SRPS in £250k appeal to keep 14 coaches on the main line
THE Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS) has launched a £250,000 ‘Keep Our Train on the Main Line’ appeal to raise money to keep its 14 Mk.1 coaches on the national network.
During the last five years, the society has overhauled all of the bogies and running gear on the coaches to ‘zero hour’ condition.
However, the pace of the body maintenance programme, which is currently underway, needs to be accelerated to allow a further 10-year period of operation on the main line beyond 2023.
The society had expected to fund these works by reinvesting the profits earned by SRPS Railtours, which operates a range of scenic trips using the coaches, and from the proceeds of rolling stock hire to other operators, including a recent partnership with Tornado Railtours, and numerous heritage railways for use in special events.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic no trains were operated during 2020 and as a result, budgeted income was never earned while cash reserves fell. The society now faces a further delay to the start of the 2021 season, should the pandemic restrictions fail to subside.
Without further funding, there is a risk that the SRPS will have to cease work on its coaches, resulting in the withdrawal of the set from operation on the national network. Donations are now being sought to help meet the high costs of keeping the coaches in main line condition.
The society is also taking the opportunity to reduce future maintenance requirements by plating over the middle doors of its Tourist Second Open coaches and begin the process of fitting toilet retention tanks.
As previously reported, Assenta Rail, based in Hamilton, has been engaged to help complete some of these works, while a team of volunteers at Bo’ness are working to renovate the interiors of coaches. Where necessary, newly upholstered seats are being fitted, toilets refurbished and woodwork revarnished.
Progress
First Open No. 3150 was the first vehicle to be completed and has now been outshopped in the new ‘blood and custard’ livery for SRPS Railtours. Kitchen car No. 1730 is with a contractor and further vehicles will follow as funding allows.
An SRPS spokesman said: “The completion of this maintenance programme will ensure that we continue to have a set of coaches that is in excellent internal and external condition and will therefore remain popular with passengers and hirers for years to come.”
Donations can be made online through the SRPS Virgin Money Giving page (www. virginmoneygiving.com/fund/ srpsrailtours), by bank transfer (email donations@srps.org.uk) or by cheque (made payable to SRPS and sent to: SRPS Railtour Coach Appeal, c/o Alastair George, 4 Baberton Mains Avenue, Edinburgh, EH14 3EQ. Donors are also invited to sign a Gift Aid declaration form if applicable.