1014 County of Glamorgan

I absolutely agree with both of you. In particular, in its wartime black to remind us of the link between the railway companies during the war would have been nice. I hear the frames of the 8F were cut up and that in itself is very sad, but I guess there wasn't much left anyway.

 

If that's so, a whole bloody engine gone just for a firebox. So sad.

 

Not garter blue then?

 

The alleged scrapping of the frames etc was all very murky as to who had authorised it as I recall from earlier discussions. Tragic, nevertheless, particularly with the wartime connection and no member in the national collection.

 

That will come as a surprise to all those other projects who were under the impression they've got parts from it...

 

Are we forgetting those round things with spokes in, connected together by some round strips of metal 4ft something apart from each other ?
Also the metal syringe like thingy that was hanging on the sides near the front ?

Though I agree losing 48518 was a waste, but given that at the same time, 2 other pretty much complete versions came back from Turkey, only for 1 to leave again, exported sold unwanted... And the other sat around for a few years until a buyer came forwards... Did it ever have any chance ?
Indeed there's still another out out there in Turkey with an uncertain future, that could could back, and a 2nd for spares... And they truly are wartime pedigree.

It seems preservation in the UK has reached saturation point when it comes to 8fs.

 

Parts of 48518 will run again! We at the 45170 appeal have acquired the motion brackets to replace our knackered ones when the overhaul begins!

 

Considering that the Counties were originally designed for 280 psi and downrated to 250 limiting it to 225 will result in a weak impotent thing with nothing 'in reserve'. I'm sure that building a new boiler would have been cheaper in the long run and would have given a much better loco. However it's not my engine and the owners have made their decision. I have to agree with Spamcan that a restored 48518 (even cosmetically) as an O6 would go some way to satisfying the lack of LNER heavy freight locos - and I'm not even an LNER fan!
Ray.

 

Maybe it should be numbered at 814, as it's only going to be 80% of a County.

 

Nope!

 

Is it clear whether anybody or group was offered the opportunity to take 48518 on as a restoration project? Its remains were reportedly in decent condition but the terms of releasing it from its previous ownership might have proved problematic - similar reason why the 44901 boiler was disposed of separate to the loco?

 

The driving wheels went to the 8624 group IIRC?
Not sure about the other major components.

 

It's puzzling no NYMR related group was able to take it on given the heritage and obvious suitability for the line. The acquisition costs and terms might have been an issue but the availability of spares via Turkey must have made it a more appealing prospect than some of the others.

 

An 8F would have been a pretty useful on the NYMR. However, perhaps one point that is worth making is that while like others, I ams saddened that 48518 has been dismembered, let's remember that back in 1968 it looked like 48773 was going to be the only 8F to survive. Since then, 48151, 48305, 48431, 48624 and the ex-Turkish 8274 have all been saved and returned to working order, with 48173 and the SRPS ex-Turkish engine still to look forward to - eight engines in total. That's something few could ever have anticipated 45 years ago. We have much for which to be thankful.

 

Years ago I was told by someone at the SVR that 8Fs are quite hard on the track, more so than a WD 2-10-0 because their frames are less flexible. If that it is true than I can imagine that an 8f would not be great for the NYMR, where there are some sharp curves, the relics of its time as a horse-drawn line.

 

Another flangeless centre driver debate begins .......
The issue would apply to all similar eight coupled locos, presumably? NYMR has routinely operated more of the arrangement than any heritage line but conversely the S160 (shorter coupled wheelbase?) was not returned to use and 3814 in traffic has not seemed a priority so perhaps there is something in it.

 

Spoilsport. Have to make to with apple green then.

 

If those running the County project had known at the start how little of the 8f boiler they would be keeping, they might well have gone for a completely new boiler instead, with the advantage of being able to work at 250 psi, or even the original 280 psi giving similar capability to a Castle. Maybe at some future date they will do exactly that. As things stand, when their loco is ready to run it will be little better than a Hall.

 

Cant argue with that, other than by saying a Halls not a bad Loco. and it would be allowed to run faster on the Big railway / 220 psi will be fine for preserved line work