MHR Restorations and Overhauls

I would, there's been too much bad blood between the parties.......

 

At risk of kicking an old hornet's nest, so to speak, what exactly happened between Mr. Bunch and the MHR? I've been hearing about this dispute many times, but I've yet to fully understand the whole story and what overall caused all this bitter grudge, so I only ask as I'm just curious to know the story behind this supposed bad blood between them...

Could anyone explain please?

 

anyone brave enough to answer that? I certainly have refrained from going there!

 

They fell out. Best to leave it at that...


Keith

 

It's a long story, mistakes on all sides, clashes of personality, and all the rest. It's not a good idea to go into the details on a public forum. Ask around the MHR staff messes, porters' offices, etc. and you'll get many different variations and personal interpretations, but I doubt whether the people who really know the details will discuss them with you. (And by the way, take David Wilcock's writings on the subject with a large pinch of salt - he's not my idea of an objective reporter, in this case.)

Previous comments along the lines of JB being a pragmatic businessman, there's always a deal to be done on the right terms, etc. are probably correct (I've said the same myself to colleagues on the MHR on several occasions). The problem will be agreeing those terms, whether with the MHR or anyone else. I expect 34016 and 73096 will be found work quickly enough, probably with help from David Smith and his contacts. 31806 could earn its keep on any number of preserved lines. I think the main difficulty will be finding somewhere to take 31874 (N) and 31625 (U), both of which need significant investment before they'll run again, at a price that satisfies both owners and hosts. It may be that his best option is to sell one or both, provided he doesn't set the price too high. However, the only way I can see any of his locos remaining on (or returning to) the MHR is if he can't do a deal anywhere else.

Then again, we may all get a surprise...

 

I think the lessons that should have been learned from the MHR debacle are that it it isn't good to have most of the railway's locomotives owned/controlled by a single individual and that having the same major loco owner as CME can be perceived as potential source of conflict of interest. Having said that, I can't think of another railway where this has occured to the same extent.

 

The MHR has positioned itself nicely in this regard with the railway owning or having the controlling interest in:

- Black 5 - 45379 replacing the Std 5 73096
- Std 4's (3no) - 76017, 75079, 80150 (give it a few years)
- Bulleid Light Pacifics (3no) 34007 - Wadebridge, 34105 - Swanage & at some point 34058 - Sir Fredrick Pile - these 3 more than making up for the loss of Bodmin.
- Merchant Navy -35005 - Canadian Pacific - Under overhaul.
- The blue thing Thomas....

Then of course the MHR has built relationships with the NRM & Mr Hosking meaning - 850 Nelson & 925 Cheltenham, as well as 9F 92212 seem to call Ropley home.

This is of course before the Ivatt Tank & 2no Urie Society S15'S come back....

All in all the railway has an excellent collection of engines (that most railways would love to have); I think the MHR has moved on and the sooner certain engines depart the sooner the saga can be put to bed!

 

I was around the MHR at the time and it split the railway down the middle, a lot of people, myself included were not happy that someone who owned so much of the motive power at the time was loco superintendant, but had no axe to grind with JB, However there were some on the railway who for what ever reason, wanted him out, i think it was more board room level, than anything else but dare not do it,until they had his engines tied down to a long term agreement,
The railway has by and large looked after the engines that were in traffic, they could have retired the std5 when the cylinder blew, and they could have decided not to restore 31806,
The people on both sides who were at the heart of the problem are now mostly no longer involved , JB has a person who deals with the MHR on his behalf, and any dealings about if any engines remain on the MHR will no doubt be done the same way.

 

Is it that time of year again....

 

Some form or another of an argument has been ongoing since I was working volunteer on the MHR back in 1979 - 82

 

same here and around the same time too

 

Does anyone know why Britannia is at Ropley?

 

The front bogies are out.

 

Really? Interesting. On Saturday I was told it was the leading driving wheelset that was coming out, hence why the coupling-rods were off both sides. Either way, she's there to use the wheeldrop. I'm told the liberated wheelset(s) are going to Buckfastleigh for attention. The aim is to have her back in one piece in time for GB7. Swift work if they can do it!

 

I was also a volunteer at the time leading up to the dispute and I also left because of the poisonous atmosphere, but as I've said on here before I always found John Bunch to be a kind, cheerful and friendly chap with time for everyone and I don't think JB was solely responsible for the falling out . The railway was raw and poor in those days and disputes and factions were part of the pain of growth. In JBs case there were a lot of lesser characters around who I did not find to be pleasant but who were pleased to thrive in JB's shadow - indeed I can remember one or two around the shed who were arrogant and rude (I expect some can guess of whom I speak) . I'd be interested to hear the views of the others on here who remember those times. I have a sneaky feeling that many of us would be quite happy if JB was welcomed back as an active member so long as his old gang were not included.

 

It is now many years since all this occurred. The MHR is transformed in so many ways. This is not the place for a discussion on this matter and no profit can come of the debate - best saved for the pub. Apportioning blame is unhelpful, and subjective. I sincerely hope that the fleet of engines will enjoy long and useful careers at their new homes, and I hope that all will finally move on from this unhappy time.

 

No thanks.

 

I got to echo what 21B has said. The debate belongs needs to stay in the past as we need to encourage people to join our railway as volunteers and all this mudracking is doing is painting us in a bad light and putting people off. We all want the same thing a well run and happy railway and the JB era will soon be in the past and the Mid Hants has done very well to secure a good variety of traction for its future so we need to focus on that and hopefully our positive work will inspire others to join us. As a new volunteer myself I can testify that the Mid Hants volunteer are a lovely welcoming bunch.

Back to the subject of MHR restorations I have enjoyed seeing City of Wells coming together does one know roughly (in terms of years) Swanage will be back in steam?