GHPG News

News 05/10/08 - GH IS SAVED (But not by us!)

As many of you are aware a formal press release has been made by DRS regarding the future of Gordon Highlander. I haven’t been able to get in touch with their liaison officer but as it has been published elsewhere I hope they don’t mind me publishing it in full here:

PRESS RELEASE 8th October 2008

Fleet News Update

Acquisition of HNRC 55016 (D9016)

Direct Rail Services can confirm that it has recently acquired 55016 (D9016) named ‘Gordon Highlander’ from Harry Needle Railroad Company (HNRC). The future of this locomotive is secure and the company is working with HNRC to return the locomotive to operational condition. Although this locomotive has not been planned for an immediate return to service, DRS is confident that the locomotive will be returned to mainline service in the future.

DRS is intending to retain the name ‘Gordon Highlander’.

DRS can confirm that as part of a wider commercial agreement that will see further locomotives being refurbished by HNRC.

While perhaps the statement is not as detailed as we might hope, the key is the loco is secure and not in danger of disappearing in the foreseeable future which given that was the primary reason for the birth of this group, has to be seen as extremely good news.

As I said at the weekend there are other possibilities to be considered in the Deltic preservation world with several pressing needs. I have been encouraged by the number of people who have indicated they would be willing to pursue something new in Deltic preservation. To that end I am continuing to look at how best our embryonic group and allied pledges could be directed to benefit Deltic preservation. I would therefore ask for some patience and perhaps use the forum to reopen the debate about what you feel is the most pressing need which really falls down to 3 options:

1) Can we help keep Royal Scots Grey on the mainline?

2) Can we help get a DPS Deltic back on the mainline?

3) Can we help the NRM with the preservation of 55002?

4) Could we get DP1 up and running again (OK I’m teasing a little here I just made that one up, but probably an interesting debating point J )

If any of the above options merit the next stage of the group’s formation, I personally am happy to press on. I do see the events of the last 6 weeks (is that all??) has presented with a unique chance to do something new.

Please have your say on the forum and thanks again for all your support, I’m happy to stay on the rollercoaster for a little while longer...

Duncan Langtree (GHPG Creator)

News 05/10/08 - GHPG BID FOR GORDON HIGHLANDER

Well, firstly, apologies for a slow update. I didn’t actually leave Barrow Hill until 10.30 last night, something to do with driving a Deltic (simulator) from Fort William to Mallaig...

I can now reveal a little bit more about the events of the last 72 hours. The GHPG group managed to raise an astonishing amount in pledges in effectively 3 working days. There were over 110 pledges received by the Thursday midday cut off and it enabled me to place a bid for the complete loco less bogies for £70,000 + VAT. Considering the price HNRC had paid for 16, and the price paid by Martin Walker for 22 only 4 years ago for a complete Deltic with 2 running engines, I hope most will agree that this was a true market value offer for the loco. I will also say that there was more money pledged than this amount, but given the need for new bogies and transport costs etc. this was kept back. As Martin Walker has already intimated, negotiations had also taken place with Martin and a provisional agreement in place to ensure 22 could stay on the mainline and 16 would have a viable running future in preservation.

I received a text late on Friday night from HNRC saying we had not qualified to move forward. I spoke at length with Harry Needle on Saturday morning to see if further negotiation was possible. He stated that he has two "far more substantial" bids for the loco and he has signed a confidentiality clause so cannot reveal the successful bid. He could not confirm or deny if the loco is to be kept in one piece, but did agree for the money involved it was unlikely to be broken up.

I also had a long conversation with Martin Walker last night and sadly the loco has not been sold to Martin.

Therefore from the information I have at hand at the moment, I have no idea what the future holds for Gordon Highlander. Given the misleading information that I have been given in the recent past about the future of the loco, I would therefore ask the group and pledgers to keep in a holding pattern for now until the real future is revealed and if there is a need or any possibility of this group being involved with GH's future.

I should also say that there are other possibilities that we are considering in the Deltic world, it would be a real shame to lose the momentum that the creation of this group has achieved.

Finally can I again thank all those who have offered support in all forms, I have been massively encouraged that there are a lot of generous people in the Diesel preservation world and if nothing else the creation of this group and the capability it achieved in such a short period of time demonstrates the positive powerful aspects the use of the internet can have if channelled wisely.

