hello from shillingstone

I'm sure we would all love to see the Shillingstone project grow and prosper, and it would be fabulous to see a 9F on S&D metals again. But restoring a 9F from Barry condition in the open air with little in the way of engineering facilities is, if not impossible, then at least very, very difficult. It's a project which really needs the facilities of a Crewe, Bridgnorth, Ropley or Sheffield Park to make it happen, and I can't help thinking that 92207 will end up at such a location eventually. Whilst this might seem like a blow to the Shillingstone project, at least it would allow the guys to get on with rebuilding the railway infrastructure. And when there's a sufficient length of running line to exercise large locomotives (if I may borrow an oft-misquoted line) "If you build it, they will come".

 

I agree Widge...

 

Hay chaps yes I’m servile dyslexic sorry but any way this guy lives on a different plaint and thinks he can rebuild a 9f on his own whiteout a workshop in the open and to mainline line running his excuse is he knows someone in network rail high up who waver it aka do back hander to let it run yes what a lode rubbish but the people who blev him are not railway men and don’t understand . if you have heard of him his names keth botomley and the resone the trust is being made to pay for it is kethe botomley is on the board at shilingstone and nomater what we do to try and vote him of he doges every take if he is not got rid of shillingstone will be no more as we have a small fleet of volunteers’ who are on verge of leaving ...

 

when it was brot first to the project he had said ooo yes its all complet making evrone think its a complet 9f not a rustig halk its been ther like that since 2001 and since are old cermen died we cart get rid ofe him and dont no haw we are desprot as one bloke is rely kiling so much potencale and yes it sould go to a presevd line but he has bin kiked of numros lines as he never dus any work to it unles forsd to thus still in sam conditiona as naw we work whith midumer norton but there not going to work whith us unitll he leves thus the cach....

 

Getting a bit personal is this, methinks.

 

yer sorry but on beetr nowt there is still good things haperning just started grading the treck bed and naw serching for track and ponts still feling trees and clerance tracbed finised the platform wall so all getring there and naw looking fore a rail crane to help lay track

 

Back in the mid to late 80's there was an article in Steam Railway regarding the purchase of this loco by Keith Bottomely.

The gist of the article was that he was looking to purchase a loco in Barry, not necessarily a 9F but when he looked into the firebox of a 9F he decided there and then that he wanted one because of its impressive size. He then went working abroad for a year (to the Middle East, I think) in order to raise the purchase money. He subsequently persuaded the company, Beatties, to sponsor the move from Barry to a fledgling East Lancs Railway whereupon he reckoned that he would be able to raise the money needed for restoration in a relatively short time. I think he was quoted along the lines that "he was a very persuasive guy."

And that was more or less the last I heard about Keith Bottomly and his 9F until i read about a year ago that he had moved the loco to Shillingstone.

 

Shame, someone like me could do so much more for and give so much more love to a steam locomotive, but not financially able to buy one...cruel huh

 

its grat loco just rong onwner

 

Agreed.

I've read this thread with increasing levels of concern as the last couple of days have gone on, particularly given what can be seen as a bit of a character assasination. Is this constructive...?

 

Indeed. I do recall reading the article on Mr Keith Bottomley in a certain steam magazine many years ago. He did indeed go to a sandy place to earn sufficient money to purchase the 9F. Personally I quite like the choice of name, albeit not strictly authentic but, like 92203 Black Prince, the name can become associated with the loco. I believe the "real" BR "Morning Star" was a Britannia? There is a very good site here regarding all the progress that has been made at Shillingstone and I do hope it continues.

http://www.shillingstone.addr.com/


Now off topic briefly:

As an aside there are a number of interesting theories regarding dyslexia, including the fact that there is scientific evidence from brain scans to show that it is real (impatient blighters like me think that it is just laziness and nothing the old steel ruler over the knuckles cannot handle) and that its effects can be lessened by check lists, pictograms etc. (I'm studying for a PGCE which perhaps explains my interest.) My problem is my mathematics - lack of!

Two questions regarding dyslexia:

Why is it so difficult to spell?
Why is it also an anagram of "Daily Sex?"

 

Kinghambranch, I am dyslexic and I find your comments highly hilarious! Didn't realise it was an anagram for daily sex lol

 

Not far from me is a town called Newark. I will elaborate no further. It does have one of the few flat crossings on a British Railway (ECML and Lincoln - Nottingham lines).

 

The thread of this is all wrong. Alex is only a helper at Shillingstone. He will not be building any signal box as the building regulations have not yet been applied for. We are not seeking grants to buy wood for the signal box. He thinks he is a king-pin but is not. He sees everything so wrong you dont know what to believe.

 

You're expressing the type of frustrations that anyone involved in railway preservation will experience at some point.

However, there is such a thing as "doing your dirty washing in private." Telling the world that your group is about to implode does nothing to encourage support, donations or new members.

As for the 9F, most will be able to draw their own conclusions. No significant progress since it left Barry, its presence at a site with no engineering facilities, etc. If what you have said is true, rest assured that you will not be the first society to be stitched up by a loco owner. Some are serial offenders! But best to watch what you say online though - they may have a different opinion of themselves.

 

Hmmmm, as we know only too well at the Mid-Hants.

Regards
Chris

 

pont made to whot ive bin saing thay have no insparation and are not railway men ("He will not be building any signal box as the building regulations have not yet been applied for. We are not seeking grants to buy wood for the signal box. He thinks he is a king-pin but is not. He sees everything so wrong you dont know what to believe.") and planing pormiton was granted along whith dawn wating selter sigle box enjin shed get yor facs righ which is about to run out. and as for grunts just you wat and sea whats in pipline we had all the timbers donated but thay let them all walk out the door ....................................

 

nm enuff of this gripng biching and so on its ther loss not mine ore my frends thas y it will never proseed anyway rant over .....................................

 

Well I hope you do get your signal box. I've seen pictures of the original and it would make a fantastic addition to your site. Keep up the good work! :hail: