Pontyberem

I recently saw some pics from Pontypool showing this engine in a few bits, can anyone from there tell me if anything is happening with it? Or are you just checking to make sure you weren't short changed?!

 

One of our chaps saw the owner last weekend and enquired about progress. I know that the loco has been dismantled, and that a new cab and bunker are being fabricated. Not sure about the general condition, but don't bet against this guy's determination to get it running.

 

Cheers chap, glad to see things are finally happening with it. It's pretty rough though, and the boiler is rather suspect.

Ex-NCB..... :-#

 

[-X I'm ex NCB =D>

 

I think that what they are trying to say is that the NCB extracted the full value of their assets!

 

Well said that man!

To be honest they made better use of it than we ever did. We couldn't even use it as a boiler trolley.

 

Is it, Are you a boilersmith then???

 

Nah, but spending 40+ years with brass tubes in is generally not conducive to good preservation! ;-) Neither is leaving the lagging on for that matter, although it did at least have the tank to protect it.

 

Your tube statement is quite correct, however your 'opinion' is based on that, and not fact. until the boiler is fully de-tubed any talk like that is merely speculative. The boiler was lagged until recently, however as it as been under cover for many years I think you will find it is in better condition than many ex Barry locos....

 

Sorry, where exactly did I state my opinion as fact? 'Suspect' is a speculative term... or didn't you realise?

By the way, the engine has spent many years outside in preservation, probably more than it has inside.

 

True, however have you seen it since its been at P&B??

 

Nope, I'm speaking purely from a Didcot perspective, which is why I started the thread!

 

i would of thought it obvious that an ex-NCB loco of considerable age that has been stored largely outside for 40+ years is not going to have a pristine boiler. Anything usable on that boiler will be a bonus surely. but nowadays even a brand new boiler doesnt seem to be an obstacle provided you have the dosh.

 

...which not everyone always has.

Seen the Eruo-millions packpot!!!! [-o<

 

Pontyberem is owned by a member of the Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley Railway Society. The cab, bunker, tanks, boiler cladding and some tubes have been removed. Initial signs show that the boileris in very good condition. The cab and tanks have recently gone to an engineering firm for repair/replacement.

 

Cheers for that chap, will be interesting to see how things develop.

 

hi
im new to this forum, so hello to everybody...Im glad to read something is happening to this loco at last. nice to hear it seems to be in reasonable condition.