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• Locomotive 5542 Ltd have issued a press release...
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As you will be aware the Board of 5542 ltd had the difficult decision in November 2005 to agree a suspension of our successful hire agreement with the WSR plc. This was due to the driving wheel tyres of our locomotive having worn below the minimum specified thickness allowed to work on the WSR. During the ensuing period the locomotive has been hired mainly to the South Devon Railway, where it remains under contract until mid October, but it has also spent periods on the Cholsey and Wallingford and Gloucester Warwickshire railways. It has been well received buy public and crews alike wherever it has run. We have recently contacted the WSR to establish future requirements of the locomotive to allow us to plan workshop arrangements for tyre renewal and associated work under an ‘intermediate overhaul’. Regrettably it now appears that the WSR will only be able to offer 5542 very limited usage during the next few years.
The directors, mindful of the need to ensure sufficient funds are available for a 10 year overhaul in April 2011, have decided to offer the locomotive for hire elsewhere, initially for a period ending September 2007. A suitable offer has been received from the Gloucester Warwickshire Railway and on July 7th the directors agreed (subject to contract) that 5542 will spend the 2007 season based at Toddington.
Replacement tyres will shortly be ordered so that fitting can take place during the period October 2007-Febuary2008 together with other ancillary work .The locomotive will be offered to the WSR during 2007 for use from March 2008 onwards. If suitable and appropriate work to is then available it will return to WSR metals, however, should this work not be available to us then regrettably the loco will again be offered to other preserved railways.
The Locomotive 5542 Ltd board are very mindful that the locomotive was originally restored both physically and financially by supporters of the WSR for use on the WSR and during the 3 years of operation proved popular reliable and economical. It is always our intention to make 5542 available to the WSR as a first option, however we are equally aware that the loco must earn enough income to finance a 10 year overhaul in 2011. Currently our financial plans are on schedule to meet that target but there is no room for complacency.
We hope you will continue to support your locomotive and our other project to restore GWR Autotrailer 169, the restoration of which is underway at Williton and any additional help either actively or financially will be most appreciated.
John Wood
Chairman, for the Board of Locomotive 5542 Ltd
Locomotive 5542 Ltd.
12 July 2006
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No 5542 stays away...
