7820 Dinmore Manor

I know that this is the wrong place for this post - but it appears to be the only section of this site where i am allowed to post or respond. Can the mods have a look please?
Anyway, I was trying to post in the 7820 section to make contact with the current owners - is it the WSR? In clearing out and digitising my photos, I came across a nice shot of 7820 at swindon on 31/8/58. Would they like a copy? Hopefully, thumbnail attached.

 

Dinmore Manor Locomotive Limited are the group your looking for:

http://www.dinmoremanor.co.uk/

 

DINMORE MANOR LOCOMOTIVE LIMITED

Regards

Stephen

 

"7820 Dinmore Hall.JPG" ._.

 

Is it definitely Swindon? I would say somewhere in the West Country, Exeter St.Davids?

 

Might be worth looking at these two links over the website as it is currently out of date due to technical reasons:

7820 Dinmore Manor

https://www.facebook.com/DinmoreManorLocomotiveLtd

The group would be interested in the photo so if you email the group with the shot here: dinmoremanor@hotmail.co.uk I'm sure it would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks Pete. I understand.
Yes, it is Swindon (Junction, as my caption tells me). It is arriving with the empty stock of the 3.30pm Sundays only service to Weymouth on 31st August 1958.
Next but one in the album is a shot of Sir Keith Park at templecombe

 

7820 is going to the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway for a while, as is 2874:

https://www.facebook.com/DinmoreManorLocomotiveLtd?fref=ts
By Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd.
Some exciting developments regarding the future of two of our locomotives.

We are pleased to be able to tell you what has been planned once our flagship locomotive “Dinmore Manor” returns to steam this summer. We can announce that we plan to be at the West Somerset Railway’s 2013 Autumn Gala, running for a strictly limited number of days around the event. The date of this year’s WSR Gala is 3rd/6th October and the engine should fit in beautifully with the autumn colours and the Cambrian theme.

The Hire Team from DMLL has been talking to a number of heritage railways with the aim of securing the best combination of long term security and maximising income whist trying to present the option of attractive, varied running turns for 'Dinmore Manor'.
We are delighted to announce that we have now reached an agreement with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) to operate on their line running north from Cheltenham through Toddington towards Broadway once ‘Dinmore Manor’ returns to steam.

The agreement offers many potential benefits for both organisations, because we shall have the opportunity to run in territory that is new to ‘Dinmore Manor’, near to the tourist ‘hotspots’ of England’s Cotswolds and Stratford Upon Avon -as well as being able to operate 7820 elsewhere during the ‘closed season’ and for agreed periods during the main GWSR operating season. It is through this spirit of flexibility that we shall be able to operate at the WSR’s Autumn Gala and at other times if we are requested.

What makes the next 2 years even more interesting is that we plan to commemorate 7820’s journey from a scrapyard wreck to restored glory by taking ‘Dinmore Manor’ back to the railway that first secured the locomotive by bringing it out of Barry in 1980. Next year (2014), the Gwili plan to complete the extension of their operating line south from Bronwydd Arms towards Carmarthen and we have agreed in principle that ‘Dinmore Manor’ can return to their line to join their celebrations. We anticipate that this will provide mutually beneficial publicity and welcome income for both organisations.

Our updated 12-month programme now includes:

• Assembling the chassis for early June
• Refitting the boiler to 7820 in July
• Dinmore Manor appearing as a static exhibit the Tyseley ‘Open Day’ on 22nd June
• 7820 entering service on the GWSR – probably now in September
• Appearance at the WSR Autumn Gala in October
• Visit to Gwilli Railway in early 2014

Longer Term Plans:

We have always stated that we will develop plans to deliver the company strategy that was part of the ‘New Horizons’ Plan. Our 2 other locomotives which are in unrestored condition and waiting for the overhaul of ‘Dinmore Manor’ to be completed will each need long and expensive restoration programmes to return them to operation. During the overhaul of 7820, we have been limited by both the absence of covered accommodation and the number of volunteers, so we have sought out ways to broaden our support and provide a base better suited to the work that will be required. We are, therefore, delighted to report that we have concluded a second, independent agreement with the GWSR to support the restoration of 2874 at their Toddington base.

2874 Restoration:

Although plans for this locomotive cannot yet be fully developed, we believe that the agreement to move this locomotive to Toddington will be mutually beneficial for both the GWSR and ourselves. The GWSR have a young team of enthusiastic volunteers who are both experienced in restoration and very keen to be involved with another. We happen to have just what they need.

