Steam Railmotor 93

I was wondering if anyone from Didcot or Llangollen could give an update on this project?
I understand there was a problem with a cylinder that has delayed the project but how singificantly? Can we hope to see her out later this year?

 

Talking with the project manager yesterday, the cylinder problem has been resolved.
Although the cylinder castings have been around for a while, it was only when trial fitting of the valve gear prior to final machining, that it showed up. A repair was cheaper than having it re-cast. He says with all the other parts of the project still progressing, it's made only a small impact on progress. He hopes to update the website shortly. As to a finish date,... with any restoration project, committing to a date is never easy, so watch their website for progress info. In support of the project, Didcot took delivery of the materials this week for the rail motor shed. The contractor will be starting construction imminently.
http://www.railmotor93.org (Thanks for the website address correction)

 

That link to their website doesn't seem to work - try this one:
http://www.railmotor93.org

Richard

 

Wow I didnt realise work was starting on the shed so soon.
Thanks for the update; I will keep checking the website.

 

Be very interesting to see the Railmotor shed done, and will add a lot to the branch line atmosphere - as well as the Railmotor itself!

 

It would appear that the power bogie works

http://www.railmotor93.org/latestnews/latestnews.html

 

Brilliant news! Congratulations to all involved, I'm really looking to seeing the Railmotor completed next year

 

Great news, but this photo is just weird. Looks like a new 0-4-0 tank engine designed by Flash Gordon:



Richard

 

Fantastic - anybody got any video of the test. Really looking forward to seeing this in action next year. Well done to all involved!

 

I am looking forward to sharing turns on the Branch Line with that beastie next year. The Railcar with a new refurbished interior, and the Steam Railmotor, it will be who could out bling the other

 

When they meet for the first time will it not be the first time ever that a railcar and unrebuilt (i.e. into autocoach) railmotor have ever met?

m0rris

 

He he, love the containerised coal bunker and water tank, for rapid pit-stops using a forklift

 

I'm surprised the GWR hadn't thought of that on the original version.

Richard

 

Fund raising idea, fancy connecting vac pipes up and doing brake van rides with it like that? :lol:

 

Railcars were introduced from 1933, while the last railmotors weren't withdrawn till '35, so it may have happened, though pretty unlikely I would've thought, considering the few numbers of each in use and the completely different services they were used on. Definitely the first time one would've met a later type of railcar though!

This is what preservation is about for me; bringing to life things that would otherwise have been lost to history. Fine stuff. All they need now is to get the 48 going, bring in a DMU and a Turbo, and you have the makings of a pretty unusual gala!

Oh and a Pacer, to show that the railway hasn't always got it right.

 

Forklift invented c.1920 (it must be true, I read it on Wikipedia).

GWR was obviously a bit slow to catch on to new-fangled technology [retreats to copper-free bunker]

Richard

 

With another steam railmotor being rebuilt, elsewhere, along with the petrol railcar, an early railcar gala could be on the cards!

As an aside, Middleton's Sentinel boiler started life in an LNER railcar. Anyone fancy re-building Tally Ho!?

 

Can't wait to see this in action and travel behind? in? it!