S15's of the NYMR

Wasn't 825 the one that was main line certified way back in the 70's? Unless my memory fails me completely I travelled behind it on its first haulage of a steam excursion - on which it failed rather spectacularly just south of Ipswich. It was a rather unique excursion in several ways.

 

Question but are the frames in any worse state than 506 or 499? Considering both have had 40% of their frames replaced is this a case of what once was an impossible could become a routine job?

 

I was told many years ago by Kim Malyon at Grosmont that at a slide show once there was a photo of an S15 that had been hit amidships on a flat crossing by another train and when they looked at the photo closely it was revealed to be 841. I seem to remember after 841 was overhauled the first time at Grosmont, they tried to take it mainline again and it only ventured out the once because it rode so badly.

So I wouldn't hold your breath hoping to see 841 rise from the ashes, with no boiler, tender or fittings and a twisted set of frames it won't. Far better that 825 lives!

Sawdust.

 

Didn't the Urie Loco Soc buy 30825 boiler direct from Barry along with its very rough tender (3223) for 30499's as its Barry partner had left with 31806?

I seem to remember that 30825 frames were brought by Sail and Steam in Essex who intended to make a new boiler for her only to go intro bankruptcy some years later. The Urie group then brought the 30825's bogie from the liquidators with the frames and wheels being sold to the NYMR based S15 group who brought them due to the condition of 30841's frames.

Later when the Urie group brought the engine test vehicle, which was based on a former Urie/Maunsell bogie tender (3208) from Eastleigh they cut the frames and tank up of 3223 leaving only he bogies and assorted bits in store.

So in essence if the twisted frames (and I understand cracked/worn-out driving wheels) of 30841 traveled to Ropley they could be united with the groups 'spare' boiler, their 'spare' bogie and 'spare' tender bogies a almost 'complete' locomotive could be reassembled with only a tender frame/tank need to recreate a static exhibit/mobile boiler trolley/spares cache.

Not sure it would be a valid endeviour but nonetheless all seven ex-Barry S15's do still exist and could, in theory at least be seen together.

30841 - in 2014


Picture Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/66203188@N03/14548380448

In better days in BR lined Green

Picture Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/alan1960/5596654674/in/photostream/

 

It would be an ignominious end for 841. Wasn't there a plan when at Bluebell to rebuild 830 as an Arthur or have I dreamt that?

 

I think I have seen mention of that plan on their website at some point in the past. Is there that much that is interchangeable? Boiler and tender?

Chris

 

Naïvely perhaps, but I thought the only real difference S15 N15 was the foot bigger drivers of the latter.

 

I think "similar with many standard components" covers it. Any conversion would almost certainly require new frame plates because the S15 has a 10.5" shorter wheelbase, 9" of which is between the leading and driving coupled axles. I suppose you might be able to cut in the relevant positions and insert sections, but the frame ends will be at the wrong height relative to the axle centres, so I doubt that would work. The cylinder mid-stroke is closer to the driving axle on the S15, which comes out of the connecting rod length, so the rest of the motion is probably subtly different as well to compensate. The boiler is standard, bogie probably is as well.

While I don't know for sure, I'd be surprised if the cylinder castings weren't interchangeable with a rebore; the major dimensions are pretty close and Urie wouldn't have been one for needless duplication. Same goes maybe for components like the dragbox and cast stretchers, almost certainly the horns and axleboxes.

It's a shame there weren't more Arthurs preserved (or a Urie N15 - 755 with all its Bulleid modifications would have been intriguing), but I would guess most preserved railways can get more useful work out of an S15. In Southern olive green they don't give up too much on the looks front either.

 

Wasn't there also some talk of using the frames for 32424, or am I misremembering?

 

Be interesting to find out what folk would like to call a 'new' King Arthur were one to ever be constructed. Most of the Arthurian names were used I believe?

Sir Terry Wogan anyone? ;-)

I'll go and get the Facebook group going.



Chris

 

deleted

 

"The Black Knight" would somehow seem appropriate...

 

No, no, no,, there is only One name for a new build King Arthur " Spamalot" on a bad day, when it wont pull the skin of a rice pudding, you could change it to "winalot"

 

Sir Cular, perhaps?
(From a line in Round the Horne: "To the north, Sir Cular rode....")

 

Sir Gilbert the Bastard?

 

Sir Osis of the Liver

...I'll get me coat