Groudle Glen 'Brown Bear' project

I don't think this has been mentioned anywhere else yet - the Groudle Glen railway are proposing a new build locomotive, to be named 'Brown Bear'. This will be a replica of the other original GGR loco 'Polar Bear', currently based at Amberley and will allow the GGR to have 2 Bagnalls operating on the line on a permanent basis.

Further details here: Brown Bear project

There is an appeal for £50,000 to build the loco


Keith

 

Now these are very nice little loco's indeed.

It seems an interesting project for 50k or so, for that sort of price I assume it would be the purchase of the components for assembly on the Island? Rather than a contract for the complete build.

Really do with them all the very best of luck with that.

Haven't been over for a couple of years, must be due a re-visit I think.

Best regards,

Richard.

 

It seems a nice idea but as they only generally operate Wednesday Evenings from Mid June to the End of August and Sunday afternoons from mid May to the End of September with one loco running is a a third steam loco a bit of overkill?

 

not really if you only had 1 in traffic with the other under overhaul you could end up with no steam engines if the running one breaks down. It cover boiler washouts etc as well. This is a good little prodject.

 

Apart from the Steam Railway that came out last week.

 

The last heavy overhaul of Sea Lion took 6 months! I doubt a narow gauge engine of this size have boiler washouts during the season especially when at their busiest they run one afternoon and one evening a week. Such a washout wouuld also have to take more than three days.

I am not against the idea if they have funds and resources and over the last few years they have improved their facilities but this this seems like a "we need a project" idea rather than a rational requirement for a third steam loco unless they are loosing one of their current two

 

I meant on the forum, sorry if that didn't come across.

As I understand it, 'Annie' is privately owned by her builder and as such could be removed at any point in the future if he so wished. (Just to be clear - I am not aware of any plan of any such plans, merely pointing out the possibility). It is therefore prudent for the railway to actually own 2 locos to cover for overhauls and failures. Personally I think it's good for the railway to try to recreate as much of it's past as possible.


Keith

 

Has anyone considered that it might be about restoring the railway back to what it was, seeing as Ambereley is unwilling to consider selling Polar Bear? The sight of Two 'Bagnall's' permanently based at Groudle is what many on Island enthusiasts seem to want, and there is definitely on Island support for the project. By all means get involved if it interests you, or save your money for another project if it doesn't, but why spend time being derogatory to an effort on Island to recreate a scene which has largely been lost?...

 

Sorry, I did not mean to be derogitary. It was just meant to be a a general query as whether the railway thought it had a specific need for a third steam loco or whether it was one of those nice to have dreams/aims. I am not against the latter!

 

Alan, try as I might I can't find anything derogatory in the previous postings - some perfectly reasonable questioning but nothing derogatory to the GGR's efforts. Isn't "Annie" a Bagnall ? So there are already 2 permanently based there. Having said that I am all in favour of them building a replica of "Polar Bear"if they want to. Ray.

 

I would have said questioning the logic of the railway in wanting to build another Bagnall (to restore it back to what it was like as originally built) could be interepreted as 'derogatory' - however maybe derogatory wasn't quiet the right word I was looking for, perhaps a bit disparaging of their logic? Still I still think there is an air of negativity regarding the project as far as this thread, at the end of the Day the GGR is doing what it thinks is right, and trying to restore the railway back to what it was (I'm sure similar comments would have been made at the time regarding reopening the railway, expanding to Sea Lion Rocks, Building the Canopy, building the cafe, recreating the 4 wheel toast rack cars, rebuilding the battery electrics, etc, etc). At the end of the day people can either get on board with the project or ignore it. As far as I am concerned I think the Polar Bear is the last link in the chain to restoring the railway back to what is was, but given that it is unlikely to return the Brown Bear (which I believe was inspired by a plan to aquire a third steam locomotive for the original railway anyway) is the next best thing.

 

On the subject of financing this scheme, I see that 'Trackshack' on the Isle of Man is offering a 7/8ths" live steam model of 'Sea Lion' as a way of raising funds for 'Brown Bear', purchasers benefiting from similar rewards as donors to the project:

TrackShack Ltd Accucraft/TrackShack live steam 7/8ths Sea Lion 2-4-0T: expression of interest



'Sea Lion' carrying her newly applied but original ex-works livery - note the green buffer plank!

Foxy

 

I appreciate that and it is in part why, living in the IoM, I asked the question. The appeal has been on the radio in the IoM, which is hardly surprising as one of the GGR directors is a presenter and also in the paper and on the local medias websites. I appreciate that you will know most of that but others off Island probably do not. The apppeal is therefore not just to members of the GGR or enthusuiasts generally but members of the public.

My decision on whether to donate and how much will be affected by the reason for the fund raising i.e. if it is just because they would like another toy to play with I might be less likely to donate than if it was to replace/repair a loco and would ensure steam trains continue to run at the GGR. It was not in any way meant to be negative and I think that the GGR have done a great job, especially in recent years when they have made huge improvements at each end

 

The arguments for new build are just as relevant for narrow gauge as they are for standard gauge. The preserved fleet is getting no younger and any new loco will take the pressure off ageing ones, hopefully, allowing us to enjoy them for longer than we might if they were the sole motive power on these lines. 'Brown Bear' is as much about conserving 'Sea Lion' as creating a new toy for the line to play with, no?

Foxy

 

Agreed, a splendid project and just what the line needs.

 

Sounds a great project. Often those that seem expensive and 'unreachable' are the best ones to galvanise people.

Best of luck to the GGR.

 

Well it's taken a while. . . . but the new Brown Bear has now been delivered
http://www.ggr.org.uk/brown-bear-arrives-at-groudle/

 

Cute little engines and a nice new build.
Saw that also Sea Lion has had a good rebuild, with what looks like new riveted side tanks in stainless steel.
Does anyone know more details from this job. Type of steel profile used and type of rivets?

 

A very fine addition to the G.G.R's fleet. Nice livery too.

 

Hello

NBR Engineering undertook the rebuild. Can we help you?

david@nbr.org.uk

David