Rolling Stock Movements

I'm glad 806 has found a home - I have fond memories of trips in that vehicle, so good that a brighter future looks in prospect.

Tom

 

Agreed! Sadly I never got the chance to ride in her during her time at the Bluebell, but she's a magnificent vehicle and ought to be the pride of any heritage railway. It was an absolute travesty that she ended up in a pub car park, but there's no point in raking over old ground.

As a further update, pictures appeared on Instagram yesterday showing 2890 hauling a mixed coach set comprising the GN saloon, two Mk 1s, GER No. 8 and LSWR No. 17.

 

I believe the thinking at Embsay is that the saloons, although lower capacity, can earn more money - the 6-wheelers were generally only used on Sundays for their 'vintage train' running, which would have been the same price as a normal ticket, lower capacity and probably less comfortable for the average punter. I presume now they can run a two-train operation with the dining train + saloon on one set and a regular MK1 set + saloon (for a supplement) on the other - brings in greater income.
It does raise two questions for me though -
1. They now have a number of saloons based there; is there enough work to justify them all? Maybe some will be hired out, I don't know.
2. What does this mean for Illingworth, which in previous years when not out on loan has often been the go-to engine on Vintage services owing to being less powerful than the locos used on the main set?

 

Illingworth goes out of ticket after Easter so will be requiring an overhaul... so wouldn't be in Embsays plans for this year at least.

 

Good to know. It'll be interesting to know what Mr Middleton decides to do - I'd imagine there's not the capacity to do it at Embsay alongside Wheldale's restoration and their regular maintenance so maybe a contract overhaul if he feels it's worthwhile?

 

When it leaves the MSLR it is going somewhere for overhaul, although I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say where its going yet.