The Random Loco Preservation Society!

[Crossforth]

I don't mind criticism.
I think criticism helps people learn from their mistakes.

I have to take all the time being the fact I'm a singer.

But I must admit, I can't find one comment from 90019 that is constructive criticism.

I apologise to the rest of you and I am willing to put this behind me

90019?

 

[MCR247]

I don't mind criticism.
I think criticism helps people learn from their mistakes.

I have to take all the time being the fact I'm a singer.

But I must admit, I can't find one comment from 90019 that is constructive criticism.

I apologise to the rest of you and I am willing to put this behind me

90019?

Ok, but I wasnt just talking about 90019

 

[Crossforth]

That was an apology to everyone

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Well if you can show a professionally done website, some actual hard proof about accounts - register with the Charity Comission, and actually have an idea about what you want to preserve - the AC Loco group got off the ground, partly because only people who wanted to preserve AC locomotives contributed. If you were preserving, say, a 52, then I would donate, but not if it was a pacer. Therefore, for people to donate you need some idea about what you want.

A constitution, a managment structure, leaflets, trade stands etc etc are what you need.#

Also customer service. Even if a customer calls you an effing Nazi (which has happened to me!), you can't respond. You HAVE to be polite and reasonable. Calling people idiots of forums when they point out flaws in your plans will not help.

 

[theblackwatch]

How come this is the only forum that there has been idiots replying to threads?

No other forums that we have put this out to have been so rude about this.

Have you tried the two main forums where there are a lot of respected preservationists - Preserved Diesels and End of the Line? I will warn you that if your think people have been nasty to you on here, then you can expect much more of a slaughtering there!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Mods, Please Lock the Thread

Oh dear, not this one again. How often do we have to tell people that we will not lock threads just because one of the originators doesn't like some of the responses?

 

[Chester025]

One point, is it really a good idea just to say you're going to preserving anything? If people don't know, they won't give. For example, if you were into 47s and totally disliked 40s, you wouldn't give money to the CFPS would you?

 

[37412]

Just read through the thread and got to agree with the opinion of most on here. Do you have any experience of locos, i.e. working on them no what you are doing etc with the engineering, electrical and cosmetic restoration of heritage viechles? I look who this is being setup by, now this is not meant to be a dig at individuals but was it not 'NXEA' who was trying to form a group to preseverve a 37/4 the other day suggesting 428 which is robbed at Margam or '37401' who has been on about setting up a railtour company until some people on here pointed it it was a not a wise move? I am all for preservation and more people getting involved with it as I am but it is not better to channel your efforts into an existing group at a railway and learn some skills, get proper training and build expertise from people who know what they are doing. Fair enough in a few years time then you can move on and get your own loco when you have raised finances properly and got the expertise to know how to restore it rather than trying to preserve something struggle to pay for it to go to a railway and in a year or so's time it is still a rusting hulk because you do not now what to do with it. If I am jumping the gun and you have guys who not what they are doing fair enough but it does not seem that organised at this stage to me. If you do go for it I hope you succeed anyway.

 

[D107]

This really is the BDLPG all over again. Make outrageous claims, apologise, call for threads to be blocked, then start new threads etc etc.

Guys, guys guys, you will receive a lot of criticism, most of which is well-intentioned so why not start off by helping out with an existing project (as others have also suggested) and gain some credibility and experience. You really should see what preservation is like from the "dark side" and focus your future intentions on a loco that has some life left in it rather than one that has a history but has been sat in the long grass for years.

Preservation can be fun but it can also be expensive, cold, dirty and heartbreaking. Start small and work from there. There is a lot of experience on this and other forums, use it to your advantage and don't treat with disdain or contempt!

 

[37401]

or '37401' who has been on about setting up a railtour company until some people on here pointed it it was a not a wise move?

yup, didnt know it would cost so much, now I know and the idea is out the window...for now anyway

 

[Moodster020]

I am all for preservation and more people getting involved with it as I am but it is not better to channel your efforts into an existing group at a railway and learn some skills, get proper training and build expertise from people who know what they are doing. Fair enough in a few years time then you can move on and get your own loco when you have raised finances properly and got the expertise to know how to restore it rather than trying to preserve something struggle to pay for it to go to a railway and in a year or so's time it is still a rusting hulk because you do not now what to do with it.

wise words..