This means that work can start on 2874 later this year at Toddington. The facilities there ensure that the work can be carried out under cover when required, so not to be weather dependent, and includes the use of their extensive machine shop, which will bring with it a significant cost saving as restoration progresses. Initially the work will involve the stripping down of the components of the engine and cataloguing all the work required to make each piece ready for reassembly in the future. 2874 is the preferred choice for our third engine because of its original build. No other 28xx with inside steam pipes is likely to steam in the future

 

An interesting development, as it says on the GWSR site that 7820 will be based there on a 10 year agreement. Is this another sign of a group having problems with the WSR Management. The WSR are probably going to lose 53808 at some point as well and 5542 has also drifted away. If there is no need for 5542there, will 4561 find a role when its overhaul is complete?. It appears to be a line that built up a reasonable fleet but is now bent on shedding all but the engines it owns. Another PDSR - efficient but dull?

 

The WSR has quite a different loco policy to many other lines. It has always run quite a modest sized fleet. It requires a minimum of five Class 4 (or higher) locos to run its services each year, and normally the number of locos in service does not exceed 5 or 6 (apart from short term hire-ins for galas and special events). The policy is to concentrate its resources in keeping the core fleet in good order, and not spread its resources too thinly. It has been notably successful in this despite the relatively high utilisation and mileages run by each loco. The line appears to have avoided the high failure rate and shortages of locos that are sadly so prevalent elsewhere - I suspect some other lines are overstretched in trying to maintain unrealistically large fleets. Moreover the WSR policy ensures that the locos in service each earn a good income to cover the next major overhaul. This policy may not provide the large variety of locos seen elsewhere (often standing out of service in sidings), but it has been very successful financially and operationally. The current fleet is 3850, 4160, 6960, 7828, 9351, 53808, of which only two locos 7828 and 9351 are owned by the WSR plc, the rest are hired in. I am not aware of any plans to change this. The mogul 9351 goes out of certificate and enters overhaul later this year. It may be replaced by another loco for next year or maybe the number in service will fall to five. When 53808 is eventually withdrawn from service, there should be no problem in replacing it, there are always loco owners wishing to bring their locos to the line.

David

 

Is 6960 permanently based at the WSR now or will it eventually return to the GWR ?.

As for 7820, it just looks like a business decision from the outside looking in, perhaps the GWR could offer more days or higher fee's ?, remember 7903 will be out of ticket soon and 5542 seems to visit different lines frequently, so could be down to 2807 and whatever number the 8F is carrying this week until 4270 and 35006 come online.

 

I think 6960 is due to remain at the WSR for several years. I imagine that 7820 will be the replacement for 7903 in the immediate future. The overhaul of 6984 at Toddington is also progressing steadily.

 

As for 7820, it just looks like a business decision from the outside looking in, perhaps the GWR could offer more days or higher fee's ?

You may well be right, but to me the interesting thing is that the DMF, long term committed supporters of the WSR, seem to have turned their back on the WSR. The WSR isn' in that great shape loco-wise - in addition to 9361, 4160 must be well into its 10yr ticket, as must the DMF's 3850 - one wonders what will become of that one. I also think its a bit of a myth that there are plenty of loco owners ready and waiting to take their engines to the WSR. Class 4/5 engines are highly sought after and there are more and more railways chasing them.

 

Thanks - I had forgotten about that. The WSR submitted a successful bid for this loco in 2001 when it was seized by the courts for non-payment of debts and put up for sale by the Sheriff of Gloucester. But the sale to the WSR was cancelled at the very last moment after the original owner managed to settle his debts.

 

Have the WSR not got 7821 to bring back in for overhaul at some point in the future? It's a shame 7820 is moving on, but there'll still be 2 Manors based there in due course. A bit more variety for both lines really, previously each were on course for 3 each of the same class. So long as the engines are being used is the main thing!

 

Saw 6984 last Saturday and there was no evidence that it was "progressing steadily"

 

Nothing to say 7820 can't return to the WSR in the future, as a loco owner(s), it's common sense to take your loco where you'll get the best deal for it, next to no "preserved line only" locos make enough money during a ticket to cover maintenance and the next overhaul, so every extra bit of revenue you can get counts.

They have 7821 as you say, but I was led to believe Ditcheat's condition was "tired" to put it mildly.

I don't think the WSR are in too bad shape motive power, won't 34046 be returning when not on mainline duty ?, I'm sure 4936's owner would be interested in a hire stint if the need arose.

DMF I'm sure support the WSR and wish them well, but DMF's concern first and foremost is the wellbeing of DMF, if someone offered you a job with higher wages or better terms, woulden't you take it ?.