6201's boiler good through December 2012 !!!

Whilst 6201 may have a new engineering team, you do wonder if they're going to have any money to work with at the next overhaul. Perhaps we'll have to hope it doesn't need much work to get a new boiler certificate.

 

Could this be why there are calls for an EGM?

 

If an EGM was called, and management changes agreed if that is what society members wanted, would there now be time to make any difference before the boiler certificate expires?

 

Obviously 'inside information' then..........
What else can you tell us then you old bag?

 

No inside info at all, other than she did not arrive at Southall on Friday, reason given LE move cancelled and no new date given.

 

It might have something to do with an ASLEF ban on rest day working which has caused the Worcester trip to be caped.

 

I doubt it is down to ASLEF, as I believe on good authority there is a mechanical problem with 6201. Committee are also I believe having problems, also unhappy members, this is why many would like an EGM, to try to get things sorted, before it is too late! Three missed trips, must have an inpact on the finances.

 

Seems like this info was correct! Railway Herald railtours shows Thu 23 Aug trip Postponed, 6201 unavailable and trip has disappeared off Steam Dreams Website. Might be a good idea if 6201 updated their own website or will that be blamed on the now departed Membership Secretary!

 

This is such a tragedy, after the recent triumphs of the Jubilee river procession, then haulage of the Royal Train. Lizzie has been such a high-profile locomotive in recent times, and I fear that there is now a grave danger of her being out of action for a considerable length of time. I sincerely hope that the difficulties which are being alluded to are resolved, and soon.

Mark

 

I just went to the 6201 website, Quote "New website is under construction". So, I guess that is today's news. Hopefully it is good news. One can hope.

 

Does anyone know when this new website is due to come into operation? I find a lack of news regarding 6201 worrying. Only two trips booked according to the society newsletter before the end of the year when the overhaul is due. Also is the work that was being done on the locomotive completed? - So many questions, but no answers.

 

I have been reading the new 6201 website, and see they are asking for donations towards the overhaul. They estimate it could cost as much as 300K. I wonder have they found something nasty, as this is far more than was said earlier in the year. - I do hope not.

 

300k sounds the going rate for an overhaul to mainline standard for a loco that's had a fair bit of wear n tear to me, especially one of Lizzies size, Tyseley Loco's for example live undercover and do minimal mileage compared to others, which accounts for some relatively (by mainline steam standards) quick and cheap turnarounds.

 

£300K sounds like a lot of money in railway preservation terms, but that's the sort of figure that many boiler overhauls cost these days. Seems to me the earlier estimates may have been on the low side. I feel reassured that the society have got the scale of the work in proportion. It's better to err on the side of caution, since you don't really know what you will find until you get in there and start scraping off the scale and checking thicknesses. With luck (and good water treatment, routine maintenance, etc. over the last 10 years) they might only need £200k. Then again...

 

Station Master is right to be concerned, at the AGM in May the chairman stated that the overhaul costs would be in the region of 50k a fact born out in the published AGM minutes. Couple that with the loss of so many trips since May either cancelled or loco unavailable ,meaning that the coffers are not being replenished. I agree 300k is a much more realistic figure.

 

How strange! The figure of 300K has now been removed from the appeal for donations on the 6201 website, I wonder if someone spoke out of turn by quoting a figure?

 

The worries continue, I guess.

 

Well this is quite wonderful news, although I am at a total loss as to understand where the figure came from. Whilst I cannot officially speak on behalf of the Society's committee, I can only imagine that the communications guy has dropped a bit of a googly, as I do have a very great suspicion that he has managed to put an extra 0 on the end of the budget figure which we produced for re-tubing the boiler, bearing in mind that a majority of the materials are to hand and already paid for. There is an ever present danger of the less technical doing such things without recognising the relevance of the figures.

Certainly from recent in-depth exams, all of the firebox stays etc are in good order and aside from some flange rivets there is little else that appears to be required with the boiler, it will of course require the usual external exam and this can always throw a curved ball at you. The running gear is in decent order at the moment (remember it got passed to haul a Royal with the Queen on board), and aside from examination little more needs to be done in the near future, as an awful lot of catching up with overdue exams has been done over the last year or so including quite a lot of remedial work to pistons and valves, the examination of which threw up a number of long standing deficiencies which have been rectified.

I am sure that there are some out there who would be delighted if it did need this much spending on it, but I regret to say that I can personally see no way that a bill of that magnitude could be envisaged at the present time. I hope this quells the fears of those who genuinely have Lizzie's best interests at heart., as there is far too much rubbish being spouted about this locomotive at the present time.

Regards
Bob

 

Speaking as a member, I thank you for the above information, although the society's officials/committee as a whole do not seem to want to keep members informed, your input is most welcome and appreciated. and will help to allay members fears.