Non-working replicas?

Given the news this week about NSR No.2, I don't think you can accuse the NRM of entirely neglecting returning older locos to steam - where appropriate (crucial last two words).
I too would love to see at least one or two examples of older locos steaming from time to time, but of course the NRM quite rightly think very carefully about the appropriateness of doing so for each individual loco.
The Stirling Single, mentioned above as "never likely to steam again" is more complicated than you might think - how much was replaced at the 1930s restoration?
The other issue with older express passenger locos is their limited hauling power for hertiage line type use, compared to older 0-6-0T, for example. Oh, and they look naff with Mk 1s...

 

A few of them would possibly have been still been working at the same time as mark 1s. The SECR D class was withdrawn in 1956 so it may have hauled them on occasion

 

John Bellwood once said that the two most knackered engines in the National Collection were 'Agenoria' and 2700. Mind you, that was before they got hold of 'Bradyll'.

 

I thought it was Coppernob and 2700

 

I thought it was 35029 and 2700.

 

Keep hearing how bad the Crab at the NRM is but nobody ever actually says what massive defects it has. It did steam at the KWVR briefly. Is this the same as the Barry years where somebody's friend says that particular loco has had it because the firebox is gone only for it to come out a few years later and its new owner then says it had the best 'box in the yard??

 

It's worn out. It was tired when BR withdrew it, then it ran at KWVR until it could barely move itself.

 

That's how I feel most days...

 

It's rotten, there is a huge amount of play in the motion and the boiler is very poor. Remember, it went to the ELR for investigation about 20 years ago, they did a P&V exam on it and it's now back on static display. Says a lot to me.

 

Could be worse. You could be sectioned, or full of shrapnel holes.

 

What about hardwicke, what kind of state is that in, I would love to see the precedent in service as the last time it steamed in preservation was sadly before my time, could it be brought back to life?

 

Surely you of all people would prefer Mr Aspinall's superb radial tank? I certainly would... But a 2-4-0 would be very nice (any of them) - but what sort of train can they pull?

 

IIRC Hardwicke managed four MK.1 on the Carnforth - Grange shuttles back in 1976.

 

Going back to the original topic of this thread whilst I think the idea of putting more non-working replicas in museums is a bad one; I think the idea of building more working replicas/new-builds/wuddever-yaliketocallem is much better, especially if extinct or unrestorable classes are chosen. I'll pay for them all.

 

I've placed an order with the RPSI this morning for a new GNR(I) VS class loco, an NCC W class mogul and a BCDR 0-6-0. You should expect a large bill shortly...
Thanks for your generosity


Keith

 

I'm always very worried when I see yet another new build scheme. I believe we are around the peak of rail preservation right now. We have a large pool of volunteers who have useful experience (ex railwaymen, ex manufacturing etc), and who have spare money they are willing to donate. In terms of the quality and professionalism of restorations now, I don't think there has been a better era.

Question is, what happens in 30 years time? Will there be the same level of funding and manpower available? I think the collection we have now will prove unsustainable in the future. Whilst I admire Tornado, and can see the rationale behind a few replicas, is it wise to be churning out new versions of every extinct class going? It is inevitable that I will see preserved steam engines scrapped in my lifetime.

 

This worry is not new , if you look back to the correspondence columns of the railway magazines in the 50s/60s there were letters forseeing the collapse of the preservation movement due to lack of resources. There was a vociferous campaign against the Welshpool and Llanfair as N Wales would not to be able to sustain three NG railways.
The more potty new build projects will wither and die and apart from the P2 and Patriot I can see future new builds being restricted by economics to smaller tank locos for use on preserved lines. The motivation for this will probably come from what I call the current 2nd division such as the Risborough and Chinnor, Mid Norfolk who will want to move up from Industrial motive power. I have excluded the projects such as the new county which are using spare parts rather than starting from scratch

 

I would have thought that actually the new build locos, or at least the ones that get completed are the least likely to suffer. The experience gained of recruiting volunteers, attracting large amounts of funding, and running complex projects will serve them well in the future.
A bigger worry are the more fragmented organisations with lots of privately owned assets, little individual groups, and an ageing volunteer base.

Tim

 

Why would you see locos scrapped? If overhauls cannot be afforded then the locos become static exhibits. I find it strange how some people cannot see any other possibility between working and scrapped.


Keith