‘9F’ TO LLANGOLLEN FOR OVERHAUL AS JEREMY HOSKING IS REVEALED AS RAILWAY’S BENEFACTOR

Multi-millionaire locomotive owner Jeremy Hosking was one of the benefactors who saved the Llangollen Railway from going into administration, it has emerged.

Mr Hosking, owner of main line steam Train Operating Company Locomotive Services Ltd and engines including Bittern and Nunney Castle, was one of those who responded to an urgent appeal by the Llangollen Railway Trust for £125,000, to clear £90,000 of debts to the railway’s plc and “give it some running money.”

Steam Railway asked spokesman Peter Greenwood what Mr Hosking’s reasons were for supporting the LR, and whether he would continue to do so. Mr Greenwood commented: “In response to a plea for financial assistance recently broadcast by the Llangollen Railway a number of benefactors came forward with assistance, to whom the railway has recently also broadcast its gratitude. While it is true that Jeremy was one of these people, this does not indicate anything beyond a gesture of goodwill.” The amount that Mr Hosking donated is confidential, he added.

It is planned to send one of Mr Hosking’s locomotives – outof-ticket ‘9F’ 2-10-0 No. 92212 – to Llangollen for overhaul. Mr Greenwood explained: “Our workshop at Crewe could not accommodate its overhaul at the moment, so it was originally intended to take it to Margate for storage. It is planned to be going to Llangollen for overhaul in order to assist the railway’s engineering department to remain viable. In addition to the financial gifting that Jeremy personally gave to the railway, this is another way in which Jeremy wishes to help them out. However, the coronavirus situation may well prove to be a serious impediment to this.”

Mr Greenwood has dismissed as “absolute rubbish” speculation that Mr Hosking has acquired the Dartmoor Railway, which recently went into administration along with the Weardale Railway (see page 29).

However, he said that he was “not in a position to give any comment” regarding rail engineering firm RMS Locotec, which like these two lines, was put up for sale by owner British American Railway Services earlier this year.