The next newbuild

It's supposed to be being designed to run anywhere that Tornado can, so the NYMR would probably offer a home to both!

 

It will be. In the meantime just get something finished before starting a new project, be it something reasonably sensible or pure gricer's "wouldn't it be nice" nonsense. There is enough money tied up in projects as it is.

PH

 

The P2 will have a rocking grate (better than a drop grate) and, although it is a 3-cyl, there will only be the big end to oil within the frames. As per usual with main line loco's the most temperamental item is likely to be the air pump(s) which are pretty much a necessity, even more so looking forward a few years.

 

Skimming through this thread whilst on a lunch break. A quick thought
With everybody clearly excited about new builds and what the next potential one might be. Could we be close to a point where the older locos ie ex Br not new built suffer from lack of funding due to other monies going into yet more new builds.

I agree that mainline steam has only a finite amount of time left on alot of routes. Locos like A1 2x P2s will have to find a home that can accommodate them or they will end up in a museum.

Sheff. Im surprised even the big end is oil. Why not choose grease lubrication on the inside for ease and less time spent in what is usually a very dark hole.

 

That's just my assumption - I could be wrong - but roller bearing big ends are unusual in historical UK practice - especially inside ones. Not to say that should preclude their use if a split roller bearing is feasible.

 

There would need to be rather a lot of engineering for a roller bearing big end on a crank axle I suspect...

 

Yup. I can't see it happening.

 

Shades of the story about a youngster in one of the drawing offices who asked why, if solid big ends were so good on outside cylinder locos, they didn't use them with inside cylinders...

 

What about the 11 Royal Scot 4-6-0s fitted with roller bearing inside big ends in the 1950s.

 

What about the little end and slide bars? I don't know how they are lubricated on 60163 but certainly need between frames attention on an A4.

 

I don't think grease lubricated plain big ends would survive very well on a long, relatively high speed journey.

 

True - I wasn't going for an exhaustive list - what I should have said that there wouldn't be any valve gear to worry about. Akin to a 2:1 but without the pivot and pins to worry about. Out of interest how do you get to lube those on an A4?

 

Grease lubricated so a shed job. From memory, you get at the inner ones through the cods mouth.

 

All this talk of new builds and their practicalities always greatly interests me, it does sometimes baffle me how some people perceive it, especially in the context of the future.

Take the 3Mt project for example, a testament all round to progressing it as far as they've done, particularly consider its not so glamorous nature.
One thing I never understand though, is those who run and support the project talk of the idea of how this engine could save heritage railways, building a number of them to order for use on various lines.
Interesting and ambitious idea in theory, but as ever we have to bring finances into the equation, because which railway really has the money to spare to order for one of these?
However good value they may be, and however far they may push to take the costs down, it'll be no small fry affair buy one of these engines, with or without a tender.

 

Plus even if a railway could gather enough money, another issue that effects many of our heritage railways is the lack of undercover space for their locomotives and general rolling stock.
And finally perhaps the biggest issue of all is the reasoning that by purchasing these engines, you'll relieve the stress from the elderly locomotives.
That I can agree with to a point, but many engines require more then one engine, so one engine alone couldn't solve the big problem of our ageing engines getting harder to maintain.

Again however, this is not me saying it's a waste of time, far from it. I have nothing but praise for them. This project still plays a vital part in ensuring we can enjoy steam for many years to come.

As a side note, I'd very much like to see a River Tank too, gorgeous looking things.

 

If all heritage railways ended up with the same location it would be a bit boring though wouldn't it? We all like a variety, which is why gwr 56xx and most prairies don't really excite me any more there's just so many of them! I imagine itvwoukd be the same of countless m7s had been saved, but as there's just the one operating, it's a novelty. I already am less likely to go to a steam gala if it has a visitor from the gwsr, just because I see it all the time so isn't as interesting, I can see it at home.

 

Hello,
I enjoy seeing all kinds of types : steam ,some diesel locomotives ,new build ,old build ,ugly beauties, mainline or industrial.
More than glad to have what we have.... ,

Nick

 

Hello,
Thank you tom for the link.......



http://sophia.smith.edu/~maldrich/topics/equipmentandtrack/1897ryagedec10.htm
More carbowallops needed in future rebuilds?


Nick

 

I suppose the logic is that is if you build one new engine, you share the available work between a greater number of locomotives. This could mean that older engines run a lower mileage during the length of a boiler certificate, and thus need less work at the next overhaul. Or it could mean that locomotives have longer spells out of traffic between overhauls, so that although the costs still increase with each overhaul, the time intervals at which those overhauls become necessary lengthen.

Nevertheless, I think that argument falls down because there are still many unrestored Barry wrecks out there which would be suitable for preserved line work. Getting these restored could "ease the strain" on the pool of restored locomotives already available in much the same way as a new-build could.

So if I'm brutally honest, I don't think the preservation movement needs new builds - or at least, it won't for many years to come. The only reason to build them is because we want them. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that isn't a good enough reason, but still...