Replica builds for heritage lines.

Perhaps not batch building as they are not all needed just yet and due to ££S as you mention.
Importantly though for GWR boilers quite a few of the necessary formers to produce the various plates required have now been remade making major repairs & new build boilers much more financially & practically feasible.
Even now we are reaping the benefits of the Swindon standard boiler policy!

Now a thread on new build boilers for existing locos would be far more interesting & useful than the title of this current thread!

 

The DHPS I believe own about 75% of the SDR and are now after a long sleep starting to re push membership and funding to overhaul 4920. The group also owns 3803 and Lady Angela

 

If I were a gazillionaire with an interest in railway preservation I might be tempted to form a boiler leasing or part exchange operation.

 

Regarding the fact that the early Bluebell couldn't afford one, I'd suggest a LB&SCR K-Class Mogul:

 

I would fully support and back a project to build another one of these, as it does seem to be one of the most talked about 'the one that got away' scrapped engines, and for the Bluebell it'll feel like they've gone full circle.

K class mogul pulling a rake of vintage stock into East Granstead... now there's a nice picture to imagine.

 

That would honestly be a very nice picture to see. I would definitely support a K-Class project!

 

Currently one of a few options being discussed - it has its champions, but so do one or two other types that would also be historically appropriate.

Tom

 

Any chance of one of these beauties - no 2-2-2s of standard gauge origin remaining as far as I know (happy to be wrong - are there any?)

 

Try this one for size.
http://www.nrm.org.uk/ourcollection...tock/CollectionItem?objid=1975-7026&pageNo=22

 

Paint it BR black and put a couple of Mk.1s behind it, perfect.

 

A K would fulfil a similar role for LB&SCR CMEs to that which the Urie S15s did for the L&SWR. From the latter line, there are now locos designed by Beattle, Adams, Drummond and Urie whereas the LB&SCR is predominantly represented by Stroudley locos - although the rebuilt A1X terriers do feature Marsh modifications. The Atlantic will give us a proper Marsh loco and Birch Grove was designed by R J Billinton. Nothing at all survives from his son's period as CME. Of his various designs, the K stands out. The B4X rebuilds were indifferent machines and do not compare with the superb rebuilds of Wainwright's D and E Classes by Maunsell for the SE&CR. The Baltic tanks are fine looking engines and seemed to perform pretty well in their original form although they were not too well regarded by Western section men on rebuilding to 4-6-0 tender locos. However, a massive 4-6-4T with 6' 9" driving wheels is hardly ideal for the Bluebell line. That leaves one other L B Billinton design - the E2 0-6-0T whose main claim to fame, according to the author's son, is that it one of the class ended up on the mythical island of Sodor painted blue with a big number 1 on the tank sides.

 

Also the sadly mistreated 'Columbine', plus the two replica 'Bloomers'.

 

My second LB&SCR choice: a Billinton B4-class 4-4-0:

 

And if it were possible for the next LMS newbuild after the Fowler 2-6-4T...the Garratt:

 

You're forgetting big bertha

 

Oh I haven't forgotten ol' 58100:
Would definitely be worth donating money towards a replica!!

 

It would be smaller than the Bluebell's biggest locos and better than a tender loco for running backwards.

 

Now this is another newbuild project I'd wholeheartedly support, such a beautiful design, and one of the best well proportioned 4-4-0s too I'd say. Plus what with it's smaller size compared to others mentioned, it could be the perfect candidate for most railways (including Blueebell's) needs, and not too expensive to build either.

 

Oh I'm sure there are other contestants for the next to be built, but none I suspect would be as poetic considering the near miss history the Bluebell has with this loco.