 

[Z12XE]

37412 has some useful comments there.

As for this original idea, just shows how some people see railways/preservation as a game/toy etc. Suggest that a model railway set would probably more appropiate for your needs.

 

[matt]

At least one other forum this has been posted on thinks that it is a wind-up

 

[theblackwatch]

At least one other forum this has been posted on thinks that it is a wind-up

And someone else there has likened them to the BDLPG!

 

[SouthEastern-465]

I will be intersted in joining as a "Member" how much are you asking for to join this seems intersting it may not become succesful but I am willing to give it a chance.

 

[bluenoxid]

Well if you can show a professionally done website, some actual hard proof about accounts - register with the Charity Comission, and actually have an idea about what you want to preserve - the AC Loco group got off the ground, partly because only people who wanted to preserve AC locomotives contributed. If you were preserving, say, a 52, then I would donate, but not if it was a pacer. Therefore, for people to donate you need some idea about what you want.

A constitution, a managment structure, leaflets, trade stands etc etc are what you need.#

Also customer service. Even if a customer calls you an effing Nazi (which has happened to me!), you can't respond. You HAVE to be polite and reasonable. Calling people idiots of forums when they point out flaws in your plans will not help.

What's wrong with Pacer's. In actual fact, the 2nd gen movement could really do with getting off the ground.

 

[Royston Vasey]

And someone else there has likened them to the BDLPG!

Googled them, they appear to have bought a couple of shunters after failing to acquire a 50 and a 31.

What's the story there then? Why the laughing stock??

 

[37401]

I will be intersted in joining as a "Member" how much are you asking for to join this seems intersting it may not become succesful but I am willing to give it a chance.

by law untill its a charity you cant charge money for it

ive kept quiet but i feel the need to steer the "group" back on track with a few pointers

Firstly the name, sounds like a bit of a joke IMO maybe put a name on hold untill the loco has been purchased or untill you know what class of loco you are preserving, then it could be called "The xxxx Preservation group" or "xxxxx fund" ect.

Secondly, as in my postto SE-465, asking for money sounds like a good idea, but you cant take peoples money untill its a registered charity, unless that person is becoming a founder of the group

Thirdly, the website, I sugest thats put on hold untill a sutible name has been found so it can be www.(name).co.uk (dont click it, not a real site), now "www.(name).wow-awsome-websites.zid" freewebsite makers give domain names even the owner forgets

finally, promoting the group, best way to do this is after the website and name has been created and after the group is a reg. charity, also a good thing to have is a list of Q&A, no need to promote this but at least that way when anyone asks a question you can give a decent answer and it sounds like a more serious group thats serious about preserving a loco for years to come

 

[60004 lochnagar]

But what if your selling an item and put the profits into the preservation fund? No law against that

 

[theblackwatch]

You do not have to be a charity - many preservation groups aren't, but they are properly constituted. Becoiming a charity itself isn't the easiest of things, you have to have clearly defined aims and be able to demonstrate how it is going to benefit the public. I did mention the constitution earlier, but in the response I got, that bit was ignored and I was told that I had a problem with it then it was tough.

 

[NXEA!]

Hello all, thanks for ur replies they've been taken note of. Also thanks for the criticism im sure the words of 37412 and 60004 will be put to good use. thanks for all your suggestions on how to make our group better. our website isn't very advanced but afterall we are a new group so like south-eastern i think his name was who was interested here is our website: http://rlpg.webs.com/ if you want have a look even if your not interested in joining us and if you have any other suggestions just tell us. thanks

 

[37401]

few more things I wish to add

1. getting the right people involved, if a class 56 is going to be preserved then go to people working for EWS/DBS, Colas or Hanson Traction, no point having a loco and not knowing what needs to be done or how to drive it

2. the location, I suggest putting it on a preserved line, that way you can take it for a spin and let others ride behind it

3. moving the loco, something noones said about yet, how will the loco be moved and the cost, moving by road is cheaper but not that cheap, moving by rail is very expensive, if the loco needs to be hauled by something else the cost will be very high £15,000+ I think for pathing, driver, loco and any other fees the FOC will charge.

