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Class 315 preservation society

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Bertie the bus

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It was entirely down to covid restrictions.
First you claimed there were enough enthusiasts for LSL to have run multiple Class 90 tours proving 315 tours are viable, then when I pointed out they hadn't and some were cancelled due to low bookings you now claim you know the reason for these cancellations you previously knew nothing about. Just give it up, you are making it up as you go along.
 
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DanNCL

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First you claimed there were enough enthusiasts for LSL to have run multiple Class 90 tours proving 315 tours are viable, then when I pointed out they hadn't and some were cancelled due to low bookings you now claim you know the reason for these cancellations you previously knew nothing about. Just give it up, you are making it up as you go along.
I looked it up after you mentioned it. That’s not “making it up as I go along”.
 

Cowley

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I think it’s entirely possible to have this discussion in a polite way. Let’s debate it in a way that’s constructive and respectful from here on please…
 

Alanko

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The banning of photos of 820's scrap move on the society's Facebook page as it is 'upsetting' is rather bewildering to me, even as someone who tends to get attached to specific units.

There was a page dedicated to 91s that had similar rules. Anybody getting that emotionally invested has no business handling donations or making decisions about the preservation of trains, as they will waste money and be too idealistic to make sensible decisions. The phrase 'lunatic fringe' springs to mind.
 

DanNCL

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There was a page dedicated to 91s that had similar rules. Anybody getting that emotionally invested has no business handling donations or making decisions about the preservation of trains, as they will waste money and be too idealistic to make sensible decisions. The phrase 'lunatic fringe' springs to mind.
I can just about understand the approach taken by the 225 Group regarding photos of the 91s - photos of the scrap moves themselves were permitted, only photos taken of the 91s actually at Sims were banned, although it was excessive. The 315 group not even allowing photos of a unit being dragged on its way to a scrapyard is frankly ridiculous.

Trains being scrapped is part of the history of every class eventually, and is just as worthy of documenting as any other aspect of the class's history.
 

gc4946

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This group is *very brave* in attempting to get a 315 preserved. I hope they've arranged guaranteed storage space and the funds to transport it there by the time the last is withdrawn from service.
The nearest similar attempt was the 1965 phase 1 4-CIG 1753 which was stored offsite for years before it was re-assembled at Finmere https://www.nsers.org/1753.html
Who will plan to rescue a Merseyrail 508 and its left behind trailer car when SWR finish with its 455/7s?
 

StephenHunter

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They have a longer-term home at a Welsh heritage railway, but there was an issue with the short-term storage site that led to 315 820's move falling through.
 

VEP3417

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slightly off topic but still on topic as a few people have mentioned it in this thread before

ive seen comments both on here and facebook about a lot of little groups and the way theyre run that seems to upset people, i also find it unusual how some pages are run as it seems they dont want your input....but they want your money :s

seems like a lot of groups have
- pending posts, most of witch are never approved or are approved days later
- require an admin to approve your ability to comment for the first time, ive been waiting 4 days now to be approved to comment.....still waiting...
- dont allow the public to post, only the page owners
- if an admin posts, then then turn off commenting so no one can engage

some pages have even changed their name so as to try and include all rail fans for fear of upsetting someone

i think uk rail scene recently changed their page to include trains from around the world, which upset a lot of its members to the point it apologised and sort of changed back to some degree, but may let trains around the world in at weekends only, if you join a specific page you expect to only see the content that the page title suggests, like UK rail scene...which is now called The Rail Scene....

as said, its really really frustrating how all these pages want peoples help and money, but theyre not prepared to let them engage in discussions or photos, probably part of the reason a lot of people haven't donated as they cant engage...
 

Class360/1

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slightly off topic but still on topic as a few people have mentioned it in this thread before

ive seen comments both on here and facebook about a lot of little groups and the way theyre run that seems to upset people, i also find it unusual how some pages are run as it seems they dont want your input....but they want your money :s

seems like a lot of groups have
- pending posts, most of witch are never approved or are approved days later
- require an admin to approve your ability to comment for the first time, ive been waiting 4 days now to be approved to comment.....still waiting...
- dont allow the public to post, only the page owners
- if an admin posts, then then turn off commenting so no one can engage

some pages have even changed their name so as to try and include all rail fans for fear of upsetting someone

i think uk rail scene recently changed their page to include trains from around the world, which upset a lot of its members to the point it apologised and sort of changed back to some degree, but may let trains around the world in at weekends only, if you join a specific page you expect to only see the content that the page title suggests, like UK rail scene...which is now called The Rail Scene....

as said, its really really frustrating how all these pages want peoples help and money, but theyre not prepared to let them engage in discussions or photos, probably part of the reason a lot of people haven't donated as they cant engage...
Well said, VEP. I share your frustration
 

VEP3417

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thanks, i know its hard to run a page but its even harder when the people on it arnt behind you


how many 31....type trains are looking to be preserved as i see theres a few different pages looking to preserve similar trains
313 and 315 i think? did i see a 317 page somewhere?
 

D365

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how many 31....type trains are looking to be preserved as i see theres a few different pages looking to preserve similar trains
313 and 315 i think? did i see a 317 page somewhere?
Beyond 313201 and the one DTSO from 317345, I don't hold out hope for any PEP/Mk3-based EMUs to be preserved.
 

