If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Brighton Atlantic: 32424 Beachy Head

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by Maunsell man, Oct 20, 2009.

  1. Steve B

    Steve B Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2008
    Messages:
    2,069
    Likes Received:
    1,502
    Location:
    Shropshire
    Fascinating those these digressions are, isn't there already a thread for this?

    Steve B
     
  2. clinker

    clinker Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2016
    Messages:
    569
    Likes Received:
    348
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    romford
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer

    Wouldn't that essentially be a Merchant Navy rebuilt with Caprotti valve gear? Had DoG not had 'Problems' in other parts (Ashpan dampers, Brick arch etc.) That have been 'Sorted' in preservation BR may well have persevered with Caprotti gear and Poppet Valves and the re-builds 'Simply' been caprotti intead of walschaerts? Did the re-builds have different cylinders to 'Originals'? and the thought of Caprotti with unified drive is too good to be true, We'd be looking at the ultimate development of Gresley's Lentz valved locomotives.
     
  3. clinker

    clinker Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2016
    Messages:
    569
    Likes Received:
    348
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    romford
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I've just seen the General Steam Navigation thread and seen that the outside cylinders were retained with a new inside cylinder
     
  4. nine elms fan

    nine elms fan Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2012
    Messages:
    2,439
    Likes Received:
    855
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Wessex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    A replica 4-4-2t Adams radial maybe, the cost of repairing the existing loco 30583 runs into several hundred thousands, it might be be more economical to build a working replica. :)
     
  5. JMJR1000

    JMJR1000 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2009
    Messages:
    843
    Likes Received:
    698
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cleethorpes
    Yeah that seems to be the same reasoning for Stepney from what I hear. Personally however I just don't think this method would work for either Stepney or the Adams Tank, for in both cases despite the expense I just don't think the cost of building replicas would be any less costly then restoring the real articles so to speak. Fact is as well the Bluebell have an increasing number of their engines that need major renewal work doing, P Class No. 27 being a prime example, with the amount of work being done on that not necessarily far off from a new build in some respects.

    My hope would by that the group working on No. 27 will go on to tackle either Stepney or the Adams Tank next, though I have no idea what their plans may be exactly long term wise.

    I do recall a recent interview with the head of the locomotive department at the Bluebell Railway, who spoke of particular fondness for the Adams Tank and the desire to see it get worked on during his tenure there. Of course that's no promise nor do I expect it to be, and really that could very much imply long term thinking anyway.

    Just hope it's not never to happen, as I'd love to see it in steam someday, for the last time it did was before I was born! :eek:
     
    andrewshimmin, nine elms fan and jnc like this.
  6. sir gilbert claughton

    sir gilbert claughton Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2017
    Messages:
    1,061
    Likes Received:
    511
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    retired
    Location:
    east sussex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer

    in my jaundiced opinion none of the above would be capable of improving what we already have .
    what i would like to see is a big engine for use on the big railway that would take steam to the next level .

    the only candidate for that in my opinion is Ivatt's big Duchess either in 4-6-4 or 4-8-2 configuration with Caprotti valves , oil fired , with the potential for a continuous rate of say 50000 lb per hour . i would be happy to bung a few quid in the pot to see that !
     
  7. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2009
    Messages:
    8,065
    Likes Received:
    5,160
    I do like the idea, but what benefit would it offer over any of the present Class 8 Pacifics for hauling railtours? Higher speed up hill would be of some help in finding paths, but enough to justify the new build? The 5AT would have been cheaper than a 4-6-4 or 4-8-2 and quite powerful enough for railtours, but there was little enthusiasm for building that.

    And shouldn't this discussion be in the new builds thread?
     
    andrewshimmin likes this.
  8. sir gilbert claughton

    sir gilbert claughton Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2017
    Messages:
    1,061
    Likes Received:
    511
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    retired
    Location:
    east sussex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer

    i was thinking in terms of protracted 100 mph running with computerised engine management

    it probably should
     
  9. 60044

    60044 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    Messages:
    406
    Likes Received:
    785
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Salisbury
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Isn't the P2 going to be a step up over the locos that are currently running? Beyond that, given the A1SLT's track record, I'd say there's more chance of a Gresley 4-8-2 or 4-6-4 appearing!
     
  10. Sheff

    Sheff Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2006
    Messages:
    7,567
    Likes Received:
    2,345
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired Engineer & Heritage Volunteer
    Location:
    N Warks
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    One day I’ll follow an update link to this thread and find some news on Beachy Head, but I’m not holding my breath.....
     
  11. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,099
    Likes Received:
    57,409
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Brighton Atlantic: 32424 Beachy Head was the most recent (hundreds of pages, ago, or about a week ...)

    I’m sure they’ll be another update in a little while, and certainly before the loco goes for its first heavy general overhaul, as was somewhat unkindly asserted on another thread!

