Thank you for supporting the group in what is still proving to be a very turbulent period, which we will have to ride for some time yet. Preservation often has ups and downs and unfortunately, today is a down. This is something we never wanted to post however we want to make clear throughout this statement that this is not the end for the CEPG.
We must regretfully inform you that our benefactor, who helped secure the initial purchase of the 309 in early 2022, has chosen to step away from the project for his own personal reasons. This is obviously not the situation we wanted to kick off 2023, but we have engaged in a lot of discussions up to this point to ensure that we can find a way forward.
The unit will be listed "for sale" on the CEPG website and the priority will be of course to keep the set in one piece. The ideal solution will be to find a new benefactor who can purchase the unit outright with the CEPG coming as a "Package Deal", continuing to support the vehicles wherever they move.
The original storage agreement with the Lavender Line lasts until October 2023. It is intended to use up the rest of that agreement and we have formulated a "New Works Plan" to ensure we can get down with more working parties regularly in 2023. Plans have been sent off and we are now awaiting further communication with the Lavender Line.
We appreciate that this is not the news you may have wanted to hear, and it is indeed not ideal. However, the group remains confident that a solution can still be found and that the unit will have a future. Multiple options are being explored in the background. We hope that you will still choose to support us through the challenging year ahead.
To end things on a better note, I am pleased to reveal to you all that the 309 Exhibition, which has been supported by our friends at the East Anglian Railway Museum, Is due to open on the 15th of February 2023. This is anticipated to be the largest collection of 309 artefacts and memorabilia ever gathered. Thanks to several loan agreements, we have secured destination boards; a set of coach letter boards; original 309 Parts, manuals and drawings, and the centrepiece, recently revealed to be the original Clacton Centenary headboard carried by 309s in 1971. This exhibition should be up for around 6 months in the exhibition centre at the EARM, so we strongly encourage everyone to come down if they can over the next few months.
It's not over 'till we say it's over. And we don't plan to give up just yet!
Here is the listing link on the website. For any serious enquiries, please contact chairman.cepg@gmail.com
CEPG.
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