Defunct preserved railways

21/10/2017 A quick update: earlier this year, we were finally able to run one of our Planet shunter locos into the new platform; 'all' we need to do now is to (re)connect the reconstructed platform line to the existing running line, renovate quarter of a mile of the running line, apply for certification from ORR to run passenger trains, renovate the rest of the 4.5 miles of track that makes up the Garw Valley Railway (GVR) and, by no means least, ensure that the community route - a cycle and footpath that runs alongside the track for most of the valley's length - is maintained and cleared regularly following the demise of its original creation and management organisation.

Whilst our website has the same URL, ill-health means that its updating has stalled mid-process.

Regarding Facebook likes, the GVR Facebook page has just passed 2000 likes, but this doesn't seem to be converting in to any financial support. Only when this happens do 'likes' really count.

 

The Coventry Electric Railway, sadly, is now on this list.

 

Unfortunately FB is simply "froth" in terms of raising money. I remember posting one link to a realistic appeal which gained over 2000 views and a substantial number of likes but resulted in exactly £zilch. Others seeking money for established, reputable yet needy schemes have found the same.

 

How I wish some companies that I work for would wake up and understand that Fudbook is not the be-all and end-all of marketing in 2017... "But there are two billion users" "Yes, which means an absolute shyteload of chaff..."

 

Does anyone know what is happening with the Southall Railway Centre run by the GWRPG?

I remember going there when I was very young, but it does not seem to have been open to the public for several years.

Reading Steam Railway magazine they have now sold their last remaining GWR loco 5700 0-6-0PT No 9682. They have previously sold 2884 Class 2-8-0 No. 2885 to a private buyer in 2013 and GWR 5101 Class 2-6-2T Prairie No. 4110 to the West Somerset Railway in 2015. I think that just leaves the group with two industrial steam and one industrial diesel engine, which seems odd for a group focused on the GWR.

Does this mean that the group is shutting down activities and that the Southall Railway Centre will never reopen to the public?

 

Latest news from their website makes no mention of giving up but, sadly, all the news they are reporting seems to be bad.
http://www.gwrpg.co.uk/2018/12/gwrpg-update-2018/

I think any chance of Southall railway centre reopening to the public ended years ago when somebody else bought it, GWRPG now have tenancy of only a small part of the site.

 

as I understand it they have a siding whereas they once had a real depot.

 

Sadly, from the GWRPG latest news update, it does look like they are winding things down.
http://www.gwrpg.co.uk/2019/02/update-regarding-the-gwr-preservation-group-limited-february-2019/

 

I am sad to hear about this.

However the writing was always on the wall once they started selling their mainline stock and left themselves with a couple of industrial locos requiring expensive work.

Whilst Southall is not the nicest of areas it is close to some very affluent areas of West London. There are a couple of narrow gauge railways fairly close but there is nothing in standard gauge (closest are Bluebell, Mid-Hants or Didcot) so it had a huge catchment area. The group could have attracted backing if it had embarked upon a publicity drive before selling its assets.

I made a potential membership enquiry through their website a couple of years ago, but didn’t get a reply.

 

The writing was on the wall long before stock was sold. The group, as I understand it, struggled for years with only engine hire income to sustain them. That was never going to pay for ex-Barry engines to be overhauled, and they were wise to let them go. The shame is that they were not in a position to overhaul 9682, and continue to hire it out. I lived in West London 20+ years ago, and thought about going down there to volunteer, but the centre had the reputation of a "closed shop" at the time, and I never did.

 

Someone I knew at the SVR many years ago had a few dealings with them, he predicted their demise about 20 years ago.

 

Yes.... Don't mention it...

 

T

The CSLPS came out of the failed Great Western Society removing from Bodmin. 1363 and the Hawksworth coach went to Didcot and Devonport Dockyard No 19 and the Churchward toplight went to Bugle. Alfred came from Par along with some other wagons and a Fireless from Marsh Mills [Bagnall 3121] and a Peckett from Albright and Wilson [1611]followed by a Taylor Hubbard 1oT Steam Crane. The railway was only ever marginal and when BR removed the branch line from Goonbarrow, it spelled the end for any expansion plans. Mr Tankard had been involved in the railway, but had gone his own way before the site at Bugle was removed to Bodmin.

 

As I recall, it belonged to a member Stanley Thomas who had it moved to the WSR by rail I think, just before BR lifted the Goonbarrow branch line.

 

No 2180, Hawksworth Brake Corridor Third, sold by Mr Thomas as it needed more time and money than was available and moved from WSR to the South Devon . Now reaching the end of a very extensive overhaul. Have a look at the SDR website.

 

I will indeed check up on the SDR site. Long time since I last saw it. Many thanks

 

The SDR website lists the coach on the Enthusiasts/Rolling Stock page as "2180, RB, GWR coach" but no details apparently.