Swanage Railway makes an offer for 80104

http://railpicturelibrary.zenfolio.com/blog/2014/3/swanage-railway-makes-offer-for-80104

 

I wonder who "railpicturelibrary.zenfolio.com" is?

 

Must be true...Its on Nat Pres

 

Are SLL looking to sell though? if they were then you could ask are SLL really interested in anything other than Bulleild pacifics? would they sell the standard tank to fund another pacific restoration?
after all they sold 80078 to fund other future restorations , 34028 is coming towards the end of its ticket, do they have the money to overhaul it?

 

Selling 80104 could see the remaining costs of 34072 and maybe the overhaul 34028 too... Not doing 80104 would leave a bit of slack in the queue, Maybe then there could be scope to fit 34010 in, before 34070 in a few years time ?, but 34010 would cost a lot more than a standard tank is worth, even with a new boiler ticket, so all of that above to me would be unlikely.

But given the skills of SLL, it would surely make more sense to sell 80104 following overhaul, than just before it...but then would Swanage still want it ?... by that time 34070 would be coming up next anyway and more money is better than less.

If Swanage owned 80104, that would reduce the need for SLL to provide locomotives, so another one of their collection may end up running at a home elsewhere.

 

It is surely a case of Swanage wanting to be masters of their own destiny and perhaps trying to avoid the risk of SLL selling the loco on the open market. I'm sure the Swanage management have learned a lesson from 80078 slipping away. For SLL I'd expect the p0urchase price to help cover the cost of overhauling one Bulleid, I can't see it covering two. I think they may have to strike a deal elswhere.

 

I'd really like to think this is true, the Swanage railway mag popped through the letterbox this morning, with hazy references to a 'new locomotive policies' and the annual mileage of '104 is 10,000 miles compared to about 5000 for the rest of the fleet. It's clearly a useful engine and buy purchasing it would reduce dependence on the (in my opinion) much too big Light Pacifics. We just need the two U's and the N and we're away...

Wether or not it is true remains to be seen, but I'm very interested to find out

 

I think there are few lines in the country that wouldn't want a standard tank and could make good use of it. It will be something of a test of SLL's goodwill towards Swanage for them to sell it to the railway when a sale on the open market would probably get them a better price.

 

Indeed I thought that the SLL and JB were living at the wrong homes..
The N/Us at Swanage and the Bullieds at Ropley would be very nice, though Ropley now seems to have a few of it's own ..(34007,34059,34105, 35005)

Wouldn't be surprised if 31806 ended Up North though.

 

Its all pure speculation.....

 

Without knowing the price they've offered it's pure speculation as to whether it's a low ball one, although I can't imagine SLL would be very popular at Swanage if they sold ANOTHER Standard, suppose Swanage threw in the towel, I can't imagine there are that many railways looking to hire 2 bullieds, store another 2 and give them use of there workshop facilities...

 

Probably!

 

By 34059 (Sir Archibald Sinclair) do you mean 34058 (Sir Fredrick Pile)?? Quite a difference between the condition of those two locos?!

 

Who says they have offered a price?...This is all speculation

 

Too much speculation and not enough confirmed at the moment.

Did we ever find out who brought 80078 and where it's likely to end up ?, don't recall seeing the end of that one.

 

Yes it was taken by a haulier, oh you meant bought-Mr 03197 etc. and on hire.

 

Afraid that's gone straight over my head bar the typo reference, Mr 03197 ?

 

Article now updated with statement from SLL:

http://railpicturelibrary.zenfolio.com/blog/2014/3/swanage-railway-makes-offer-for-80104

 

Google 03197 & 80078 and you'll find your answer.......

 

mangapps farm then? seems a bit big for there?