Dear WSRA Members,
At the WSRA Committee meeting on 5th September, the Committee faces a controversial decision and I thought it best to make this plain to allow as many members as possible to comment before that meeting. You have elected your Committee to deal with important matters but I believe in conducting the Association’s business with the highest possible degree of openness and there are decisions which require, in my view, some consultation with the membership.
We have received an offer, from the South Devon Railway, of £160,000 for locomotive 6412 in its present, unrestored, state.
I believe this offer has a number of advantages for the Association.
| » | 6412 is now too small for anything other than peripheral service on the WSR. It has spent the majority of its working life off the WSR in its last 10 years of use and that pattern would be likely to be repeated in future.
| | » | Extensive repairs are required, including particularly extensive boiler repairs. These repairs are estimated to cost £130,000 to £150,000, and loco repair costs have a habit of increasing beyond estimates..... Only £88,000 is available in the repair fund for 6412. Were we to proceed with repairs, ca. £52,000 (at least) would have to be found from elsewhere within the WSRA. Another way of looking at this is that our previous repairs of 6412 have subsidised the other railways on which it has run.
| | » | I am advised that the offer received is a very fair one, given the condition of the locomotive and the necessary work to bring it back to working condition. 6412 was first preserved on the SDR and they have a particular feeling for it there. I am sure that it would be well looked after, would not be too far away to visit, and we may well see it back on visits to us for Galas and special events
| | » | The sale proceeds will mean that we have significant sums put aside for the restorations of 4561 and 7821 ‘Ditcheat Manor’, both locomotives likely to see much more use on the WSR in future, 7821 in the pool of Class 4 locomotive necessary for the brunt of WSR services and 4561 for the shoulders of the season, Quantock Belles and the like.
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Set against these advantages, I understand the enormous feeling for 6412 on the line as the locomotive obtained when the line opened and which saw considerable service in the early years of the WSR. If resources were infinite, I would be delighted to keep 6412 on the line. However, they are not, and your Committee has to look to see where resources are best applied for the WSR and WSRA of the future.
On present thinking, I will be recommending acceptance of the offer at the WSRA Committee meeting on 5th September. However, I maintain a completely open mind in advance of your comments.
I also attach a copy of the » draft locomotive strategy which I will also be recommending for acceptance at the Committee.
I would be pleased to receive as many comments on this decision for the WSRA Committee as possible, whether you are for, or against acceptance of the offer, why, and what alternatives you might suggest and why. Please send your comments to me, either by post to the usual address at Bishops Lydeard, or by e-mail to chairman@wsra.org.uk
To ensure that your views are taken into account, please make sure they are received by Tuesday, 2nd September.
Please feel free to copy this letter to anyone you think should see it.
Kind regards
Robin White
WSRA Chairman
11 August 2008
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No 6412 on the Nene Valley
No 4561 at Swindon
No 7821 at Blue Anchor
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