Next New Build to be completed

The thing is as part of any process of recommissioning she would obviously be subject to a period of pottering about at Didcot (as with any other restoration/rebuild) before she was ever finished and painted properly anyway, as per 4144 below.



I envisage that this merely relates to painting 1 side and allowing some photographs to be taken during this process, no doubt to be followed by a big unveiling event in late Spring and then off to somewhere (WSR? - isn't that where the King is going) for proper running in although does she actually have any gubbins fitted for main line anyway, as if not no need to go elsewhere in the short term to prove her anyway?

 

Remind me, is the Saint going mainline? Pity if she ain't

 

Beggars belief at the suggestion of toy throwing for the sake of a half arsed paint job for a few days to get a few bucks from photo charters with 2999, its hardley on a par with 48624 wandering round in a ridiculous fictional appearance for years.

 

At a guess they'll try to do an official launch late April during the 50 years gala. Gives it a "draw" without having to spend shedloads on hiring in guest locos. So I'd imagine the charter will be before that with one side and front black with 5322's tender half lined - the rest of it will be in undercoat. So they'll be able to pretty reasonably claim that its starting its real life in GWR colours - just got tested a bit in some strange black stuff that was lying about!

I think the intention is to go mainline but they've been working on getting acceptance of portable "gubbins" so that it can be shared around - useful if they end up with 6023, 2999 and 4079 all mainline fairly close together if not simultaneously.

 

Any news on 2999, wasn't the photo evening on a date TBA?

 

Haven't heard anything since the February update.

 

I thought it was going to be up and running in April but have seen no coverage of this so I guess it's on hold for the time being.

 

Something in the latest Steam beano about a problem with the front bogie.

 

Are they replicating the original swing link control instead of using the De Glehn arrangement from the Hall?

EDIT:-

A 2005 photo of the completed bogie on their website appears to me to show it to be a standard De Glehn bogie, presumably from Maindy Hall.

 

Lyn might be next, since final assembly is beginning to push for a July first steaming

 

To answer my own question. The 2999 Website now has the latest, June, update. Getting very close now (relatively speaking!).
http://www.thesaintproject.co.uk/Pages/LatestNews.html

 

....and following hard on the heels of 2999 we have another GWR beauty, No 6880, seen here prior to visiting Tyseley for this weekend's open event. Unfortunately, I can't attend! Hopefully some forumites will attend and post photos p'raps?
http://www.6880.co.uk/news/

 

I'm not a big GW fan but I have to say I'm looking forward to the day 2999 with a rake of Churchward toplights passes 6880 at Bewdley with a rake of Collett and Hawksworth stock. Maybe with 82045 as station pilot?

 

Sounds good to me!

 

These are the big three as far as new builds are concerned, excepting of course the Patriot which is extra special and out on its own. As a keen supporter of all four it just needs the donations to keep coming in and I would expect them all to be in steam within a year or two.

 

Well it wouldn't be a proper new build gala without 5551 on the LMS set and 60163 on the teaks would it? And just to complete the set Beachy Head on a rake of Blood and Custard MK1s?

 

And in another few years 72010 on Mk1s, the P2 on teaks and the LNWR George on the LMS set

 

The P2 probably, but as for the other two 15-20 years at their current rate of progress.

Bob.

 

Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves shall we?! We'll have certain people throwing the WIBN thing at us if we're not careful!

 

There could be a gap after 45551, 6880, 2999 and 82045. I'm sure in the next phase Beachy Head will be next and logic points to fellow Bluebell project 84030 as well. The P2 will get finished as will the G5 and one or two of the others could see completion maybe with luck within a decade. Just my view. An exciting prospect not something that crossed my mind in August 1968.