Current and Proposed New-Builds

Not forgetting that other 4-4-0 Number 1000.

 

I have seen photos taken in Ireland I think of a loco burning peat during a crisis. I can't remember the circumstances (whether it was the War of Independence or the Civil War, or another crisis). I think it might have been at the station at Castlebar.

Or 120, or 49 0r 256

 

The enthusiasm for locomotives that really weren't very good is one of the odder features of the new build scene.

Personally I'd have much rather seen the kit of parts components used to recreate a Churchward 3150 - large boilered large prairie. There is no surviving Churchward large Prairie, or std 4 boiler Prairie, let alone in early form with straight footplate.

(Photo from Warwickshire Railways)
"GWR 3150 Class 2-6-2T No 3186 is passes over Rowington Troughs on an up local with a horsebox behind the bunker. Built by Swindon works in January 1908 No 3186 was to remain in service until June 1957 when it was withdrawn from 18A Toton shed."
"Photographer - Henry L Salmon"

 

Funnily enough my own choice for one of these GWR bitsas would be a Collett 31xx. Historically irrelevant, but a serious bit of kit nonetheless. I could imagine it being quite fun on a line such as the Moors. Certainly more fun than trying to go up a bank with a County, tender first, in the rain.

 

The Collett and Churchward 3150 will undoubtedly follow in due course the demand for GWR far outstrips every other company, more new build activity than the rest put together supported by the largest support and almost unlimited funding ability, the County already has many interchangeable parts to add to the new frame.

 

But for how much longer............................??????????????

 

The last few pages of the “Saint” thread rather seem to have been arguing the opposite: that the available capacity (skilled people and money) is nowhere near enough for the scale of ambition for GWR new builds. If there was one former company where ambition seems to be matched by capacity, it is the LNER, though primarily (not wholly) through one formidably capable group.

Tom

 

Come on, please do not call them new builds. It is insulting to the people who are actually building new build locos. All these GWR locos are from the Didcot pick and mix department with some new items included in the builds.

 

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but it seems to me quite sad that people parade their negativity so frequently on this forum. Please give those who are doing something quite wonderful, often with piles of scrap, a little encouragement. Of course these are new builds, cleverly using some recycled materials. I admire the persistence of those who think positive and get stuck in. Personally I am delighted by all the new build projects and financially support several. My particular favourites for what it is worth are the Brighton Atlantic , 82045 ,4709 and both Counties !

 

I agree - and I actually prefer all things G.W. The Saint is the best of a bad lot but, seeing that it required new wheels, new cylinders and heavily reworked frames, it might, with the benefit of hindsight, have been better if the GWS had gone for a full new-build and saved a perfectly restorable Hall. As for the Frankenstein 47xx and County the least said the better! IMO, if just a fraction of the time, money and effort spent on these "pick and mix" projects had been spent on some of the long stored fleet Didcot would be a better place...... but, as I've said before, it's their loco collection.
Ray.

 

Looks a decent piece of kit, that. Is the photo caption correct though in stating it was withdrawn from 18A Toton shed? I can't see the Midland men of the Notts / Derbyshire coalfield readily taking to one of these in lieu of a "Big Goods" or Stanier "Big 'un"...

Richard.

 

According to RailUK it was withdrawn from Plymouth Laira http://www.railuk.info/members/steam/getsteam.php?row_id=1153
Ray.

 

Duplicate post.

 

The BR Database (http://www.brdatabase.info) gives it as being at 18A from 1950 until withdrawal in 1957. I too can't believe that. I wonder if it has been a mistyped 81A and the photo has been captioned based on this info. However, Rail UK (http://www.railuk.info) gives it as being a Laira (83D) loco until withdrawal in 1957. Sounds a better bet. Someone will have a positive answer, no doubt.

 

None of that confusion need occur if people refrained from using that alien code of letters and numbers, and just used the actual shed names like on proper railways

Tom

 

Well, no-one alive might have seen one, but hornby sold a lot of 0 gauge tin ones, and an awful lot of 00 gauge ones. I'm supporting this project because of “County of Bedford” circa 1982.

Never saw Lyn til last year, but it got my support.

Never saw a Dean Single either, but I'll stump up for that one too.

I suspect I'm not alone. I think the support will come

 

Restoring the Hall as such and building a Saint from scratch would have needed more than twice the money and labour. Where do you suppose those resources could have been found?

 

Sorry, can't agree on the "more than twice as much.." A set of frames is a relatively cheap part of a new build and, as I said, the Saint already required some high cost items such as wheelsets and cylinders. Maindy Hall, being an early rescue from Barry, was fairly complete and would have been a relatively cheap restoration compared with some more recent ex Barry jobs. In answer to your question I would be tempted to say "by not building the 47xx and an impotent County 'lookalike'."
Ray.

 

Or 3717/3440 and 3217

 

The reason Maindy Hall was an early rescue from Barry was because it was intended to rebuild it as a Saint.