4. storing the loco, keeping a loco somewhere wont be cheap, I cant say how much exacly by try asking someone who owns a loco how much he/she pays to keep the loco where it is

5. the price of the loco itself, this isnt going to be cheap at all id say maybe £20k-50k+ depending on the catagory its in

6. Maintaining the loco, another expence, oil can cost £400 let alone all the other bits and pieces needed to keep it running

as you can see buying and owning a loco is very expencive and from what ive heard hard to do, its even harder if you have no idea about the loco, electrical diagrams, fault finding data and static duties

if you own a loco you need to have a wad of cash to do so and you need to have at least a basic idea of how to do it, its not as easy as:

buy it
move it
drive it

and as theblackwatch said (and was ignored) a group constitution needs to be made

people think its a joke because not much thought has gone into it and as I said the name too, "random" doesnt sound like anyone is serious about preserving a loco

sorry ive been a bit blunt with the info but untill I feel im not talking to a brick wall im wasting my time posting

 

[Pumbaa]

if you want have a look even if your not interested in joining us and if you have any other suggestions just tell us

Just give your money to an existing group. Stop wasting valuable bandwidth.

 

[37401]

Just give your money to an existing group. Stop wasting valuable bandwidth.

I agree, the group was a good idea but it and its members are becoming a joke

I have a basic Idea of what you need to do, just lack of money, a few things that have not been said by the Chairman are:

Constituton
Name
Prices
Storage
Promotion
Maintanance
Members
Knowlage --- Having a broken loco and not knowing what to do with it is a BIG waste of money
Attitude

 

[Z12XE]

Thread of the Year!

Can I suggest it's merged with the thread in the Preservation forum titled "How not to run a Heritage Group" ?

 

[37401]

Can I suggest it's merged with the thread in the Preservation forum titled "How not to run a Heritage Group" ?

hahaha!

 

[theblackwatch]

hahaha!

I don't know why you're laughing - in the first post on this thread, it lists you as one of the founding members!

 

[ralphchadkirk]

It's not just buying a random loco. Engineering drawings, manuals, tools, materials. Materials cost a HUGE amount.
Loco - maybe 40k
Materials - overall, at lest 9-10k if in VERY good working order. Probably end up something like fred goodwins pension.
Storage - depends on where you get, but LOTS a year if somewhere like Barrow Hill.

Just remember - you can't go ahead and drive it or fix it. You need to source fitters passed on it, and drivers so they can train others. Even a preserved railway will not sign something like that as fit to run if you haven't had professional input.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I agree, the group was a good idea but it and its members are becoming a joke

I have a basic Idea of what you need to do, just lack of money, a few things that have not been said by the Chairman are:

Constituton
Name
Prices
Storage
Promotion
Maintanance
Members
Knowlage --- Having a broken loco and not knowing what to do with it is a BIG waste of money
Attitude

I thought you were one of the founding members?

 

[37401]

I don't know why you're laughing - in the first post on this thread, it lists you as one of the founding members!

that was before I realised the other founders had no idea on what was involved and told people they dont want their money

 

[60004 lochnagar]

To be able to form a group with others it would be best that you already know the person / people well and you all know how each other work. Because if not then cracks will begin and that will be the start of the end. Trust and loyalty are key, the people i myself am working alongside i have known for just over 9 years. There is a strong bond there, and stick it together through thick and thin. Thats the basis for a strong succesful group in my own opinion.

 

[ukrob]

As nice as the idea is, just give up. Nobody outside of close friends and family is going to give any money.

You claim a family member/friend has offered a few thousand. Have you yet realised that is a drop in the ocean, and do they realise they are wasting their money?