Rolling Stock For Sale

They need to be based on a railway that appreciates them as an important part of their future, even if they are not operable now. The GCR is heavily BR-orientated now, but one hopes that once the coaches are restored they'll appreciate what an asset they will have become. It's a sad contrast to the NYMR, who have no appreciation of what a asset the restored LNER carriages based on the line are, and are happy to see them leave.

 

There are people on GCR-N who are more than happy that these coaches are being moved on - I don't see that as them being appreciated.

 

Nor were they when they were at the Southern end but the way is gradually opening up to the combined GC section to find themselves lacking any form of distinctives and that will be significant carriage loss.

 

The GCR (Leics.) was once home to Barnums 664 & 666; 664 was externally restored and operated a few times as an empty shell (I believe it even once housed a board meeting on the move); 666 the NRM example just sat around. They also saved suburban 693, and it was cosmetically restored but has sat outside deteriorating ever since. The two Barnums later moved up to Ruddington.
The GCRRST was, I think, heavily influenced by one individual who has since passed away, so it was always going to be interesting to see how they went forward, and the signs are not good really. In their entire existence they collected something like 8 or 9 carriages and restored one of them; that ought to have been the catalyst for a higher profile and some serious fundraising for the rest, but it doesn't seem to have happened.
The GCRN has never been the best home for these vehicles. They have limited space and what space they do have has vandal problems; what they need is working stock and secure undercover storage. With that, I sympathise, and understand why there are people there who are not sorry to see these go. But the bigger, longer-term vision of a GCR loco (be it the 567 replica, or 102 or even 506???) at the head of an authentic train of GCR stock, on its original line, is a compelling one, and there really ought to be some way to make that work. Even if in the shorter term the aim is simply to keep the vehicles safe in off-site storage somewhere.
What the latest is, I don't know. It has all gone very quiet.

 

Having a restored GCR train set operating on its home turf, so to speak, is very appealing, but like most railways, it all comes down to having the money. Maybe if enough of us all bought a ticket each on this Friday's Euro lottery and one of us was to win, that would be problem solved

 

Somebody has announced that they're about to take on GCR #1663 and #799 from the GCR RST;

https://www.facebook.com/GCRRestoration

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-tra...heet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link

Apparently they need to be gone from Ruddington by 30th April.

 

Once their gone, they are gone

 

Agreed, and that's why I've put my money where my mouth is and donated toward the fundraiser to get them moved.

 

It's all very well asking for donations, but who is doing the asking and what do any of us know about them?

 

Well, until we know more the only possible answer to that is that it's the person who has shown the aptitude to
-Contact the GCR-RST about taking the stock on
-Get options for a new location to move them to
-Get quotes from haulage firms for the move

This compared with the 'usual' response of moaning 'That's a shame isn't it? Isn't it a shame?' on Facebook and forums.
So I think they deserve at least the benefit of the doubt.

 

Do you know for certain said person(s) have done those things or are you just surmising?

It's far easier to attract donations if you provide some evidence that you have a decent chance of achieving the tasks for which you are seeking support.

 

I thought that. The "name" on the GoFundMe is Scorpio R, which is the same initials as Stuart Reeder. Just a thought....

 

It does sound remarkably similar to stuff he's posted before.

 

I asked them, on one of their FB posts. I've stated above what they told me.

 

He's also one of the few people to have commented on the Facebook group at the moment, stating: 'no choice of where it gets put at the moment'.

 

Ah cack it appears to be as well. I donated without due dilligence on that one. If Reeder is involved, they'll be bonfire and razor blades like everything he touches. I might well report it since he isn't going to do shneck all good with the money if it is him.

 

Just out of curiousity what was turned into a bonfire or razorblades ?

 

Pretty certain Andrew Barclay 2352/1954 has now been scrapped. He also owned the underframe from LMS inspection saloon 45036 and LMS sleeper 617 for a bit.

 

Barclay was split for parts
45036 saloon chassis (owned by cambrian railway (CHR) now )
Hauler scrapped 617

 

He walks among us again, truly we are blessed...

May be of interest to the two donors: