tax income.
A higher rate taxpayer donates £80. The charity claims £20 from HMRC so gets £100 total. The taxpayer gets £20 off their tax bill, making the net cost to them £60. The net effect is still exactly the same as if the taxpayer had donated £100 from their pre-tax income.
In both cases the taxpayer loses the use of £100 (before tax) for their personal purposes and the charity gains it.
It is true that HMRC forgoes the tax (£20 or £40) on the £100, but that is according to charity law. Do you think that is wrong?

 

From Jeremy Hosking, Chairman, RSL&GT

"Today marks the return to mainline service (after a 22 year absence) of locomotive 532 ‘Blue Peter’, one of the most powerful steam locos ever built in this country.
I would like to thank my fellow trustees at Royal Scot Trust and our engineering colleagues at Crewe. for bringing this 7 year, £5 million project to completion.
The modern railway has an enormous role to play in continuing to serve the nation, so it is important to pay homage to our transport heritage including the 150 year Steam Era without which we would not be where we are today.
All of us are also indebted to the Drury family, who rescued ‘Blue Peter’ from the scrapman's torch in 1968."

<BJ>

 

Three photo's of 60532 Double heading 4472 ,GCR 28/12/1992. Near Leicester G CR 10/06/1997. Last Saturday (13th) ,near Stoke Tunnel.

 

That figure of £5 million for overhauling an intact loco is similar to the cost of building Tornado from scratch. OK, inflation provides some of the explanation, but the comparison is still remarkable, and worrying.

 

I think it’s more the sheer scale of what they’ve gone to with it. Some of it is brand new, some of it is newer technology than Tornado and then of course there’s all the usual bits too.

 

A few clips to add to the collection, LNER A2 No.60532 'Blue Peter' running over the 13th / 14th July 2024.

14th July - Video Available Here

 

Obviously it has some new components, but I would expect an awful lot to be still original: frames, cylinders, wheels, motion, boiler barrel, chimney, cab fittings, etc. Have many of those parts been replaced? What does it have that is newer technology than Tornado (and therefore newer than when it was last in service)?

 

I have no comment to add ref comparison with Tornado but from memory, 60532 has a new centre cylinder, firebox and tender tank. I'm sure others will add further should I have this wrong or have omitted some large components.

 

As far as I’m aware the brand new list stands at - Middle Cylinder (I’m unsure about the other two), tyres, some frame sections, tender tank, firebox (Both inner and outer), some new motion, a lot of new pipework, air brakes fitted, all the GSMR/TPWS that it didn’t previously need.

It had a day in test at the SVR purely to check all the new air operated valves that were fitted. These effectively enable every control that’s fitted with one or be recorded on the Black Box. I can’t quite remember from having it explained, but something like the whistles (As an example) have these air operated steam valves fitted so it records when the whistle was blown. But I understood most of the controls are fitted with that. That test day at the SVR was calibrating all that.

It’s been a very complex overhaul, and it’s no surprise costs are high. You only have to think of an SVR engine like 4930 that’s cost £1.4 mil to do, and then the think of all the stuff that doesn’t have that BP needed.

 

Thank you, those who have elaborated about all the new bits.

 

Well this is the cab backhead fittings as seen yesterday (Sunday). Not much to be seen there that isn't brand new. The reverser stand maybe, but not much else. I can well imagine that £5 million has been spent when its been done to this standard.

Peter

 

Not much like the cab of 60532 that I remember, Peter. Still no fireman's side reg handle, either.

 

Creates a rather interesting comparison with the recent picture of Tornado's cab, following it's ETCS installation.

 

Yes there is Steve, although it is not immediately obvious in the picture. The shiny handle merges in with the leading edge of the fireman's side cab window. It is curved away to the right to accomodate the air pump oil supply. The brass plate below the steam pressure gauge says something to the effect that it is only to be used to aid closing the regulator. As you say, somewhat different to the last time I was on it, which I looked up to see was on 2/11/2002 whichI think was during its last week in traffic before its ticket expired.

Peter

 

Mr Hoskings says we are indebted to the Drury family for rescuing the loco. indeed we are, but let's not forget Mr Hoskings contribution here, he must have had his hand deep down in his pocket for last weekends run to have happened. You don't have to like his politics (I don't) but ask yourselves. would Blue Peter, Kings X -York last weekend have happened without his financial clout.

 

Spotted it now thanks to your guidance. There’s certainly pretty much a quart in a pint pot there.

 

Not forgetting that it has provided jobs for quite a few people.

 

Yes, sure, let's celebrate, the point I was making was there's nowt wrong in giving a bit of credit where it's due. Thank you Jeremy Hosking.