Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

Is 34058 a SLL loco? I was never clear on the terms of the agreement. Has it been sold to SLL? Or is it a joint venture to get it back in steam with the MHR retaining ownership?

And what’s this about 35005 being held back for special events? After all the time effort and money has gone into restoring it, are they saying it’s not really the right loco for the line?

 

To compare, the Ivatt had firebox stays repaired over the winter months, for which the boiler was also lifted out. I'm not sure when the lift took place, but it was between when I last saw it at the October gala and when I saw it back in the frames in the workshops over February half term; they haven't done anything to get it beyond the upcoming end of its boiler ticket, which is (from memory) end of next year. As with everything, it all depends on how bad the affected areas are I suppose. Fingers crossed it's an 'easy' (As much as that term applies in railway worlds) fix.

 

35005 and associated social history research and restoration of two Bulleid coaches gained some very large HLF and other grants for the Mid Hants as they were at the time. Together they gave publicity and cashflow. Also when the project started coal wasn't so expensive.
It's a "glory loco" which will bring in publicity.
Restore a standard mogul or an S15 and for general or specialist media and it won't get the coverage after the first week.
I suspect that there have been a few conversations with some other MN owners about their coal consumption. Apparently , the G&WSR only use 35006 on high days and holidays due to the cost of coal.

Cheers, Neil

 

I think ownership was transferred from the MHR to SLL around a year or two ago, but I think part of the agreement was that 34058 would return to the MHR when restored, as part of a closer relationship with SLL. Happy to be corrected on that though.

 

The lift happened after mid November.
the plan was to use the crane that we used to put the power unit back in Lion but they weren’t ready in time so they had to use another to do it.

 

Yes I think that the agreement allows the MHR 10 years use, before SLL can then determine freely where it runs subsequently after the next overhaul. There was a rather large cash amount that the WLHRT held in a restricted account from the late Mike Vout that will go towards the restoration and a number of MHR members have purchased shares in SLL to help support them with the restoration as well.

 

With all this talk about Bulleids and the aptly named @Swan Age, will there ever be an update about 34105 or is destined to sit in Ropley headshunt forever?

 

I would be very surprised if the issues surrounding 34105 are ever sorted, It's the last problem dating back to the previous regime, when loco ownership was deliberately kept vague the truth is, no one really knows who owns what, as even though shares were purchased in the loco, there was no detailed accounting as to who the owners of the shares were, but whats clear is that, if the MHR were to continue with the overhaul, whilst ownership is unclear, it would not be a sound decision,
The Person, who claims they are the majority shareholder, is, or was insisting that he had an agreement that the Company would overhaul the engine, and the very real fear is that the engine, once overhauled will be claimed,as being in payment for previous use of the engine, and then leave the railway,
I think that it will remain in limbo, until the MHR through its legal representatives, put the majority owner under notice to proove their ownership, and remove the engine from the MHR, Or make a legal claim themselves for the loco, based on the shareholding they have, pluss the costs spent so far, plus storage fees,
What I think the plan was, that the railway overhauls the engine, then though a paper exercise of shares changing hands, one organisation, is shown to have a commanding majority, and they then use that majority to remove the newly overhauled engine to another location. So the MHR pays for the work, but then loses the engine,

 

I understand the issue is very complicated. It would be a shame if it was destined to be in limbo forever and nothing done