GWR Royal Saloons

Hello,
Many thanks to all those who have corrected any previous messages.
Also many thanks to those Have exaggerated the comments I posted.

Back to the original posting...9006 & 9007 they are still as I write stored out in the open.
Had I not found the two photos on Flickr, we would be none the wiser on these vehicles.
I still find it disgraceful that in 2014 they are not under secure covered accommodation .
So be it

Nick

 

Hello,
Having "pulled" the recent photos of the two saloons at Carnforth and enlarged them ,what is most disappointing is the broken/ left open windows. Not only are they repainted jobs they also need money spent on the interiors .....two one royal interiors.

Can I have 9007? At least I could shut/ board up the windows and put a pin ney on and get out the Flash and the Hoover.


Nick
In cleaning mode.

 

Just did the same. 9006 looks very ropey indeed so you've made the least worst choice

I rather suspect it'll take a bit more than Flash & a Hoovering though... 9002 had a similar history before we got involved in the 'finishing off' & I well remember how hard it was to put right - especially the suspended light fittings which look very fancy but are a nasty plywood carcass covered in a waffer thin burr elm veneer which was cellulose varnished - none of which like exposure to water!

9006 in happier days:



SSPL link

That table looks a lot like 9002's as well. Same construction as the light fitting above it <shudder>.

P.

 

I've said before that progress is being made behind the scenes on a sound future for both these vehicles.

Please believe me.

 

Hello,
Fair enough.
Doing my best to keep these vehicles under the spot light.
Take a look at the NRM icons: Flying !!!!!!!!!!!Scotman and Winston !!!!!! Churchill to name but two,
How many pages on NatPres? 150 and counting? I will not mention the estimated costs..........
Flying !!!!!!!!!! Scotsman ...
I prefer what's behind these overgrown kettles.
What happens to them now is not the point....it is what has been done to them that is disgraceful.

Nick

 

Having had a 'cuppa' with Anthony I am much more enlightened as to the current realities regarding 9006 & 9007. It would be wrong to say anything further publicly as "the end of a long paperwork process" has not yet quite been reached. However, considering what Anthony was faced with, what will hopefully be made public shortly is clearly the only option that will give the carriages a chance of survival in the longer term.

Please be patient and remember that the amounts of money the NRM now needs to deal with inherited problems are enormous. Its own coffers are empty and it is thus very dependent on outside funding to tackle many of these problems. That being said, efforts are being made and much is being achieved whilst there is much still to be done.

Those who believe the NRM is pouring all its money into FLYING SCOTSMAN and SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL perhaps need to do a bit of research into how these projects are funded.

 

Hello,
I will keep my fingers off the keyboard re Royal GWR saloons.

Nick

 

Thanks Pete - I really do think we collectively ought to look forward rather than looking back in order to point fingers.

There is a positive future for both 9006 & 9007 and I eagerly await the day that I can hand the keys over. They can be fixed, but not in our ownership.

 

Hello,
Been 7 months since the plight of these two vehicles was high lighted. Are they still rotting at Carnforth?


Nick

 

Anthony assured me in October that once all due process had been completed and he had finally handed over the keys for 9006 & 9007 he would let me know. As he has not then it can be concluded that the long and difficult process has yet to be completed.

I think it is fair to say though that although the resolution of issues surrounding 9006 & 9007 have not yet been completed progress is being made with other issues. FLYING SCOTSMAN is progressing well by all accounts, the Super D and Taffy Tank are now on display inside at Shildon and the 2 HAP is under cover and receiving volunteer attention at York'. Unfortunately the Class 84 is not yet undercover at a different location, wagons 902806-08, 85209, B943139 & 19154 do not have the security of the Shildon security fence and no announcements about the future of KING FEISAL OF IRAQ and Pullman EAGLE have been made but lets hope some positive news on those is not far away.

 

Hello,
Thank you for the reply..
No surprise then.
Have some information where they are not going........

Nick

 

Thank you Peter. Nick, why the suspicion of us? You & I have corresponded and you know the score on the collection.

The transfer is taking time, but it is nearing the end of the process I am pleased to say.

As for the other material Peter mentions, yes, there is progress on all fronts but nothing that can be reported as yet. We are a small team with limited resources and even less time.

More news on at least one of the projects next week...

 

Hello,
Thank you for your reply.

Nick

 

It is interesting to note that over two years has passed since my original posting and still the NRM website has not been updated. Indeed the whole 'Our collection' section of the NRM website continues to be totally unfit for purpose despite myself and presumably others pointing out errors. It would appear that the root cause of the problem is that it is a classic example of a government sponsored IT project not working as intended and no one willing to call a halt. It needs taking down and a simple accurate pdf listing of the National Collection and its current whereabouts putting in its place until such time as the technological problems can be solved.

Thus, while those involved with the collection are steadily making progress to resolve inherited problems this is not being reflected to those with an interest in the collection.

 

While a stock list may be of importance to (some) enthusiasts, I doubt that most visitors to the NRM would look at such a page/document and it is therefore unlikely to be top of the priority list at York, especially in these days of restricted budgets. Just an observation!

Keith

 

Surely it can't be that difficult? I agree, whenever I've looked, it's been terrible unhelpful. At least a picture for every item would be something, and a little bit of info wouldn't go amiss either.

 

We know there are issues with the interface on the web site...It affects all of our collection, not just the rolling stock. I'll enquire this next week.

 

18 months on, was there ever a conclusion to this protracted saga?

 

Not that I am aware of, still quickly rotting in Carnforth