Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway General Discussion

The Ratty have launched an appeal in relation to the purchase of a loco from Spain and its restoration http://trainfromspain.org

I will no doubt have missed where this is already being discussed on here so apologies.

 

Nice -I wish them luck

 

I didn't expect the Spanish acquisition.

 

Has the locomotive been secured, and are the Ratty going for the spare chassis as well?

 

The loco is being collected tomorrow from postings on the Facebook page, but I know not about the second set of parts as to whether they are coming too.

 

It would make a nice Sturrock-type steam tender or half a Garratt! I'm sure that when I used to go to the R&ER in the late 60s/early 70s when on holiday in the Lakes, the Garratt boiler could still be seen dumped at the quarry. Does anyone know when it was scrapped?

 

Have to say when I saw the news on this, it definitely got me interested and excited to see this loco in action on the Ratty, after all acquisitions like this are rare.

Oddly though, I'm more curious at the moment as to what they might name it, I mean a grand looking engine that just has to have a name, right?

 

She has safely arrived in (south) Cumbria at Old Hall Farm in Bouth, I believe there is some manner of exclusive open day on 6th February (10am-2pm) at that site if people want to view the locomotive before restoration starts.

https://www.facebook.com/trainfromspain/
http://trainfromspain.org/

 

Looks to be a rather noisy loco, going off a video of a sister loco in Germany

 

Well I looked at the video, I heard no noise, only spirit and capability, by the bucket load.
Well done the Ratty, (I do think the price is steep mind you) but if you think it's value who am I to judge.


The Melter

 

Considering a 7 1/4"g. Pacific changed hands a little while ago for over 140k (sure it was a very nice 'Duchess') I don't think it's too bad considering its condition. From the photo in HR it looked as if the tyres had been recently re-profiled - has a lot of restoration work already been carried out?
Ray.

 

AIUI other than some outstanding work on the boiler and some modifications to fit it for working on the Ratty - a comfier cab for long distance running, a slightly shortened tender so that it will fit on the turntables, RT equipment - it's more or less ready to run.

 

How long is the overhaul expected to take?

 

I thought I had seen a figure of 120K mentioned for the overhaul/mods which seems high, considering that the original list of jobs to be done didn't look as though they would be expensive.

 

Considering it is a 1929 pacific, the price seems a snip, when you consider what another pacific only a few years older (and admittedly a bit bigger) has just cost....

 

It has a name, "Santa Maria". I suppose the RER might rename it. River Guadalquivir, perhaps?!?!
Although brilliant news from an Eskdale point of view, it is sad it could not be restored to operation in Seville.

 

Oh right, good to know, thanks for this info.

Yes it is a shame that it couldn't run in Seville, but then again the same could be said for a loco that was from here but then sold off to run in another country elsewhere.
It's the odd but true logic of the world these days, where you have a loco that can find no one to care for it in it's own country, yet somewhere out there someone will be more then willing to buy it and get it shipped for them to care for.
I suppose at the end of the day, as long as the loco has a secure bright future as the result of the far move from it's native home, we can't gripe about it too much, can we?

 

On further investigation, I think one of the other locos in the class is currently carrying Santa Maria. The name Pinta may be available...! This sort of name swapping was common with the Bassett Lowke locos in the UK.
Black Prince was renamed on arrival at the RHDR so the same may happen with this loco.
I believe one of the classmates is preserved in static condition in Seville.

BTW, this thread should really be in NG - mods?

 

She has been out for gauging trials (sort of)...



Not my video!

Note - I agree with the poster above that this really should have been in NG rather than MR, I started the thread and knew that 15" was the cut off but failed the read the small print - my bad!

 

Looking really good - but seems to be something missing....!!!
This is a very exciting development. Can't wait for this loco to come into service.