I am pleased to advise you that the NRM's Director, Paul Kirkman, and the Head Curator, Andrew McLean, visited our railway on Friday.
Ably assisted by Glyn Cornish and Maxine Barton-Hawkins and volunteers at each station, I escorted them from Cheltenham CRC via Winchcombe, where they could admire Foremarke Hall on the Fire and Drive experience day, through Hayles Abbey to Toddington and finally on to Broadway.
I think we all explained our railway's values and objectives and I believe they were impressed by what a largely volunteer run railway can achieve.
The photos speak for themselves! Thanks to all the volunteers who helped to make this day a success.
Would be nice if the NRM could give some sort of award for the Hayles Abbey Halt rebuild to such a wonderful conclusion. Regards, Paul.
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd known, I could've come along & asked the NRM people why, when I went there a year ago, their museum had become a giant coffee-shop, why there was no rolling-stock or any locos in the yard, nothing in steam & the poor old Duchess of Hamilton stuck away in a corner, gathering dust.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I have to agree with you. The Great Hall is a shadow of its former self in my view. One major exhibit was an excellent interpretation of the role of the Royal Mail railway service, including the film, "Night Mail." This disappeared a few years ago along with much of the interpretive notice boards. Whilst the NRM is not aimed solely at UK railway enthusiasts, it has become little more than a dumbed-down arcade, although the refreshments served there are good.
DeleteDoes this mean that they could end up "gifting" a loco to our heritage line as they did with Swanage? That could be good for us!
ReplyDeleteRegards
Paul & Marion
City of Truro - pleeaase!? :D
DeleteAlex
PS - did any of that class ever operate over our line, presumably in the early days?
Certainly many 4-4-0 types did, including "Cities."
DeleteCity Of Truro has, of course, already done a stint on the GWR....
DeleteUnfortunately it's doubtful whether the loco will come back. The NRM withdrew it from active service in 2013 and says it will now be on static display only.
In its last few months the loco was performing poorly. If I recall correctly boiler repairs were necessary. Nothing that couldn't be fixed - and retaining originality isn't an issue, since the loco has been substantially overhauled several times in its heritage career. City Of Truro is not a faithfully preserved record of Swindon techniques, like Caerphilly Castle. But the NRM said no.
My personal theory is that after the botched overhaul of Flying Scotsman (massively late and over-budget) the NRM doesn't want to risk a second fiasco with another iconic loco. It's safer to keep City of Truro out of use!
Would be nice if they'd agree a visit from flying Scotsman to pull the first train out of broadway .!.. ;)
ReplyDeleteUntil the Honeybourne link is put back, 4472/60103 will never appear at the GWSR as it is no longer permitted to travel by low loader in an assembled form (front bogie and cartazzi truck issues I believe - the same applies to A4 Pacifics). The 1st loco should either be 2807 or 6880 Betton Grange (approaching its completion at Llangollen) in the form of 6848 "Toddington Grange." (I have suggested the latter to the 6880 Group but didn't produce a cheque to bankroll it!)
DeleteI see that they have 7 GWR locos available that we could operate for the NRM, rather than being hidden away
ReplyDeleteI see that NRM have 7 GWR locos hidden away. It would be so nice to see the Dean goods or Lode Star out in steam.
ReplyDeleteVery surprised that there are 4 people pictured trackside on a day when trains are running without any hi-viz, yet it is worn on the steps of the Broadway signal box where there isn't much chance of seeing a train yet! This is a shocking example of disregard for track safety
ReplyDelete