SWINDON IDENTIFIES ON-LOAN LOCOMOTIVES AS ‘HUGE RISK’
Museum manager says it will ‘actively engage’ with NRM to acquire more GWR exhibits.
Frances Yeo, museum manager of STEAM – Museum of the GWR at Swindon, believes that not having its locomotives under its ownership is a “huge risk”.
Miss Yeo made these comments during her speech at the official handover ceremony of former National Collection ‘28XX’ No. 2818 to the museum on October 16, referring to the fact that all but two of Swindon’s locomotive exhibits – including ‘Dean Goods’ No. 2516, City of Truro and No. 6000 King George V – are on loan to STEAM from the National Railway Museum.
No. 2818 is the first formerly NRM-owned locomotive to have its ownership transferred to STEAM; the museum already owns ex-Barry ‘42XX’ 2-8-0T No. 4248. The inside-steam pipe Churchward 2-8-0 was delivered to STEAM from its previous home of Locomotion, Shildon, on August 21 (SR484).
Clarifying her comments, Miss Yeo told Steam Railway: “The risks are related to not having ownership of the items. The owner(s) of items retain control of their items even when on loan, which includes items on loan to us from the National Railway Museum.
“At any point (with the required notice period) owners of items on loan might request to have them returned to them, or transferred elsewhere. Ongoing excellent relations are essential in dealing with loaned items, especially when they are so crucial to the visitors’ experience of our museum.”
Speaking at the handover ceremony, NRM Senior Curator of Rail Transport & Technology Anthony Coulls said: “The arrival of [No.] 2818 here is the right engine in the right place at the right time.
“Our rolling stock review has not been without its critics – particularly Steam Railway magazine – but I strongly believe this engine belongs here. It fits better here than at York or Shildon.”
Miss Yeo said: “The NRM is not planning any further disposals/ transfers from its collection of locomotives/rolling stock etc. Should the NRM consider any further transfers which are relevant to STEAM, then we would actively engage with them.”
She added “I have asked the curatorial team at STEAM to engage a professional, PACRaccredited consultant engineering conservator to undertake a full condition assessment of No. 2818. The purpose of this is so that we, as the new owners of No. 2818, have a full understanding of the condition of the locomotive and tender, in order for us to continue to care for it appropriately.”