Unrestored engines still awaiting first time restoration

I'd be surprised if it wasn't because it purchased as servicable from BR. Does anyone know?

Meic

 

I wonder how many items that were taken off locos in the early days of perservation that have never been used but have now become lost in the mist of time.

 

The owners of 46447 could sell her on since she is of no use to the IoWSR and use that dosh to restore the Ivatt 2-6-2s. Sure shes going to be cosmetically restored but is she in that bad a condition or is is a case of they would rather see it gather dust and take up space when it could make money?

 

This is conjecture, not certified fact, but I believe the 3 Ivatts came as a donation from the previous owners (the Ivatt Trust). It is possible that the terms of the donation may have included a clause that keeps the three together, i.e. that would prevent any sale of one to fund restoration of the others.

Tom

 

Good Evening

This is my first post on this forum but i've been following this forum for a while and find much of it very interesting. In regard to this topic, is the East Kent Railway's Avonside 0-6-0 'St Dunstan' awaiting its first restoration. If so, I hope it gets some attention soon as just sitting at Eythorne cannot be doing it any good.

Regards
Paul

 

Yes the Ivatts and Austerity Juno were donated to the IOWSR, and I believe some sort of condition was probably put in place to stop them being sold on.

The IOWSR must have been keen to get hold of the two Ivatt tanks as they are very suitable for the line. They had no immediate need for Juno, but it could be useful in the longer term especially if problems develop with the IOWSR's two other austerity tanks. However they certainly have no need for 46447, but had to take it as it came as an all or nothing package with the other locos.

Silly situation really. The IOWSR are stuck with a loco they have no need for, but can't sell, whilst there must be loads of lines who would be keen to buy and restore it to working order but are unable to.

 

Certainly heard of far dafter situations but its up there.

 

The parts are worth what someone is prepared to pay for them. The fact that they were acquired for 2 and 6 forty odd years ago is irrelevant really. Back in the seventies groups bought the best engine they could and as many spares off classmates as they could not knowing what they might need, or when they might be able to get another. The thought of making an injector or even many of the smaller fittings from scratch would have been dismissed as pretty fanciful. The real fear then was that neither the skills nor the money nor the equipment would be available to do that, so grab as much as you can while you can.

 

As I presume we are still working blind as to the actual situation regarding the Ivatts donation to the IoWSR, but going along with the premise that 46447 cannot be sold on nevertheless, maybe there could be an option to place it on "long term loan" to another line that could do the work to get it running and make good use of it?

 

I have often thought on this, in 46447 the IOW have an engine that unless they have plans to run to Shanklin at some stage they wont need unless as a source as spare parts, it would be of more use to somewhere like the East Summerset especially if it allowed the E1 to head the other way

 

The IOWSRs strategic vision document they released a few years ago makes reference to being prepared to dispose of non island locos if they become surplus to requirements. I would say 46447 fits into the 'surplus to requirements category' so there must be something stopping them from selling it. Maybe some condition put in place when the locos were donated, or as suggested above maybe they see it as a good source of spares for the Ivatt tanks. They could have a rolling overhaul programme on the 3 boilers. Then they could have a very fast turn around on overhauls for 41298 and 41313, as there would always be a ready over hauled boiler to fit.

 

Not just boilers but wheelsets, front truck could be used but i wonder, i suspect that they are holding on to it incase long term needs make using austerities with their limited coal and water non viable, for instance what if they start running to ryde at some point, 24 would be ok , but the austerities are not built for long runs and might need to re coal during the day, and could upset the time table thats when running 46447 might be an option especially if the chassis is kept in overhauled condition ready for an overhauled boiler a tender loco would not need to coal up during the day and has a larger water capacity i know its not in keeping with IOW past, but neither are ivatts, or Ajax , or austerities

 

Am I right in thinking that the Midland Railway Centre has got the remains of two Jinty tanks hiding deep in the weeds somewhere? I remember the North Norfolk trying to buy one, and the offer being refused.

 

What is the current state of the two unrestored Jinties at the MRC ? Are they going to rebuild/restore them one day?
Just curios . All of the Jinties in preservation have steamed sometime as far as I know,except these two.


Keith

 

The last time I saw 47445 it was in the workshop at MRC and is progressing slowly with 47357 alongside. 47564 is still only a boiler on frames and wheels and was only ever purchased as spare parts, but you never know in time it may get restored.

 

68078 has also yet to steam, but as she escaped Barry, she won't have been on that earlier list!