61653 HTAFC

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It's a PEP unit, though.
Strictly speaking it's a "PEP-derived" unit. One of the Ps in that acronym stands for Prototype, with the actual PEP units having been scrapped years ago.

I must admit I'm surprised how popular the 315s seem to be, they never struck me as particularly interesting or worthy units... but who am I to tell others what they should spend their disposable income on?
 

VEP3417

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Wirral recently received funding for a new transport museum facility in Birkenhead, I did wonder if a 507 or 508 would end up in it.

be nice to have that mersyrail de icer in there as well, the one where the class 73 was sandwiched in the middle

as for other pep derived vehicles, yes this years been a bit funny as it appears everyone wants to get rid of All old trails so theres almost too much to choose from preservation wise, so sadly you have to pick and choose and some trains will be extinct because of that as no one could preserve one "at the time"
 

43096

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According to the group, this unit seems to be in the best overall condition, from a maintenance point of view.
If it was in that good a condition it wouldn’t have been off-leased now but retained until the end of the fleet.
 

prod_pep

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As mentioned, 315820 has nothing special about it. The 315 society wanted it only because it was a personal favourite of one of its committee. Speaking from personal experience, I've never found it one of the better riders but that's mere conjecture.

There were claims that it was being particularly looked after by Ilford on their group, knowing it was wanted for preservation but there's no evidence of any special treatment. The care Ilford takes over all its 315s these days is outstanding and they're all regularly thoroughly cleaned.

Most of the historically significant units (e.g. pioneer 801, last built PEP-derived unit 841, first in service 802/11, unique refurbishments 804/06/09/12, Bed-Pan loans 807/50/51/52) are all scrapped so just plump for the best one left. Taking one of the very last 315s was always going to be the best option and eight of them are expected to last until next May.
 

ChiefPlanner

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Yes - 315's seem to hang on in there and I got one from Manor Park the other day ( a bonus !) - excellent , spotless condition and a nice touch had a Poppy transfer on. Ilford need to be commended for their care.
 

BayPaul

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If you were wanting to keep a PEP in operational preservation, why wouldn't you go for a 313 rather than a 315? They seem to me to have a number of advantages - 3 coaches rather than 4 gives a 25% reduction in a lot of costs, and being duel voltage they would have more options for tours, especially since there are probably more paths available on the 3rd rail network, with more minor electrified lines than North of the Thames. Not that I can really imagine either being successful, just that I would have thought a 313 was a better bet.
 

bramling

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If you were wanting to keep a PEP in operational preservation, why wouldn't you go for a 313 rather than a 315? They seem to me to have a number of advantages - 3 coaches rather than 4 gives a 25% reduction in a lot of costs, and being duel voltage they would have more options for tours, especially since there are probably more paths available on the 3rd rail network, with more minor electrified lines than North of the Thames. Not that I can really imagine either being successful, just that I would have thought a 313 was a better bet.

People in the group worked with 315?

These sorts of things are labours of love, so I can understand if they want something specific.

I’d have liked to buy a 365 driving car. Frustratingly I have the room to have it, but no way of getting it in!
 

RJ

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Good on the Class 315 Preservation Society I say.

To achieve anything, an idea is required - a target to set a trajectory for. They have that and I wish them every success in preserving a unit.
 

LowLevel

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The thing I don't understand is why these groups get going with grand aims, short time frames and most importantly, a desperate need to raise someone else's money to achieve their goal.

Recently some friends and I bought a heritage rail vehicle. We put our hands in our own pockets and raised a 5 figure sum to do so, knowing it had a home and the expertise to look after it.

I like the PEPs but a 4 car bogless suburban train with uncomfortable seats (sorry, they're never going to be a Pullman) is not going to be out earning it's keep with legions of people paying to travel on it. It is possible to drag it around with a loco if you have a suitably modified one, but the last EMU I had anything to do with went damp and mouldy within weeks of coming off the juice.

They are struggling to get things in order to buy and transport the thing, with the best will in the world it's continued operation will be a money sink and unless they find a wealthy benefactor it is hard to envisage a happy ending.
 

Jim

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I totally salute the group for what they are trying to do, but put yourselves in the shoes of someone who might want to be investing their hard earned cash in to the group, I mean the whole thing is shroud in secrecy a lot (which I get some of it may be down to the ROSCO etc), but it seems to me there is far too much aspiration and not enough openness to people who may want to commit to the idea.

I must say I know I certainly wouldn't be particularly comfortable with putting my money in, thinking I'd be seeing some sort of enjoyment in return.
 

StephenHunter

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I bought a coaster from them; the 315s may have been my least favourite of the Great Eastern trains, but they were part of my childhood and I'd like to see one of them survive.
 

JKF

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820 on a one-way trip to Newport today. I guess the gauge clearance to South Wales was OK after all.
 

43096

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820 on a one-way trip to Newport today. I guess the gauge clearance to South Wales was OK after all.
Gauge clearance to Newport was always fine. It was clearance beyond there that was not surprisingly an issue as the plan is/was to move the unit to Llanelli(?) and then by road.
 
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