LMS Hughes Crab 42859

Some of it is in use on 13065

 

Things seem to.have gone quiet on this front, has there been any news on this loco? Are the remaining parts still impounded? Has the owner started work on a new boiler? Has anything changed since the boiler was cut?

 

The wheels and frame were moved to the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway at Ludborough that was in 2016, not sure if they still there or not, the boiler went for scrap to pay for the rent owed when the loco was stored at Binbrook Airfield.

 

Any pictures of its mortal remains at ludborough?

 

Not at Ludborough, have got pictures of wheels, tender body when at Binbrook Airfield somewhere, I will try and dig them out at the weekend.

 

My photos taken at Binbrook are on page 21 on this subject.

 

(Deleted - sorry, wrong thread ...)

 

Was that the loco wheels and frames, those of the tender, or both?


Keith

 

The loco & tender wheels were on a siding uncovered, the frames were on old sleepers covered over, I asked a volunteer working there who informed me about the bits and pieces.

 

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but is there any movement here? Is it possible to contact the owner and set up a not for profit here? Surely more deserving than any new build?

 

Why? Spend a fortune on a pile of scrap, most of which probably isn't usable, in order to get something that duplicates what is already running elsewhere. Surely enthusiasts for the type would be much better off donating their time and effort towards keeping 13065 in service.

 

Which is exactly what was scrawled all over 45699 and 6023 at Barry... Miracles we can achieve the impossible takes a bit longer.

 

If you adopt that logic then there's no point trying to get started on restoring any of the remaining unrestored Barry engines. I think this engine is a far more interesting candidate than most for heritage line use, but the owners seem to be the biggest problem to be faced!

 

Totally agree and as a versatile LMS class 5/6 might reasonably have attracted the interest of mainline operators as a project but I suspect any return would be too far in the future now for those in that category to contemplate.

 

Sorry to say it, but this really is project vain hope , and the owner i think must be in denial of exactly how bad it it, The boiler, the most expensive part was scrapped, isn't at least one wheel set missing? taken by the site owner So the owner of the loco has got what is a set of frames and precious little else , i don't expect he will have the funds to replace whats been lost, but believes a knight in shining Armour will some how come riding to his rescue with pockets filled with gold, Its very much the same situation with 35025 at Selinge, chairman won't sell, shareholders cant get enough backing to make him sell his stakeholding, and the engine is still after 20 years no nearer to completion and is going backwards .

 

Cant think that as a 'mainline' Loco a Crab is in anyway ideal, but for the likes of the Larger 'Heritage' outfits it would be very useful and can be given a fancy lick of red paint.
If the cylinders haven't survived rebuilding it with Riedinger/Franklin rotary valve gear would add value/ interest.
If I had pockets full of gold I wouldn't be giving it to some chap to do with, I would want full control, i.e. ownership and If that penny wont drop then nothing happens.
To be brutal the bare bones of this locomotive might with luck survive the current owner... and bare bones is a better start than some projects have

 

Yes I had the ideas of Lenz if they hadn't survived...
Still going to be cheaper than a new build, and great story. Shame about the boiler.
Maybe it's better off with a new one (boiler).

 

You underestimate them. These engines worked turn and turn about with the Stanier version for over thirty years, and I suggest you have a look at 2968's main line exploits in 1996 to 1998.

 

I only have experience of 42765 on ELR but I would have no doubt the Crab would be very well suited to some of the repeat itinerary work on the mainline in northern England and Scotland. Powerful with good adhesion, free steaming and economical in my experience, just as 2968 was renowned for in its all too brief mainline career.

 

They may well be excellent locos for their size, but surely for main line use a dose of realism has to intrude - 27sq ft of grate area is ultimately never going to produce the sustained steaming rate needed for modern conditions, and presumably the wheel diameter would limit them to I believe 50mph. Sad to say you'd end up with a loco that didn't have the power to haul a genuinely remunerative load - at least not without assistance - and without the speed to keep out of the way except on lines with very light traffic.

Surely there has to be a reason why the general consensus is that today's mainline really needs class 7/8 motive power, and why the A1 group are pushing for 90mph capability.

For heritage line use, no doubt an excellent choice, though it appears in this case that so much is missing that a "restoration" would to all intents and purposes be a new build.

Tom