P2 Locomotive Company and related matters

The A1 sat down on the ECML yesterday, having dropped part of its inside motion.

 

How ridiculous, obviously just mischief making, but I will take the time to answer you, as the A1ST has a small problem to take care of. What makes you think that Tornado doesn't have it's own dedicated 'ring fenced accounts' to take care of such eventualities, we are talking about the A1ST here, not some amateur outfit, they get things done... ​

 

Not seeking to make mischief at all, but I'm guessing the repair bill will be into six figures... I'd be surprised if they have such deep reserves.

 

Rather premature speculation IMHO.

A guess at the work needed, the cost of that work and the depth of their reserves.

Plenty of margin for error there.

 

Not knowing the extent of the damage I doubt if the A1 Trust know what the cost will be yet and the loco is on a 5 year overhaul programme so I think there will be a fair bit in the pot

 

If P2 eviction is as proposed by Brighton Baltic it is a good reason to support Whessoe Rd project ?

 

Reading their motion appeal for the P2, I'm a little confused. They want 175 people to pay £1,000 each (factoring in giftaid), in instalments of £125 x 8, to pay for it. Read further down and there's reference to becoming a Covenantor for £10 per month. So, erm, which is it?

I would also ask, having already set up several clubs for various parts of the loco, admittance to each being by payment of £1,000, just how many rail enthusiasts the P2SLT believe to have £1,000 burning hole in their back pocket? Genuinely not being provoking here but reading the appeals for funds the impression I personally get is that unless you've got serious money to donate there's no place for you to contribute to the heavy engineering in the project.

 

It's quite simply both, the original concept for the A1 was to attract a lot of people paying a small regular amount but to get things moving fast there is an option to donate a chunk of money to specific parts of the project. With the P2 it started off with the Founders Club of which I am a member and went on to the boiler club, cylinder club and now the motion club. It brings in cash faster and lets contributors identify with particular parts of the loco. I think the fact that the target of 300 Founders was exceeded by 60, the boiler club is now fully subscribed and the cylinder club is well on the way illustrates that the strategy works. The regular covenants will be required after construction to fund the maintenance and running, other owning groups are now thinking of doing something similar as steaming fees are just not generating sufficient funds to pay for the 10 yearly overhauls. I believe a lot of Covernaters are not true railway enthusiasts but just interested in Preserving British engineering. So it's up to the individual, it's obvious that £1000 to a lot of people will cause severe anorexia of the bank account ut 10 or 20 quid will not be noticed.

 

Thank you for clarifying this.

 

All perfectly correct, but J Rob't Harrison's second point remains: there are limited numbers of us who feel able to chuck in £1000 in one go or in a few installments. And even those of us who do feel able may be disinclined to do it more than once. I contributed my thousand to join the Founders club and at least for the time being I am leaving it at that. Also, the more such "clubs" are set up, the harder it becomes to see what incentives can be offered. There are already too many of us to get seats on the first train.

 

I'm the same as you, I'm a founder only but I don't think the Trust expect the same people to stump up every time. There is still potential out there or the boiler club wouldn't have been subscribed in such a short time. I'm not rich and there are other calls on my finances so my only other commitment is the 20 quid a month as a Covenanter. I think most of the supporters a just like us.

 

I think your 20 quid a mounth as a Convenanter isn`t bad at all Johnb! Every little bit helps you know I`m not rich either, so my amount isn`t as much as I wish. The point is that the A1 Trust (and other societys) need steam enthusiasts like you who love to see steam locomotives operating and understand that if this should go further you have to contribute with a amount. Then you can classify yourself as a certified steam enthusiast!

kind regards
Knut

 

Well, I've just joined the Motion Club... In theory I could take my family along now on the first trip!

I'd add I've also bought various bits for the P2 as well. Hopefully when my great-nephews grow up, if they follow the interests of their deranged great-uncle one day I'll be able to take them onto the footplate of 2007, point at some of the components and say "I helped get that made."

 

As a steam enthusiast my wife sometimes says I should be certified!

 

"I'm not mad, I have a certificate to prove it." (Spike Milligan).

 

Born 100 years ago today, appropriately.

 

Still the holder of the best epitaph ever: "I told you I was ill!".

 

I don't know how true it is, but it was suggested that the above epitaph was frowned upon by the cemetery... so it was written in Gaelic.

 

I think that's true, I certainly recall seeing a news article to that effect.

 

Even more exciting news from the building of Britain`s most powerful steam locomotive
https://www.p2steam.com/2018/04/18/half-way-there-the-boiler-club-passes-50/

Knut