New builds - how many will ever really work?

If somebodys still building a J39 I could donate my tin whistle , would fit to the copper boiler.

 

One that seems to have missed the radar is The Crampton Locomotive Trust, anyone heard about this? There is a reference to a visit by members to the Brighton Atlantic project in the latest Blue News. A quick search provided very little detail except it will be a replica of 1847 SER No: 81.

Mark

 

Quick search only brought this up. Ideas | East Midlands Innovation which again suggests No. 81. Can't find any pictures of one of these SER Cramptons.

 

just found 2 more pages looking to see if there is any intrest in a new build southern L1 and a V3


The V3 Locomotive group | Facebook

[h=6]The Southern L1 Group | Facebook[/h]

 

I guess no one needs reminding but it is 1 April tomorrow! The clue may be that the author(s) seem(s) incapable of spelling "interest" correctly.

 

whole idea

 

A Crampton - fantastic. In the words of the little blue tank whose owner was a fat git with a scouse accent it would be 'a thoroughly useful engine'!!

 

It's pretty much gone I'd say. Instead of hunting for the glory of building a steam engine, if you want to do some good for the preservation movement join a society and muck in. Build your reputation up and learn the skills you'll need to complete such a project (and not just engineering, project management etc). Creating new schemes left, right and centre is doing you no good whatsoever.

 

Stuart this needs to STOP. you might mean well but your being silly. Right now no one will join any of your "groups", if you want to be part of a new build then just join an existing one. You dont have the knowledge to be the "chairman" or "project leader". Just get involved in a real group, see what is involved and help finish one of them. And work your way up, IF you prove your commitment and worth that will help the project grow.

 

Im gonne spend the evening going through my Bachmann and Hornby catalogue...and see if I can gues what Stuart is going to build next...?
We could run a sweepstake and put the procedes towards the J39s copper boiler.
My moneys on a new build Henry the green engine....ive seen it in the Hornby catalogue..followed by Percy then James etc etc
Sorry Stuart..what little ( if any ) credability you had has gone please take the advice of Jon and Gav

 

So actually that's FOUNDED seeing as your FB profile has you the 'chairman and founder' of both these pages. Do you seriously believe that if you generate enough random loco project web sites / FB pages then one day you'll hit upon the Holy New Build Grail and money will suddenly come pouring in? Complete chancer and time waster it would appear, as we suspected all along.

 

Ho-ho. Classic! It even had the picture of a toy one out the catalogue.

 

Anyway, having got rid of the 'froth', (and thank goodness for that), to get back OT, I think that most, if not all, of the existing projects, the Patriot, Grange, Saint, Hengist, 3MT, B17, 4709 etc (apologies for any omissions) WILL steam; the question is more 'when?'. This game isn't getting any cheaper, as we all know, and there's less disposable income about.

 

So what you asking is which will steam/run first

Well I would say based on what I know

Saint
County
Brighton Atlantic
Possibly Grange although Patriot and 4709 will be the ones to watch in the next 18 months
Both the F5 and G5 seem to be making steady progress I suspect we shall see thse two within the next few years
82045 is consistant and seems to be gathering pace
Hengist is years away requring some serious progress in order to atain credability and funding
B17 however many there are not even off the starting post they will either do somthing or disappear
The Claude Hamilton may go the same way
As for the j39 L1 (Southern or LNER) and V3....I think we already know where they are going

All down to money and labour and how much you have

I await to be corrected

 

There was an interesting survey of some of the Barry wrecks in the latest "Steam Railway" which included four "new build" projects which are relying heavily on ex-Barry locos - the Grange, Saint, County and 2MT (84030) schemes. It seems like none of them will be with us for a few years yet. There has always been a certain unpredictability about the progress not only of new-build projects but also plans to restore Barry wrecks for that matter. Something like the "Saint" scheme seemed to be going nowhere and was then re-launched far more successfully. The Hengist project now seems to be stepping up a gear. while the 3MT quietly comes together. (I believe an article on this group is to be featured in the next "SR" - I'm looking forward to it) The lessons from Tornado need to be taken on board for any new-build group - the A1 SLT seems to have attracted a lot of talented and experienced individuals, and they had the benefits of being the first new-build group, who happened to be aiming to construct a class of engine which by anyone's standards must rank as one of preservation's major omissions. For all that, it nevertheless took 18 years before No. 60163 turned a wheel. Subsequent groups have the advantage of not having to overcome the credibility mountain (i.e. those who questioned whether it was possible to build an entire engine from scratch) and some (82045, 84030, for example) are aiming for something a bit simpler than a three-cylinder main line registered pacific, but unless you have a group like those on the G5 project who are not appealing for funds, it requires selling your project to a public in such a way as to inspire them to part with their cash, and to keep the funds coming in, which means tangible evidence of progress right from the moment that the first metal is cut up to when the first fire is lit in the boiler. I have a great admiration for those visionaries who started new-build projects and kept going amdist accusations of being nutters, but it needs more than just vision - it needs a good marketing and fundraising strategy, along with a realisation that you're in this for the long haul. I have no doubt that Tornado will not be the last New Build standard gauge loco to steam, but such engines are going to emerge in irregular dribs and drabs over a long period.

One final point is that new builds are competing with other rebuilds and restoration projects for money. As the SR article reminded us, we have yet to see a GWR 72xx 2-8-2T in steam, and those restoring 4150 and 35006 (to name just two) are every bit as keen to solicit funds to see their engines restored as members of new-build projects. There are also well-loved locos which have already steamed and whose owners wish to see them working again, but who will also have to appeal to the same pool of generous enthusiasts as the new-build groups and those seeking to restore an engine for the first time. (The Bulleid Socaety, custodians of 21C123 Balckmoor vale being one such example). and then, of course, there are plenty of non-loco related schemes, be it the WSR's vintage coach project, reparing Chicken Curve at the GWSR or digging out Imberhorne Cutting. What staggers me is the level of giving among railway enthusiasts, especially in these straitened times. However, with so many competing projects, goodwill and generosity can only go so far, and you've got to sell yourself well and keep selling yourself well if you want to benefit from this generosity.

 

I agree. Given what I have seen and read, the GWS "sponsored" projects will probably be running quite soon. Even the 47xx which already appears to have far more financial backing than I thought possible. I also believe that the Grange will be a runner sooner than later. Others, which have good heritage railway support/infrastructure behind them, such as the Brighton Atlantic, the 84xxx tank, 82045 and the Patriot, will not be long. I know I'm biased but the SVR based 3MT tank is indeed coming on in leaps and bounds and my dosh is (literally) on this one.
The Clan is an interesting one and still an "outsider" but, if the group makes this year a consolidation period, then we could see some real developments here too.
The Patriot is the one I'd like to see for real as soon as possible but I know that there is still a long way to go. However, like the 3MT tank, the Patriot is starting to come together really well and 2012 should see excellent developments: wheeling etc. I look forward to being re-aquainted with it and 6880 at this month's SSS3.
The Claud Hamilton is a bit of an enigma as it does represent a class of locomotive that many people believe should have been saved and, given sufficient funding, I would guess that it too could be a decade or so away. However, a period of consolidation and persuasion is needed. The proposed "Hornby/Bachmann" stuff is well, just that.

 

The G5 project is apparently making rapid progress and the boilers expected to be complete this year and tested. I reckon that will be the first to arrive in the near future
Matt

 

Interesting responses - thanks, gents, for taking the time to do so, and of course to fill in some of the gaps I'd managed to leave . Potentially we're in for a few interesting years; good luck to them all