Dean Forest Railway

And I suspect that there will be many volunteer based organisations that would read that report and go "there but for the grace of God..."

 

A slightly different look back at Don Bishop's charter with 78019 on freight. This time with the Queen Mary brake van in tow on the rear of the freight.

 

Latest news from the DFR. <BJ>

'FOREST ROAD CLOSURE – WE ARE OPEN'
From 9 February to end August 2026, B4234 Forest Road / New Road will be closed north of Norchard Station for embankment repair works.
The Dean Forest Railway remains OPEN
Access is available from Lydney (southern direction)
Norchard Station is NOT within the closed section
The hard closure is at the current traffic lights, north of the station.
If visiting:
• Approach from Lydney
• Follow official diversion signage
• Allow extra journey time
• Do not rely solely on sat nav
We look forward to welcoming you as usual!'

 

Noticed on social media that the DFR is running Rennes and 9681 double headed on next Wednesday's services as a bit of a post-overhaul test for the Austerity. Nice little mid-week off-season bonus!

 

The DFR Steam Department have also launched an instagram page, dfrsteamdept
On which subject, does anyone know what's happening with HE 2411 and 2413, the 50550s?

 

2413 is under overhaul and 2411 is stored

 

Brilliant, thank you.

 

A post on the DFR Facebook Page states that Willy the Well Tank and GER 229 have been withdrawn from the upcoming Small Engines gala.

The rumour (which I have not been able to evidence) is that the owner had originally offered for them to be used for free during the gala, and the gala had been organised as such, but that he's sinced changed his mind and now wants £1150 per loco, per day which makes it wholly unviable, understandably.

 

It is a massive shame, especially with both locos having worked just down the road in Chepstow.

 

That’s a lot of money for a four coupled loco, if true.

 

A comment on the railway's fb by one of the main people there would say it is.

 

Are they not Bill Parker/ Flour Mill locomotives? Seems very out of character for an otherwise respected locomotive owning person/ organisation to turn around and make close to a five figure demand like a highway robber. Especially when one of them is already on site.

 

I was thinking this. And the Flour Mill is literally a 12 min drive by car from Whitecroft station on the DFR, 20 minutes from Norchard. Very local. Seems odd.

 

I've never met Mr Parker but from what I've heard, it's very in character for him.

 

I understand he isn't a charity but I don't think I've ever heard of a locomotive turn up for a gala and suddenly be charged up the wazoo for its use this close to opening day.

 

I agree, it does seem very strange, especially given that one of the locos has already been delivered there (Willy).

 

A comment within the DFR's Facebook group from a reliable source yesterday insinuated that the owner tried to charge them close to 5 figures for both locos' use with only a week's notice and then cancelled the booked haulier when the railway didn't say "yes" at the drop of a hat. They also stated in no uncertain terms that there would be no future collaboration between the DFR and the loco owner or his organisation/s.

What a mess

 

I'm highly sceptical of these claims; I know of locos much bigger and more powerful that only (?!) command steaming fees of £1k per day for galas, so trying to charge a five figure amount for these two of limited use and attraction not only makes it unviable for the DFR, but would do so for any railway looking to book them - and I can't see the GWSR paying such an amount for 229 for their gala. Likewise, I can't believe the ELR would have done so for Willy the other month.

 

I’m also curious about contracts. If there was a signed contract with agreed fees, then changing those at short notice is not really on. But if there was no contract in place - what were the DFR doing advertising locos at a gala when they hadn’t actually secured them?

I suspect there are two sides to this story and we are only hearing one.

(BTW - no iron in the fire on this one either way).

Tom