Reminded that railway preservation got going 60 years ago this May with the Tallyllyn passing into the hands of the first society to save a line. It survived because of a lack of success - and the quarry it was built to serve, being maintained by a local MP from his own pocket when the company that built it pulled out. On his death, his widow was advised that the best course was to close the line. So a group of enthusiasts stepped in to save it as virtually everything - even the track - was original.
Perhaps the most outstanding preservation story has to be that of the Duke of Gloucester. Firstly, it was only built because no 46202 was damaged beyond economic repair in the Harrow didaster. It was never popular with engine crews, and was taken off the list of locos to form part of the national collection.
It next arrived at the scrapyard gates, the firm in question quickly dismantled locos received, someone pointed out it was at the wrong yard, shades of 6023 & 6024 which also would have been scrapped but also ended up at Barry because their axle loading too great for their intended destination.
Back to the Duke, it arrived at its intended destination - Barry - where the cylinders and valve gear removed for sectioning. When a society intended to restore it, many thought this was really an impossible task.
Now if only the former LSWR North Devon/Cornwall lines from Okehampton to Bude, Padstow and Plymouth could be restored...... Recently visited Shillingstone, where a group are trying to raise funds to purchase a section of trackbed of the S&D, another Beeching victim
Perhaps the most outstanding preservation story has to be that of the Duke of Gloucester. Firstly, it was only built because no 46202 was damaged beyond economic repair in the Harrow didaster. It was never popular with engine crews, and was taken off the list of locos to form part of the national collection.
It next arrived at the scrapyard gates, the firm in question quickly dismantled locos received, someone pointed out it was at the wrong yard, shades of 6023 & 6024 which also would have been scrapped but also ended up at Barry because their axle loading too great for their intended destination.
Back to the Duke, it arrived at its intended destination - Barry - where the cylinders and valve gear removed for sectioning. When a society intended to restore it, many thought this was really an impossible task.
Now if only the former LSWR North Devon/Cornwall lines from Okehampton to Bude, Padstow and Plymouth could be restored...... Recently visited Shillingstone, where a group are trying to raise funds to purchase a section of trackbed of the S&D, another Beeching victim