Having 66's sat in store is like paying for Netflix or Sky and never watching it.
It's actually worst than that analogy.
You can just write off the cost of Netflix or Sky, not be bothered about the waste of money, or conversely feel stupid or guilty about the waste.
In the commercial world such attitudes and emotions are irrelevant, such a waste translates in to real, serious consequences, i.e. a negative on the balance sheet, that could lead to a worst situation in the long run.
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......Easy to say with hindsight, but we could have at least experienced the likes of 58's operating for another 20 years.....
Have you conveniently forgotten how much costly maintenance requirement was removed along with those old BR locos?
Just look at the savings made by closing down (the now) unnecessary and expensive depots.
Then there is the increased availability of the modern locos and much reduced maintenance and failure down time.
It was mentioned on page 1 of this thread that the 66's have not needed a major overhaul so far. The first ones are almost 17 years old.
How many times would a 58 have had to been through such a major overhaul by now? Never mind the amount of routine maintenance and repair work that would have been needed along the way.
At the end of the day, the locos are just machines. Tools of the trade and assets to be used for carrying out the company's day to day business.
In that regard they are not much different than a company laptop, a fork lift truck or a desk stapler in an office; even if they cost a wee bit more.