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35011 General Steam Navigation

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by GSN, May 15, 2015.

  1. GSN

    GSN New Member

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    I would like to appeal to members for there help in finding new site to restore the locomotive back to its original condition with the air smoothed casing and chain driven valve gear.
    The loco is currently based at Sellindge Kent and we are looking for site in the Hampshire/Dorset area not necessarily on a Heritage Railway as we are all based in Southwest so it would make sense for loco to be based in the area too.
    Please pm me if you can help.

    Posted with the full support and consent of the Locomotive owner.


    G.S.N
     
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  2. siquelme

    siquelme Well-Known Member

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    Interesting proposal, would it be rebuilt to the original design or would you include some modern design changes to improve running?
     
  3. GSN

    GSN New Member

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    We are more interested finding a new base for the loco and getting a support group established at this stage.
     
  4. siquelme

    siquelme Well-Known Member

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    That sounds very sensible at this stage. Depending where your based I might be able to lend a hand.
     
  5. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Come to the GWSR and I might! After all, there'll soon be a group skilled in restoring MNs but with their baby finished. :)
     
  6. class8mikado

    class8mikado Part of the furniture

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    Once you have a company/account etc would be happy to make a small but regular contribution.
    Wasn't GSN the one with the slightly different bulbous casing front of the cylinders...
     
  7. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

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    35011 is the subject of one of my favourite railway photographs. It's plate no. 8 in "...and gone forever" by Colin Gifford (OPC 1994). It shows GSN at speed in Clapham cutting with a Waterloo - Bournemouth express in September 1964, taken from the window of another train running alongside. Track and wheels are blurred with speed, but the rest of the loco is sharp and detailed. She's clean-ish, but things like the brake gear glisten with a mix of grime and oil.
     
  8. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Your going to need the support of an fully equiped workshop so if Hampshire / Dorset i would say try Southwest Steams site in Portland, you can then ask both the Swanage guys and the Mid hants for engineering advice and support, maybe, once CP is done, maybe relocate the bits to Eastleigh if you can get the funding and build it up there? but you are right, you do need to leave Selinge if you are to get any worthwhile progress, good luck
     
  9. savagethegoat

    savagethegoat New Member

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    A brave project to tackle, but it needs to be tried. Good luck, it has more importance than a new build in my view. I'd echo Martin's post above.
     
  10. philw2

    philw2 Member

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    Very best wishes with yr project..
     
  11. siquelme

    siquelme Well-Known Member

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    Finding space in Eastleigh could be a bit of a challenge but it would make sense if they could make a good deal with the Alrington guy.... There is a kids party bus that lives inside the shed next to CanPac so rent might not be that high right at the back of the shed.
     
  12. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    My view of it is this, its going to take a lot of work to do this, they have to press off the plain axle from the middle Driver, and have cast a new crank axle, to the original design with the sprockets for the chains, they will have to have made a lot of parts, before you can start putting it back together, thats why i would say, take it to portland, strip it there, and start getting the new stuff made, then once they are in a position to assemble it, thats the time to move to Eastleigh, hopefully about the time that CP moves out, now if the owners, can get an agreement with both the Swange and MHR, to provide engineering help and advice , in return the engine is based on one or other of the lines, but visits the other for a period, then i think that would provide the best outcome, the people who have rebuilt CP, could even be involved with rebuilding GSN if its a good outcome, then one day might you see 2 MN's roustered out on services at Ropley, one rebuild, one original
     
  13. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

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    Will also need to cast a new Middle cylinder. When the MN were redesigned they had new Middle cylinder cast at Crewe so I've been told.
     
  14. siquelme

    siquelme Well-Known Member

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    From what I have heard taking it to Portland would be the wrong move, the loco has already been exposed to the elements for a prolonged period of time, taking it to Portland and more importantly the sea wind it could do some serious damage. I once chatted to someone working on 35018 and when that went to Portland it pretty much ruined the new cab that was built at the MHR a few year beforehand.

    Like you said if you could get the MHR and the SLL (Southern Locomotive Ltd who are based are based on the Swanage line) you'd have to organsations working together that both have experince working and restoring Merchant Navys. That might be unlikely with the amount of Bulleids that both teams are working on (SSL have 257 Squad and Eddystone and the MHR have (assuming CanPac and Swanage are finished at that point) Sir Fred Pile and Wadebridge)
     
  15. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    I understand from the Search Engine team at the NRM that drawings for unrebuilt MNs are thin on the ground, and its not as simple as getting a WC/BB drawing instead. Furthermore, as previously mentioned, No. 11 was a bit of an oddball with the fairings curved around the front bufferbeam, so it would probably end up in BR blue condition (which I would like to see). On the other hand, 35011 was noted to be a particularly strong member of its class after rebuilding. However, just to see it in steam in whatever guise would be a bonus. Also has the best name of any steam locomotive... Seriously, I hope you manage to move forward with this. Might be able to offer a few quid once the ball starts rolling properly and a feasible plan is put together.
     
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  16. 3855

    3855 Member

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    Is the loco owned by an individual or a group and is/was James Arkel involved with it ?

    and as Columbo would say 'just one more question?' does anyone know if there has been any progress with Brocklebank line since it left Loughborough?
     
  17. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    i think its owned by an individual and its not James Arkel , but ive not been down to selinge in the past 4 years, as far as i know brockbank line hasnt been touched, had any work been done, i would have heard about it as i used to work with Richard Moffett
     
  18. siquelme

    siquelme Well-Known Member

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  19. GSN

    GSN New Member

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    Thank you all for your kind comments.
    Our biggest problem at present is credibility.
    That is why we looking for a private site to get the restoration underway and launch an appeal for the crank axle.
    If we are successful in finding the money for the new crank we hope that doors will open for us.

    So I would like to repeat our request for every one to keep an eye out for a suitable secure shed or site.

    G.S.N
     
  20. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    As i have said, try to get advice from SLL, or the MHR, i wish you well, most people would love to see an original MN recreated might it be worth asking the Swanage if theres any room where the U class is stored after all, the N is now in the works
     
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