Boden’s 50017 to be scrapped?

[alexl92]

Richard Clinnick of RAIL has just posted on Twitter a screenshot from Neil Boden:
https://mobile.twitter.com/Clinnick1/status/1090595906372669440

‘Boden Rail are saddened by this decision but for the business to survive, 50017 had to be sold and the funds transferred by tomorrow, a sale has now fallen through meaning unfortunately the stripping of 50017 of its equipment and the parts sold on/scrapped to generate funds and keep D400 running.’

What condition was this locomotive in? Seems very extreme and sudden but I don’t know any background. Hopefully someone will step in and buy it.

 

[DarloRich]

Is that Royal Oak? Is it not in good nick?

( hopefully a double bluff move to flush out some potential buyers)

 

[Mag_seven]

Sad though it is, in my view there are plenty of other preserved Class 50s compared to say Westerns or Class 40s.

 

[DPWH]

There are more than enough preserved diesels to do the work required of them by heritage railways. Many just linger in linear scraplines, doing nothing. Turning some of them into spares for the others seems like progress.

 

[DarloRich]

There are more than enough preserved diesels to do the work required of them by heritage railways. Many just linger in linear scraplines, doing nothing. Turning some of them into spares for the others seems like progress.

indeed - but not ones that have already been restored and are in working order. That doesn't seem a sensible approach.

 

[Cowley]

indeed - but not ones that have already been restored and are in working order. That doesn't seem a sensible approach.

Especially when there are other ones like 50029 and 50030 which are still being restored or may never be.
It's his locomotive to do what he wants with etc etc, but it just goes to show how blurred the line is between something being preserved and something being an asset.
I predict an enormous explosion of froth over this (and I don't mean a bottle of champagne being broken over the bufferbeam)...

 

[sprinterguy]

There are more than enough preserved diesels to do the work required of them by heritage railways. Many just linger in linear scraplines, doing nothing. Turning some of them into spares for the others seems like progress.

50017 is an active loco that has been performing recent commercial main line work as well as operating at preserved railways. It was active at least as recently as the Severn Valley Railway's "50s at 50" event last October looking generally pristine and well looked after, so this comes as quite a surprise. It's surely not even that many years since it (most recently) returned to the main line?

 

[nat67]

indeed - but not ones that have already been restored and are in working order. That doesn't seem a sensible approach.

Especially as 50017 was main line registered. I saw here last year.

 

[gazthomas]

A swap with an inoperable 50 would be desirable, though at the end of the day 50s have faired better than other classes when it comes to preservation

 

[Helvellyn]

Wonder if GBRf would have been interested to add to the leased pair?

 

[alexl92]

Surely this is where Hosking steps in and saves the day!

 

[Suraggu]

Surely this is where Hosking steps in and saves the day!

Clearly he isn't interested.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Time for a RailUK Forums GoFundMe...?

 

[Bertie the bus]

It's his locomotive to do what he wants with etc etc, but it just goes to show how blurred the line is between something being preserved and something being an asset.

I would say a very small percentage of preserved diesels are what you would call truly preserved. In the next 20 years or so when many loco owners die or are looking to release capital for retirement I think we will see a large number scrapped. There simply isn't the public interest in them for such a large number to survive indefinitely.

 

[Spirit555]

50017 has now been sold from under a buyer who had agreement for it and will now be sold complete, but minus mainline equipment back into preservation.
Not known where at present

 

[Cowley]

50017 has now been sold from under a buyer who had agreement for it and will now be sold complete, but minus mainline equipment back into preservation.
Not known where at present

The GCR was mentioned on wnxx. Minus its mainline equipment etc.
Good to see that this is being worked out hopefully.

 

[scotrail170407]

I’ve heard elsewhere that 017 has been sold to the Grand Central Railway. Sorry if this has already been mentioned, internet isn’t working well and messages won’t load.

Has 017 had its mainline equipment removed?

 

[The Northern Star]

She sure is going GCR! I'm Boden Rai's photographer so I'll be there

 

[Cowley]

She sure is going GCR! I'm Boden Rai's photographer so I'll be there

Welcome to the forum Jack, thanks for the confirmation.

 

[The Northern Star]

Welcome to the forum Jack, thanks for the confirmation.

Cheers! Just getting my head round things.

 

[The Northern Star]

Posted by Boden Rail on Facebook

We can now confirm 50017 has been sold to the great Central railway which we both are looking forwards to seeing the loco working regular turns which will also allow many people to see and ride behind her. We have offered our services to help keep the loco running if help is needed. We have had great fun and pleasure but the business has changed and Nottingham isn't a very big place.

 

[DPWH]

If only one could get lineside access to photograph it...

 

[HOOVER29]

GCR North or at Loughborough?
Was a heart stopper reading this having travelled behind Royal Oak at the SVR event last October.
As a massive fan of these locos I’d have them all out on the mainline in a jiffy but that’d be overkill as unfortunately there just isn’t enough work to support them.

Just as a matter of interest has anyone got a rough idea of the yearly cost it takes to keep a beast like 50017 out on the mainline?
Fuel costs, maintenance etc etc.

 

[Peter C]

We can now confirm 50017 has been sold to the great Central railway which we both are looking forwards to seeing the loco working regular turns which will also allow many people to see and ride behind her. We have offered our services to help keep the loco running if help is needed. We have had great fun and pleasure but the business has changed and Nottingham isn't a very big place.

From what I heard, is 50050 being stripped down to save 50017? This might be wrong, because I could only find one source, but everyone here seems to be a knowledgeable bunch!
If it is true, why scrap a perfectly fine engine to save another perfectly fine one?

 

[Peter C]

Having looked at some photos of 017, I'd love for it to be kept in NSE livery!

 

[31160]

From what I heard, is 50050 being stripped down to save 50017? This might be wrong, because I could only find one source, but everyone here seems to be a knowledgeable bunch!
If it is true, why scrap a perfectly fine engine to save another perfectly fine one?

Well considering BR stripped 018,037 & 046 just to keep 007 staggering along for the farewell runs there is a history of it and 046 was a million times better than 007 ever was

 

[reddragon]

A good basis for recreating DP2 if one has to go!

 

[matt]

50017 is going to the Great Central (Loughborough). 50050 is staying with Neil Boden.

 

[Peter C]

A good basis for recreating DP2 if one has to go!

I can see the likeness between the two! However, would it be a big job? I think that you would need to do some serious work to make a 50 into DP2.

50017 is going to the Great Central (Loughborough). 50050 is staying with Neil Boden.

Oh ok. Excellent! Does the GCR have any 50's already? If so, I wonder if a 50 Gala, like the SVR, could happen (maybe smaller if there aren't many 50s)?

 

[pdeaves]

I think that you would need to do some serious work to make a 50 into DP2.

Well, there's plenty of Deltics to donate some body parts...