Chinese QJ

I suppose Anthony Coulls will have the answer to this, I've been pondering whether a Chinese QJ should be part of the National Collection because it represents the 'last' giants of steam, the end of proper main-line steam, the last commercially made steam locos & would represent more modern steam locomotives. However the transport wouldn't be easy being a massive loco & I'm not sure if there was a space at York whether it would even fit! And I'm not sure if one would fit in with the collection being a NATIONAL railway museum but as a museum displaying the story of the railway & the men & machinery used I think a QJ would be appropriate. P.S I do know there is a Chinese loco already in the collection but one built in China would be appropriate & would be able to say that other countries built locos too & say that steam was still used commercially into the new millennium.

 

Similar thoughts have been had, but the main stumbling blocks are as ever time, money, space and people - and a commitment to caring for what we already have. The Swiss Transport Museum in Lucerne have a QJ and it was delivered on its side to get it into their building - an amazing sight. It would have to come in via the ECML and have a lot of overhead taken down to get one into NRM at the mo, as the site is boredered by two very low bridges, so anything big has to come out via the old carriage works/Thrall/Trinity Rail site.

 

Ah. I thought it would be stumbled by something like that. Well thats another idea in the bin! :smt002 #-o

 

What about a home at Shildon then... only the doors and walls to do there surely! ](*,)

 

Weren't a pair of QJs to be sold to someone in the USA for mainline running?

 

Happened almost two years ago:

http://www.iaisrailfans.org/gallery/ChineseQJs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5DoXnEZIE0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31yVXy98UNE

(some disturbing linesider behaviour in that last one!)