Brighton Atlantic: 32424 Beachy Head

I like the Beachy Head project, will look forward to seeing it completed. I understand the GNR boiler is pretty similar, but the backhead fittings are in different locations, so will they modify it accordingly or just accept stuff is in a slightly different place ? I am surprised they didn't consider giving the loco a new name as per Tornado.

Remember the boiler is under cladding so any differences will be mostly not visible. When the boiler was discovered I seem to recall there was some other boilers including another GNR Atlantic one, What happened to these ? Do they still exist ?

 

T1..... A12.... just hope it's securely and properly stored. Ditto the Midland boiler.

 

Given that the new loco will be the seventh member of the class, "Seven Sisters" would be an appropriate name. (Seven Sisters is a notable coastal landmark in Sussex, immediately west of Beachy Head).

However, for many of those leading and supporting the project, I think there was a sense of loss that the original "Beachy Head" could not be preserved back in the late 1950s; and therefore the emotional desire is to "recreate Beachy Head", not "build the next one in the series".

Tom

 

"Them's as pays the piper" and all that..... I'm just excited at the prospect of seeing a living loco from a class that went extinct before I was born..... Roll on completion!

 

Agreed. This class disappeared 18 months before I was born. Not that they would have ever got anywhere near Bury anyway!! I am an LMS fan, obviously, coming from the North West, but of the other three groups, my second favourite is the Southern, for some reason.

 

Interesting that you can feel an allegiance to a Company that only existed for 25 years and ceased to exist before you were born. Wouldn't it be more logical for you to follow the LNWR or LYR?

 

Talking of boilers, I think i read somewhere that the Boiler for Beachy head is said to be in very good condition not needing much work, just retubing and the manifold replacing, which has already been cast, i'm assuming that in its spell as a stationary boiler it didnt need the superheater manifold, so this would have been blanked off ? does anyone know the state of the remaining boilers? The T1 boiler has been stored out in the open at the Avon Valley , so theres no telling how much dammage corrosion may have done,

 

Boilers are always said to be in very good condition not needing much work - until the boilersmiths are able to have a proper look.

 

As an IWCR/LBSCR fan, my "out of area" likes are the GNRI and the Highland. The favourite "out of area" pet lost cause being the WC&PR.

 

As far as Beachy head goes, i think the boiler has been inspected, maybe not by the official insurance inspector, but i would expect the Bluebells pressure vessel expert would have inspected it

 

To most people Seven Sisters would be associated with an area of N London and stops on the Victoria Line and GE Lea Valley Line.

 

It makes more sense for a replica (recreation is a word I've heard to describe the project) of Beachy Head given its history and it's name has local connections.

Isn't the loco going to incorporate some items from the original loco (I think the original regulator handle was one item)?

Incidentally I've just found Henry A Ivatt died in my home town which is on the Brighton Main Line where the LBSCR used their version of his Atlantics.

 

Yes, the regulator handle - a small, but emotionally significant connection to the original loco. It was donated by a supporter who had bought it from BR for 5/- back in 1958!

Tom

 

Indeed Certainly would count as such in the historic aeroplane field!

Tom

 

Just re-read the project pages regarding the differences between GN and LBSC boilers, which are far less than I thought. Nothing significant beyond backhead mountings and pipe runs to reach the backhead seems obvious.

Will there be any differences between the reconstructed ex-GN pattern boiler and those carried in service by the Marsh locos which don't involve counting rivets?

 

I suggest you check out the cover of Bill Bryson's 'The road to Little Dribling' the Seven Sisters are on the cover.

 

I think another part from the loco has also been donated but can't remember what it is.