7027 Thornbury Castle

I like Tom's ideas here. There are very few locos or other rolling stock displayed (as distinct from lying round looking untidy) in unrestored condition for Joe Schmoe to goggle at. One snag is that Didcot does already have a few bits that are just lying round looking untidy.

 

Haven't they already got a 2-8-0 tank that has given its boiler to the County project which could serve that purpose?

I wonder whether with all the negative publicity it has garnered for the GWS whether 7027 is unlikely to ever roll up there.

 

4709 is being worked on at Tyseley. There is no room at Didcot for it or any parts of 7027 if/when the six months timeline passes. Currently at Didcot there is 1014, 1363, 7202 and 3650 being worked on.

 

They don't. Which was why Didcot management were so [redacted] off when the 4709 project presented them with a fait accompli. Personally, but without the benefit of any inside knowledge at all, I suspect GWS management would be secretly delighted if someone comes up with a credible plan to take the thing off their hands.

If it goes anywhere I bet it goes to Tyseley, where the 4709 project is based, and if its dismantled I bet Tyseley will be their no 1 prospective customer for the parts.

 

But that's where it came from originally. Why would they want it back? They also gave/sold a lot of parts to 7027 recently. But it would be the best place for it

 

Because if it went there now in association with the 47xx project it would be for contract works which will bring money into the coffers at Tyseley.

I suppose the one thing that remains is that whether Tyseley would want the negative PR that would likley be associated with dismantling a partly restored locomotive and how would those who contribute to Tyseley react?

 

That would make sense if the plan was to complete 4709 at Tyseley. I'm not sure it is; 1014 is not that far from being finished, leaving room for 4709 to be completed at Didcot. They can certainly do the boiler work.

 

I could certainly see that a 'boilerless' Castle could make a fascinating display if there was a viewing platform allowing you to look down onto the gubbins in the middle

 

But surely you only need the front two driving wheelsets, the 3rd one could be the basis for some oddball 2-2-2, using the spare 28xx boiler (shortened of course), I'm sure I saw the EMF advertising some tender wheelsets which could be used for the leading and trailing wheels....

Thats how it works 'innit?

 

What livery will it be in?

 

FIRST GW on one side, BR blue with arrows of indecision on the other.

 

1014 is at least 2 years away from being finished. As mentioned before the restoration queue at Didcot currently is 1363, 7202.

 

1363 especially I would have thought would be high on the priority list for use on site.

 

But 1014 is well ahead of 4709!

 

We can agree on that!

 

Yes it is. Plan is to have 1340 Trojan, King George, 1466 and 1363 all available. Perfect sized engines for Didcot.

 

What's the state of play with 1363 wasn't it started as a project for younger volunteers and then shelved as it needed much more work than envisaged, I hope they can kick on with 7202, that must be one of the longest running restorations ever done at Didcot.

I suspect it could be argued that 7027 is well ahead of 4709

Brill, it seems someone has finally identified what Didcot actually need on site rather than a WIBN approach, what's the basis for what appeared to be the pushing of King George up the queue, is it ultimately for the Thomas market?

 

Perhaps someone should paint "NCB" on 7027's tender. Then nobody would care if it was hacked about.