Decision details

The original proposal was that Darlington Railway Preservation Society (DRPS) would vacate the Goods Shed in May 2023 and decant straight into the refurbished 1861 shed. However, due to the delay of 5 months in the handover of the 1861 shed from Network Rail it has meant that Train Storage and removal costs have been incurred as the Goods Shed needs to be vacated by Darlington Railway Preservation Society (DRPS) by March 2023 in order for the restoration of that building to commence.

To agree to pay the full engine storage and removal costs of £23,500, minus £5,000 contribution from DPRS, together with the freight transportation costs of £44,450, which involved the transportation of 5 locomotives to be stored at Weardale Railway.

Reason: To allow the restoration of the goods shed to commence in May 2023 as originally proposed, otherwise the costs that could be incurred due to not accessing the building from the main contractor until Sept 2023 would amount to approx. £100,000 and it would also mean that the building wasn’t complete in line with the remaining buildings in June 2024.

The only option available would have been to allow DRPS to remain in the Goods Shed until completion of the 1861 shed (September 2023), which would have resulted in a delay of completion of the project and incurred additional charges from the main contractor Willmott Dixon.