7027 Thornbury Castle

Well according to the Rail Advent report they haven''t been bought yet. The subsequent price will depend on the purchase price.

 

Few people outside of the GWS and Mr Gregory know how much was paid. The figure of £300,000 has been bandied about on here, but whether that actually is the true figure, who knows? As with any rare item, work of art etc. the price will be the compromise between what the seller hopes for and what the buyer is willing to pay. If we start fundraising for £300k, it will quickly show whether that amount is likely to be forthcoming, or if we are all just a bunch of Bassanios wailing for someone else to pay for what we want.

 

I think they are saving that boiler for “The Great Bear II”….

 

How about using a Dean Goods boiler for making a Dean Goods... A loco highly suitable for working Didcot's demonstration line and a type that could potentially be useful as a hire loco. It would gain support from the purists as it would be a more faithful replica. Ducks and runs...

 

I assume she still comes with the Hawksworth tank and Collett tender frames, the Collett tank was sold and has migrated to Preston where it is now being restored by the FRT to be eventually paired with 4979 Wootton Hall.

 

Where is the ego massage in that, you need to think big!

 

Exactly. There's only two surviving GWR 0-6-0s, you don't need a third. What's needed is yet another identikit 2-8-0 or 4-6-0!

 

Oh but you do but only if you trash another loco or three to achieve it.

 

IMHO, this is the sort of new build the GWS should be pursuing, they have a suitable boiler, and there must be a tender chassis kicking around,
A Dean Goods is small enough for Didcot's own line, and as there are no working survivors, should be a popular guest engine on several GWR branch lines, and operationally makes better sense than any large 4-6-0, or 2-8-0. but of course, only being a humble goods' engine, it's not going to massage anyone's own ego. but saying that, to see one crossing Victoria bridge, at the head of a GW goods working, might wet a few dreams.

 

Actually, an 1101 is small enough for the Didcot line. Likely more than powerful enough too!

 

Sounds like a refreshing outbreak of common sense. Fingers crossed the internet fury turns into a sustainable, skilled, financed and managed group can step up to take it on. And if they don’t, I don’t think anyone could say Didcot and the 4709 group didn’t try, however belatedly they’ve found the right path.

Simon

 

Seems a bit odd. They might as well just pull out the sale and not buy it in the first place as selling it for the price they're paying doesn't bring them any closer to having a 47xx. Unless they're hoping that nobody comes forward and they can then press on with their plans with a clear conscience?

 

Entirely understandable, but I wonder what the price is, I know c.£300k was being banded about but I am sure that the price paid for 92207 was in SR the other week and that was just north of £100k OTTOMH?

 

Tender frames were reported (by those who were restoring it until a couple of months ago) to be no good and in need of replacement.

 

Are you suggesting that the GWS should buy Cadbury's No 1? Be quite an easy conversion to 1101 spec.

 

Has a anything been intimated as to storage or removal of the loco as a condition of any sale?

 

Surely from their perspective, they want 7027, it'll be a cheaper and quicker route to completion of 4709, but they can do without the agro that not offering if for sale would bring. Cashing in on the sale would be a bad look for them, so breaking even is likely a pretty good option (but not as good as having 7027's boiler and tacit permission to do whatever they like with it).

I think the reality is that no group will come forward with a credible, funded proposal. I hope they do, but it feels like a long shot to me.

Simon