Nene Valley Railway

As a fan of small steam engines, I think the F class looks really cute. Two will be even better!

 

I do wish them well with Derek and the 'new' F class. Though I would one day love to see No 101A steam again. Its now over 20 years since that engine moved under its own steam. I don't know what the appetite there is for another big engine after City of Peterborough eventually returns but it was a fantastic sight to see when it was operational.

 

I'm sure @Nathanjw032 will confirm, but the plan was for 101 to enter the works once 73050 is complete. It'll be a few years though, unless some mystery benefactor gives the railway loads of money.

 

Again, not wishing to be negative here but the NVR is still asking for money for its "resilience fund". Is the ESPS going to be a self-financing operation? Because you do need a railway to run engines on.

I can certainly see the attraction of 654 and 656 at the head of the continental coaches which could be an attraction to the NVR in the future.

 

That's certainly my understanding. Although I'm a member of the NVR, I have to say I've not been there since 92 Squadron left...

 

So the overhaul plan of locos is flexible, but as it stands 101 is still being looked at as the next big engine to go in - however if benefactor was to come along and propose all the money to fund something else then that could change potentially. Fundraising is open for both 101 and Jacks Green at the moment, but the main concentration is on finishing DC and further for fundraising for 73050.

Regarding ESPS, it is a separate society to the NVR and is currently going through the charity registration process. The fundraising from ESPS will be separate to the NVR, and the agreement between ESPS and NVR will be similar to that of a private owner locomotive and host railway.

 

I don't do it as I can't spare the cash these days but I always said if I ever won the "Euromillions" lottery, a lot of heritage railways, loco groups and new builders would be getting most of it

Oh - and I'd commission a J70

 

My lottery win is to get 1200 at Railworld back in traffic!

 

For me, the international engines have always been the NVR's USP. I remember being so excited to go there as a kid for the first time in a half term in maybe 1989, seeing something strange and black approaching wherever we were getting on and then being gutted when it got closer and I realised it was just a tender-first Black 5!

I've only been once since then, and that was for a mid-week Cl.14 running day in 2014 when I happened to be in the area. Its diesel galas these days look a bit Pacer and HST heavy for my tastes, but a few international steam engines running together would definitely entice me back to the NVR.