As soon as I have any more information I will update the group.

Duncan Langtree (GHPG Creator)

News 02/10/08 - GHPG SUBMITS OFFER TO PURCHASE GORDON HIGHLANDER FROM HNRC

Well that has been a very frenetic few days! I am glad to be able to confirm the group has submitted what I consider a substantial offer for the loco to HNRC via a chartered accountant to meet their terms of expressing interest in the loco.

Clearly I am not in a position to reveal the total that has been pledged , although I will once the dust has settled and the loco's future is known. I can reveal we received over 100 pledges in 4 days varying from £15 to five figure sums, a quite incredible achievement

More than that I have also received many offers of help if/when we form the group and indeed a full committee (elect) is now in place, with one exception for the role of sales officer. We have also received offers of help, spares and logistics from many other societies involved in the Diesel preservation world.

As soon as there is any news about the next steps I will publish them on this website. I will ask though that if you have not yet pledged and you intend to can I encourage you to do so soon? There will be a lot of expenses to cover in the coming months if we are successful, a complete body re-skin, an engine to rebuild … never mind a set of bogies to run on!

So at this point can I thank all of those who have pledged and offered support; I have not had the chance to reply individually due to the sheer numbers but I am very grateful for the faith you have shown in trying to ensure the unthinkable cannot happen.

Duncan Langtree (GHPG Creator)

News 01/10/08 - PEAK RAIL EVENT A WELL-BEHAVED SUCCESS!

Whatever happens the Peak Rail event will be Gordon Highlanders's last outing for some time to come - let us not say 'for ever'.

It was your webmaster's first visit to Peak Rail, and I'm sure I join with many others in thanking them and HNRC for an event which enabled us all to pay our respects to 55016 in the best possible circumstances. My wife and I were there for most of both days , and we were very fortunate with the weather, but I seem to have taken my best pictures early on Sunday when it was a bit overcast - not got the hang of the new digital camera yet!

I expect many more (and rather better!) pictures will get posted to our gallery here

I was unable to stay for the very last run on the Sunday but apparently there was a bit of farewell thrash and there is an excellent video of the final run back to Rowsley South here

Let us hope that this is indeed not 'farewell' but 'au revoir' and we will be back with GH to the friendly folk at Peak Rail sometime in the future.

News 29/09/08 - GORDON HIGHLANDER SALES TENDER

Gordon Highlander has now been announced as available for sale. In response the GHPG has launched an appeal. Details are here

News 25/09/08 - GORDON HIGHLANDER WEEKEND AT PEAK RAIL

This weekend sees the last runs currently planned for Gordon Highlander at Peak Rail in Matlock Derbyshire.

The full details of the event can be found here at http://www.peakrail.co.uk/delticwe.htm

The Peak Railway has very kindly allowed us to have leaflets about the Gordon Highlander preservation group available at the ticket office and on the train itself.

Beyond that we will not have any stand etc. as it would not be appropriate at this point. Can I also add that I would like to fully endorse Peak Rail’s position that any public protest or displays of anti-social behaviour would not be welcome.

The reason this group has come into existence is because there are really strong emotional convictions that 55016 should have a working future in railway preservation. The group will be moving forward on a professional basis as much as possible, the last thing we could possibly need is bad publicity from the actions of a tiny minority of enthusiasts. I have already made clear on the opening statement my views on personal abuse and again would be very disappointed if this happened at any point this weekend.

I would therefore ask that if you are going this weekend let’s try and ensure it is a celebration of Deltics and Gordon Highlander, before what we all hope is a temporary absence from the preserved railway scene.

Can I also add that given the sustained level of interest and offers of money and help for the formation of the GHPG, and that having had further discussion with the current owner of Gordon Highlander I do now believe it worth pressing ahead with the formal launch of the group with a stated intention of preserving Gordon Highlander as a working locomotive. I will make a more formal announcement on Monday about the launch of the members group and the inaugural public meeting which will be at some point in the first two weeks in October.

I will be present at Peak rail late mid-afternoon on the Saturday and Sunday from 1230 onwards. Please seek me out if you want if you wish to discuss any offers of support or hand me a suitcase full of £50 notes…

Duncan Langtree
Creator of Gordon Highlander Preservation Group