    Tom
     
    mdewell, andrewshimmin and Sheff like this.
  12. Sheff

    Sheff Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2006
    Messages:
    7,567
    Likes Received:
    2,345
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired Engineer & Heritage Volunteer
    Location:
    N Warks
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    :Morewaitingisrequired:
     
    Richard Roper likes this.
  13. Eightpot

    Eightpot Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2006
    Messages:
    8,077
    Likes Received:
    2,264
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Engineer Emeritus
    Location:
    Aylesbury
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Isn't it the case that in the current Covid-19 situation that the opportunity to progress work on it has been much reduced, so there is little to report?
     
    Richard Roper and jnc like this.
  14. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,099
    Likes Received:
    57,409
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Pretty much. Between March and September there was no working on site, and although a few things could be done remotely, much of the remaining work now requires access to the locomotive for fitting components. Unfortunately, that timescale was a bit of a double whammy, since one of the main objectives planned for the summer was the production and fitting of the boiler cladding, which, being an outdoors task, would ideally take place when the weather is better. So that may have to wait now until next spring - covid restrictions allowing.

    The other juggling act that requires planning is how the boiler will actually be fitted. That will require cranes, so either needs to be done with a hired crane - which is expensive, and only available for a day - or in the main workshop. Doing it in the workshop seems to have a number of benefits to me in terms of the ability to do trial fits, and also to then lift the cab back in place afterwards etc; however, to do so will require co-ordination with the main workshop programme, which is currently heavily engaged on the boiler and mechanical overhaul of Sir Archibald Sinclair. Having Atlantic House as a separate base has been a tremendous boon to the project and has allowed it to progress far quicker than might otherwise have been possible, but the one thing it doesn't have is heavy overhead craneage.

    Tom
     
    Richard Roper, Paul42, jnc and 3 others like this.
  15. Bikermike

    Bikermike Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2020
    Messages:
    1,442
    Likes Received:
    1,595
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Thameslink territory
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Is Atlantic House connected to the network? (I thought it wasn't? - if so, do you not need a crane to get it to the rails).

    As for not having enough to update, the snippet in Bluebell news (which I wouldn't read unless you linked it on here) is surely something that could go on (or be linked to) on the Atlantic page. The usual issues of having someone to generate copy/pictures etc has been solved.

    Do your electronic wizzos have any way of telling how people get to the various bits? I assume if I click on Bluebell Railway, I will see the news. As I come in via the Newbuild steam page, I don't see it. How representative of a significant traffic flow I am I don't know.
     
  16. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,099
    Likes Received:
    57,409
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Atlantic House is at right angles to the main yard. So when the loco and tender emerge, they will have to be turned through 90°. That is I imagine going to require a road crane, but I could see doing just that taking a whole day. You aren't then instantly going to be ready to put the boiler in place. My working assumption is that once you have the loco (without boiler) on the rails, subsequent crane operations will be easier inside the main workshop. Don't forget that the loco yard is a working yard with pits, so blockages while, for example, a crane is in place, need to be kept to the minimum and may be restricted in times as to when they can happen.

    Web presence: gradually being modernised across the whole railway, but such things take time. I'm not sure what you mean by the Newbuild steam page.

    Tom
     
  17. Bikermike

    Bikermike Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2020
    Messages:
    1,442
    Likes Received:
    1,595
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Thameslink territory
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Sorry, I mean the Newbuild steam website (even though it is defunct, it still has the links to all the projects).

    Noted re cranes, I was just checking my understanding, I thought you'd need a crane in any event (although get your point about needing it for longer) Expensive hobbies, cranes...
     
  18. Tobbes

    Tobbes Member

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2010
    Messages:
    869
    Likes Received:
    2,352
    In terms of new builds that would be useful for a preserved (standard gauge) railway, then 0-6-0 tender engines would seem to be pretty close to ideal - 5 (6?) coaches, 25 mph, nothing too large or complicated. (I accept that available Std 4MT tanks seem to be snapped up, and with 13/15 restored so far, they must be doing something right other than being Pacifics when running backwards....)

    For me, amongst the 0-6-0 tender classes that 'got away', I'd love to see a Drummond 700 'Black Motor' (always felt purposeful), Ilfracombe Goods as rebuilt, as well as a K (2-6-0, I know).

    For those where we have survivors, a batch of either Dean Goods, J15s or SR Qs would probably serve preservation very nicely; Q1s probably divide opinion somewhat more!
     
    Hirn and 69530 like this.
  19. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2006
    Messages:
    11,930
    Likes Received:
    10,088
    Occupation:
    Gentleman of leisure, nowadays
    Location:
    Near Leeds
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    If we are talking 0-6-0’s, a one that got away was the J39. They were regularly used on passenger trains, as well.
     
    2392 likes this.
  20. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,099
    Likes Received:
    57,409
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I don't think you'll find many people queuing up to build one though - can't afford all that copper for the boiler ;)

    Tom
     
    andrewshimmin, 5944 and ghost like this.

Share This Page