Current and Proposed New-Builds

I saw that loco running with the builder. The steam pipe from the engine to the tender has a very clever coupling and flexible joint. He I also the only person I know who built 2, 3 and 4 cylinder compounds in 5" gauge

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RailAdvent are claiming that Manchester United has come to an end.

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2020/11/end-of-the-line-for-manchester-united-steam-locomotive.html/amp

However, it's not all doom and gloom:

 

That was a really interesting video. I have always been intrigued by steam tenders - they really *should* be the right thing to do, but clearly never were. I guess the impractical nature of high-pressure steam joints were the device's downfall.

When I win the lottery...

 

There was a rather more dignified post on the group's website.

However misguided we might think it was, it was someone's dream, and they've had the guts to admit failure and the magnanimity to hand over stuff to their "rivals", which can't have been easy.

 

My understanding is that the Sturrock locos were a technical success; however, an agreement couldn't be reached with the men, who demanded double wages for maintaining two locomotives, which essentially did away with the main cost saving the company hoped to make (avoiding the wage cost of extensive double heading). To be fair, at a time when driver's tended to be responsible for their own locomotive, including minor repairs, they had a point - more work not rewarded by more pay.

Tom

 

Whilst we're in the subject of "New Builds", something has been troubling me for some time with the various bodies who are working on these projects, and that's the issue of Business Continuity Management.

For example, I can think of one individual who is assisting something like three new-build locomotive groups. Were something to happen to that individual tomorrow that rendered said individual incapable of carrying on their good work - then what?

The A1 SLT for example has a lot of long-term ambitions, but who would carry on in the event of a disruptive event or even over the planned time span of their current plans for three more locomotives?

 

I would think the A1SLT is probably the most prepared...

Given how many newbuilds have weathered organisational storms, I'm not sure it's that much of an issue.

What have been the demise of newbuilds that have actually got started? The other P2 arguably never really got started, the 2mt tank seems just to be on the back burner, the 3mt tender just seemed to run out of people.

I think cov19 has shown that whatever contingency plans you have, something can always come of left field, so much more thought than maximising flexibility, having good sources of money and committed volunteers can be wasted time.

 

We are however talking projects which in some cases will have very long gestation periods - some that can be measured in decades. Who's to say that the founders will still be alive by then and that others with the same dynamism will come along - never mind how socially acceptable living steam will be in a green future? One magazine - I forget which - examined the likely prospects of all the new builds at the time. In some cases, it didn't make for comfortable reading.

The Doncaster P2 does have frames, but beyond that I'm unsure; I won't have anything to do with Faecebook so I have no idea if anything is being said of progress on there. The BR "Standards" I've not followed so again, I have no idea. Sometimes though, projects get re-invigorated; you only have to look at how the formerly moribund LMS 10000 project is now coming along in veritable leaps and bounds with new people.

However, this is not the point I'm making; the point I'm making is that what happens if key personnel 'disappear' for whatever reason now?

 

We don't, but what contingency planning will cater for future social unacceptability?

These things take ages as they cost a lot of money, there is always that future risk. Ask any cathederal builder...

I think all you can do is make sure the fundamentals are as good as they can be.

 

Indeed I can but echo some of the above remarks. Remember back in what 2008 when it was announced that the UK had been successful in winning the 2012 Olympics. A Group popped up that were going to build a North Eastern Class Z [LNER C7] Atlantic. Their opening press release was along the lines of "Don't worry we've all the plans/paperwork etc in hand as well as finances, suppliers and builders on side and the loco will be ready for the afore mentioned 2012 London Olympics. Yet by 2010 they disappeared along with the locomotive........

 

Just to be pedantic for a second, the winning Olympic bid for 2012 was announced on 6/7/2005. I remember watching the announcement at my mother's.

The day before 7/7, in fact.

 

At least the other group maintained friendly relations then, rather than trolling them to the point of no return, hope one day only it is named MUFC as thanks

 

Well, Archibald Sturrock did not have the benefit of O rings

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Haiga Sophia was turned into a mosque, similar function?

 

Does that leave the B17 team with three tenders, then?

 

Manchester City can buy one to put all their trophies in. That will be one in the eye for all the united fans that we’re trying to build it

 

And being equally pedantic. I did say "what 2008?" a question as I wasn't quite 100% sure off hand when it was announced that we'd made the successful Olympic bid.......

 

I think that is correct - 2 Group standard tenders and a GER chassis.
Ray.

 

Sell one to the claude hamilton project?

 

or the V2 project in exchange for services (to be) rendered...