The next newbuild

I've noticed, for instance, a shortage of disaffected unhelpful staff, and of union representatives campaigning for industrial action at every opportunity. Still we managed to have some mainline excursions cancelled due to industrial action recently, so perhaps the desire for true authenticity isn't completely lost...

 

The fact that several preserved lines have been successfully operated by their current incumbents for longer than any previous owner shows that they must be doing something right! While it is right never to be complacent, I'd suggest that the presence of strong committed membership bodies is probably greater determinant of long-term viability than whether the motive power stud consists solely of moderate-sized class 2 tank engines ...

Tom

 

No, these only circulate in the USA.

 

And then of course there's the X1.

 

Can I ask what that is please?

 

Aerolite.

While we're at it, and especially for @flying scotsman123's benefit (who was after personal transport to his heritage workshop of choice) how about new build / reconstruction of the Drummond Bug? The carriage body still exists...

Tom

 

Brilliant idea! Given that one of the two new-builds that actually exists is a small power unit re-fitted to an existing body, a new-build Drummond Bug scheme probably has a better chance than most of producing a real loco (or unit, or whatever!)

 

It would be very nice. Pointless, but very nice. For similar reasons I'd very much like to see a working replica of "Gazelle".

 

Surely they're all pointless! The difference that the P2, for instance, is pointless and vastly expensive, whereas the "Bug" would be pointless and relatively inexpensive. Pointless or not, I'd love to run it on my railway!

 

But, as I argued above, I don't believe that we actually "need" to build any new engines at all - so why do we "need" to build batches of 3MTs (or whatever)?

On the other side of the coin, I would argue that there is a very good reason why it may be desirable (though not necessary) to build "high-wheeled" locomotives: they help the heritage railway movement to better fulfil its educational role, by demonstrating to the public how locomotive design evolved over time. Apart from Tornado, all the standard-gauge newbuilds completed in Britain so far - Locomotion, Rocket, Planet, etc - have all been almost completely useless as far as preserved line operation is concerned. They have been built so that people can better appreciate what these early locomotives really looked like, and how they work.

Furthermore, I would argue that these engines may be far more important to the future of preserved railways than you might at first think. I hate to be morbid, but the preservation movement can't rely on nostalgia forever. One day, the generation who remember BR steam is going to die out. The steam locomotive will become an historical curiosity, rather than something people actually remember as part of their daily lives. If we genuinely care about preserving the heritage we love, we must recruit a new generation of enthusiasts. As the age of steam recedes further and further into history, I believe that we will have to engage young people with that history in order to get them interested.

And if you're going to engage young people with the railway story, it's best to start at the beginning, right? I reckon that many children who see Locomotion at Beamish, or Planet at MOSI, will be encountering a working steam locomotive for the first time. Of course, the working steam locomotive is an inspiring sight in itself. But if you then bring on a costumed interpreter to tell them the exciting, dramatic story of the brilliant railway pioneers who created that engine - men like the Stephensons or Brunel - then I reckon you'll have them hooked for life.

Something like the proposed GWS Dean Single project could have a similar impact - the Plymouth - London "races" are one the classic railway dramas, and a working Dean Single would really bring the story to life - even more so now that City of Truro is unlikely to steam again in the forseeable future. And who cares if it can't pull eight Mk. 1s? It'll probably spend most of its time on the Didcot demonstration line anyway.

Then there are projects like the George the Fifth or Brighton Atlantic. They might not be ideal branch line engines, but they'll do the job - and at the same time, they allow us to present a broader, more representative, more exciting and more inspiring vision of railway history.

Finally, it is stupid to attack "gricerdom" when some of those gricers do, in fact, become volunteers and help to keep the railways running. To illustrate the point, I actually spent a brief spell volunteering at the Mid Hants a few years ago, before a career change compelled me to move away from the area. Now I love all steam locomotives, of course - but I never got a bigger "buzz" from being on shed at Ropley than when 30120 came to visit. Now there's an engine that wasn't designed for branch line work at all, but she still does useful work on her home line. And who cares if her design isn't ergonomic? If I'd been asked to clean all her inaccessible inside motion, I would have jumped at the chance. And, when 30120 has finally retired to York for good, I hope that I might still have the chance to do the same for the George the Fifth, or the Bloomer, or the Brighton Atlantic.

We don't need batches of new 3MTs. What we need is to engage new people with our hobby - and if stupidly illogical newbuild projects help do that, then let's go for it. Yes, even if it's a locomotive type that, personally, I wouldn't have chosen. I might be sceptical if someone launches a Thompson L1 project, for example - but if you can convince me that your new L1 is going to create new railway enthusiasts, then I'll cheer you on! (And in fact, I do cheer the A1SLT and P2SLT on - even though neither design would have been my first choice for a newbuild - because they've done so much to put our hobby back in the limelight and make it look respectable - perhaps even cool!)

Sorry that turned into a rather long and rambling polemic, but I hope you see what I'm getting at

 

I find this name-calling weird too; does Paul Hitch go into his local church and taunt the vicar by calling him a bible-basher?

 

Cheers Tom, I've also liked the idea of a Drummond railmotor they look rather intresting!

 

Post Deleted

 

I never go into my local church but the comparison between various gricers and types of bible basher is a good one,

PH

 

My preferred option too, I love the idea of God getting sick and tired of all those people!

 

I know there is a dedicated thread for 82045, but it will do no harm to post the link to the December 2014 newsletter and 2014 review.
Surely this project demonstrates that even for an "unglamorous" engine, a well managed project can succeed. Wheelsets nearing completion at the SDR, bunker and tanks being fabricated at Boston Lodge, and worth due to start on the boiler next year.

Maybe when they are both completed, the Bluebell 84XXX will get an invite to run alongside 82045, and surely with all the work on 82045, the tender version, ie a 77XXX has to be on someone's "to do" list. You know it makes sense...!

Link: http://www.82045.org.uk/news/82045_news-dec14.html

46118

 

You need to keep up. 77021 is still ongoing. It might be quiet at the moment, but it is still there.

 

Thanks for the prompt std tank.

A quick Google finds 77021.org, but how credible is the project? Website not updated since July, and their assets appear to be a collection of plates to screw on to the finished loco.

46118

 

As a member of the 77021 Group I can say that there is a little more to the Group than you imply. Admittedly, its nowhere near the stage that 82045 is or, for that matter, most of the more established new build groups but things are moving ahead. The group was only formally established in August 2013 and much groundwork and planning was done before then. Like all such projects, it needs manpower and money and ways to sell itself (and I agree that an updated website is a must) but investigations are proceeding with regard to purchasing and cutting steel for the frames. I would say that this is one of the more credible projects and I'm prepared to help fund it, albeit in a small way. I'd recommend this as a "doable" project for a useful loco (not the most beautiful though!) Join the 77021 Team and let's do it.