S&D Railway Trust

@jma1009 , why don't the SDRT then launch an appeal for the coaches, Sorry but Your view will see the Trust stagnate and die, like it or not 53808 Is the most visible asset and icon the trust has, and it the thing most people will want to see, and see it working its an ambassador , for the trust,
Yes one day i t would be good to see the pecket at the head of the restored coaches at Shillingstone, but more people will prefer the sight of an 7f at the head of a long freight train, on one of our preserved lines, or a rake of green coaches re creating the pines express, piloting a 9f
I agree, there is a question mark over the WSR money, and thats why the trust needs to turn to its membership to match that sum, if the payments are forthcoming, then, once 53808 is back in service, and left over funding could go towards the coaches, and to start a fund to go towards the next overhaul.

 

Surely there was no way the SDRT could have demanded full payment immediately. The choice was between the existing agreement, which as Tom says could have meant nothing at all happening until 2030 and then the WSR defaulting, or negotiating a new agreement.

 

Quite. Which is why, however much my heart wishes to shake certain people and squeeze them till the pips squeak, what’s been done seems an unimaginably better outcome, if still with risks, than might have been imagined 4 years ago.

 

Dowry=cash in the bank ready to pay for work on the loco. I’m shocked that an educated man did not understand the statement.

Why would the WSRHT money go to the WSR (even temporarily).
Please explain your logic, as it makes no sense to me. The track and shed belong to the SDRT, and if they are being purchased, then the contract is between the SDRT and WSRHT. It has nothing to do with the WSR. The WSR don’t own the assets.

I don’t like what has gone on at the WSR in the last few years, and as a point of principle I would not visit while the current regime is in power, but I think you’re deliberately trying to accuse/blame the WSR of doing things that they haven’t done, just to paint the railway in the worst light possible.

Maybe direct your energy towards fundraising for the SDRT?

 

Investing money in 53808 will yield some return. It is capable of earning running fees, and whilst these are unlikely to either pay for this overhaul or the next entirely, those fees will generate a cashflow.

Spending on carriages cannot generate a cashflow.

As the SDRT faces the challenge of finding long term homes for its assets, it will find that much easier with an cashflow than without.

With sufficient funds in place (or promised) to cover the majority of the overhaul, it makes perfect sense to do so, both for 53808 (which is best protected by being in service as @Jamessquared has observed) AND the Trust.

 

My very simple point (I thought) was that the £78,000 for the shed etc at Washford agreed to be paid by the WSRHT hasn’t yet been confirmed as being received by the SDRT. 6 + months on.

The WSRHT business plan online I referred to about this £78,000, and the £15,000 pa for the rent of Washford to the WSR PLC plus £3,000 pa ‘operating costs’ I first noted on 3rd May 2024.

Much of the £78,000 will in respect of the SDRT (when and if it’s receipt is confirmed) will go towards the costs of removing everything from Washford belonging to the SDRT. (Ok - @RailWest pretty much everything apart from a set of points). And all the other costs resulting from the Notice to Quit in February 2020.

 

I understood your point, but not what impact you think it has on the discussion related to 53808?

 

So because the £78k hasn’t reached the accounts of the SDRT yet, you decided to create a conspiracy theory that the WSR had somehow got the money?
How do you know that the solicitors aren’t dragging their feet with the contract or that there’s not a last minute query about who owns sleeper 27?

The SDRT may well have received the money, but have chosen not to announce it, after all, they had already announced the agreement to sell, do they really need to make an announcement when surveys have been completed and another when contracts have been signed and another when the money is transferred?
When the MHR overhauled Kilmersdon, they didn’t announce that the SDRT had paid them, so why is this any different?

Im not sure why you keep referring to the WSRHT and their deal with the WSR-that has absolutely nothing to do with the SDRT.

 

I can assure you it has. <BJ>

 

Some news on 53808

Many members may have seen news pieces in the railway press recently regarding our negotiations to secure the future of our 7F 53808. I did allude in my message a few weeks ago that we were coming towards a final agreement and I am pleased to say that a settlement has been signed now which not only releases the S&DRT from all previous agreements with the West Somerset Railway as to the maintenance and overhaul of 53808, but also firmly establishes a payment plan to reimburse us for past financial commitments totalling £210,000. This will be repaid to us over a five-year period.

This settlement paves the way now for us to begin the process of overhaul which will likely begin in March 2025 with the tender going into the works at Ropley for stripping down and major repairs. That will be closely followed by the lifting of the boiler from the main frames for assessment, to be followed with plans for its repair.

It is the beginning of an exciting period for the Trust and we sincerely hope that members will continue to support the Trust over the coming months so that we can complete 53808's overhaul on a good timescale and we can see and enjoy the locomotive once more.

 

At least now, the trust can now move forward with the overhaul and operation of 53808 hopefully it will stay on the MHR, and in time become part of the home fleet, exciting times ahead with 499, 92212, and now 53808 that little line up will make a good freight engine gala line up, once all three are overhauled, and if all three are home based, it won't cost anything in transportation costs,