6201's boiler good through December 2012 !!!

I would also like to thank you Bob. I fully agree with Pendle Witch in all the sentiments he expresses. It is very frustrating for the members at times, when they are ignored by certain committee members. Surely the information that is put on the website should be checked by someone in a senior position . This was certainly a very big error, and certainly caused older members like me to think, if money like that was needed, we would not see Lizzie run again in our lifetime. Your comments Bob have given us renewed hope. Thanks for all you do, and special thanks to Tony Harries for all the hours he has spent helping out on the loco at Tyseley.

 

You can see how a typo could have occurred. However, maybe it would have been better to post a correction, rather than remove the info altogether. Then again, perhaps the Committee wasn't actually ready to release the figure yet - maybe there's an appeal launch being being organised, co-ordinated with a magazine article? That's the trouble with electronic media - word gets around very quickly! Never mind, thanks to Mr M's timely intervention, we now have a proper grasp of the situation. A target of c. £30-50k should be achievable in a reasonable time.

Let's hope Lizzie is fit and ready for her curtain-call on 17th Nov. It should be a grand day out!

 

Thanks for this and for the acknowledgement of the time which Tony, and indeed Andrew and Nat Lotarew and Neil Harmer, have been putting in to the work on 6201 in recent weeks. As I said I cannot speak on behalf of the committee, but as many of you will know I spent a lot of time in the 60's and 70's working on 6201, it has always been special to me because it was my first involvement with preserved steam, and I would like to believe that I am the last person on the planet who wishes to see it stuffed and mounted on a plinth. Nothing in this business is ever easy but special though it is, it is another railway loco that is perfectly capable of being mended for continued use. All I can say to those who are concerned about it is that when it is withdrawn for the overhaul please support it in whatever way you can. We will then be able to determine who is supporting it and who is taking pot shots!

Regards
Bob

 

I shall be doing my part by purchasing some of those 6201 items. The Red Polo Shirt and the baseball hat. !

 

Interesting find on 6201's new official website and I quote "6201 has now been in continuous ownership of the same group for 50 years, far longer than its ownership by the LMS and British Railways combined. It is a testimony to the excellent condition of 6201's maintainence that her mainline boiler certificate has been extended for her Royal Jubilee activities in 2012"

Surely the stated aim on gaining the boiler extention earlier in the year was to run as many mainline trips until the end of Dec 2012, to increase the funding already accrued for the overhaul, not just for the Royal Jubilee activities. Is this a contradiction?

 

Saying that the extension was for Royal duties sounds better than to top-up the piggy bank in preparation for her overhaul I suppose.

 

Well I suppose that you could say that this was a good theory to justify a bit more posturing, but unfortunately the facts do not bear it out.

The boiler extension was being discussed between us at TLW, RSA and the Railway Inspectorate almost 12 months ago. The possibility of using it on a Royal only really cropped up some 6 months later around Mid May, when discussions were underway about the aspects of getting the loco on the bridge at Chelsea as part of our rail tour to the Jubilee event, on the 3rd June.

Sorry to disappoint with the facts.

Regards
Bob

 

Sorry, I was merely voicing a hypothesis.
Thanks for enlightening us Bob

 

In the recently arrived 6201 Newsletter, an article by Mike Lee (6201 member and avid supporter) states that "railway enthusiats contain more wrong headed cranks per thousand than any other body of men that I have ever encountered". and "It is also the type of idiot in more extreme form who daubs locomotives with insulting and very possibly libelous statements, as we have seen in recent weeks elsewhere"
Could he be refering to this forum!!!! and also insulting fellow 6201 member Bob Meanley, who's input was welcome at the time and was very usefull.

 

No idea what is meant by that first quote, but I think it's fairly obvious that the reference to daubing locomotives is in regard to the recent incident at Didcot. I don't see how any connection to Bob Meanley can be made.


Keith

 

Perhaps Pendle Witch has got some of Mr Lees article wrong. I do consider though that the article in the society newsletter was hitting out at the likes of this site, and perhaps even the 6201 members who have written in asking for an EGM? I found I became quite angry reading this article, by certain words and paragraphs in it. One example is and I quote " by their uninformed stupidity" He then goes on to intimate that sensible criticism and questions will be answered. I beg to differ, you either get ignored when you ask a question, or branded as "stirring it". I speak from personal experience. I Care a lot about this locomotive, and would say to Mr Lee if he reads this " I do not think you have helped unite the society by writing this article."

 

Could this be the same Mike Lee who is now responsible for the 6201 website, a good way to introduce yourself to members and win friends.

 

Any updates on the overhaul? Any rough date when back in service?

Nothing on the new and improved 6201 website......

 

How long is a piece of string ?, putting up estimated completion dates is just asking for trouble and flack that could be done without when that date slips.

Last I saw 6201 was being assessed sometime this month and then a decision on how to proceed would be taken, contracts out to tender etc etc.

 

I think it might be good to have a new thread titled 6201 Overhaul.

 

THe thing that will most influence the completion date is probably availability of funds. I was under the impression that there wasn't a lot left in the kitty when running came to an end, so there may be some delay whilst the money is found.

 

Great to see 6201 had a double page spread in the Sunday Express today.

 

Could you describe what this double page spread was about?

Chris