New Loco for Ravenglass

Why is it that someone is always trying to name locos "volunteer". It is not only dull name but a little patronising too. I already get someting out of volunteering i.e. the enjoyment and pleasure of helping with something i care about, and the organisation i volunteer for gets my time and money. I'm not sure how some vage recognition by giving an engine a boring name sweetens that deal.

Tim

 

Thanks for clearing that up Nigel, I guess with the Spanish loco becoming available for next year as well, the locomotive situation will become a bit easier, I have to admit that while it has been required to hire in other locos to help out this year, I just wonder what would be an ideal size locomotive for the Ratty, may be another 2-8-0 on the lines of an 8F or maybe something like a Duchess 4-6-2 as inspiration.

I would also be interested just out of curiosity in a ball park figure of how much something like this could cost to build.

 

Esk will be about 90% new by components so its possible to do an estimate from that. The ideal would be to build some more Esk class locos.

 

Surely Mite is an Esk-class loco...?
Was the need for such an extensive rebuild due entirely to the fire, or also age, etc.?

Good news above about Bonnie Dundee. Will she run at Eskdale or elsewhere?

 

There is commonality on some parts between Esk and Mite but the difference is getting bigger. It depends what happens at mites next over haul.

It's a multiple reason overhaul. Taking up to 93 year old parts and making it fit for another hundred years.
It will be a better than new loco.

Bonnie will run away from Ravenglass.

 

Thanks for your reply. Makes sense as she is a bit small for main services at Eskdale. Although also a shame as she is a very good looking loco (was even better as a tank IMHO).
Will she run somewhere in particular, or be on roving ambassador duty?
Is Sian still owned by a group of RERPS members? Is she still at Windmill Farm?

 

I don't know exactly what Bonnie will be doing so I would not comment.

Sain belongs to a private group some of them are RER members. She is not in Ravenglass.

 

Presently, Bonnie Dundee is being refurbished to run at Cleethorpes next season.

 

Will there be an enthusiasts' gala in 2017? While I love the 'home fleet', as being appropriate for the line, visitors give that extra spark to encourage the long journey from Cornwall?

 

I wouldn't be against such an idea, though I suspect the problem lying with that idea, is the fact that most locos that can handle the gradients of the line have already visited at one time or another. And those that haven't visited yet, are probably not powerful enough to run trains on their own, so would be quite limited operation wise. Though that said, that problem can be solved just be double heading trains.

Ultimately it depends on what they can secure for such an even really, and if they'll be enough to draw enthusiast in. I can think of a couple ideas though... When's the last time Katie and Sian been seen working together? That could be a draw in itself, the two double heading.

 

There is no mention to date of a gala. There is an event for Mite's fiftieth. The Krauss should enter service and Esk will be back. So there will be lot to see.

 

Katie and Sian ran together this year at the Kirklees Railway gala. I suspect that the draw of the 'new' loco and the fixed loco will be quite enough for this year at the Ratty!


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Esk is not a fixed loco. It will be by component count about 90% new and improved.

 

So, how much "2nd Generation Steam" have you been able to stir into the mix?

 

New exhaust pipe design within the cylinders, new exhaust pipes with my type of Kordina, lempor with one piece nozzle, diffuser seal, new valves with extra rings, altered events. New standard Ratty boiler fittings. There is a massive amount of small detail mods simply to simplify old quick fixes and standardisation of parts. Spark arresters.

All the bronze work is new, new tyres, axels at least on the drivers. Only the front valve covers and the rear piston cover survive from before of the whole cylinders. Most of the rods are all new, brake gear, all piping, and so on and so on...............

 

Why not simply build a new Esk....

 

Thanks for the information. No doubt you will be able to write up the full story of this restoration in due course. Please try to keep us posted with regard to your progress.

 

I find this an interesting comment - surely "Northern Rock" is the new loco that was built in the light of years of experience, wouldn't it be the obvious choice to perpetuate if another loco was required? Why go back to the older design?

 

Because Esk has eight driving wheels.