Forgotten "preserved" Steam engines

An H16 has a different wheelbase to an S15, so the motion can't be used, nor can the frames, and the boiler is shorter between tubeplates, so the boiler can't be used either (at least not without substantial rebuilding). After which, you just have to construct a new cab, tanks, bunker, pony truck, rear set of wheels etc ...

Going from S15 to N15 puts 12 inches on the wheel diameter, so the axles have to go up 6" in the frames - so you can't really reuse the frames without substantial modification. It's a much bigger change than Hall --> Saint just to construct a loco of a type that already exists in preservation anyway, at which point - what's the point?

That probably explains why neither plan went much further.

(Compare S15 and H16 axle spacings, particularly between the trailing two axles:



Via: http://www.semgonline.com/steam/h16class.html



Via: http://www.urieloco.co.uk/Loco_506/

Tom

 

Having discussed this issue with other people in the narrow gauge world, I have come to the conclusion that building new or more useful steam locos may well be the way forward an N15 and a H16 would both be welcome I am sure by many Southern Railway fans, I can't ever see there being a shortage of possible new build projects for some time to come.

 

Indeed there was talk on the Bluebell, having restored 847, of converting 830 to an N15. However, at that stage it was just talk, and no serious proposals or work towards it was started, since the next priority for the Maunsell Locomotive Society was to restore their other ex-barry loco, U-class 1638.
Then when the opportunity came up to purchase 'Stowe', the Maunsell Locomotive Society decided that securing the Schools should be the priority (and that having 5 locos to look after was quite enough!), and so 830 and the ex-Schools tender converted into a snowplough obtained for it were sold and moved to NYMR, to raise money towards the purchase of 'Stowe'.