Rampton Trust - SOTILLOS

Yes I am aware of the condition that Mountaineer can not be disposed of without permission, I have a feeling there may be more to this than anyone is saying, depending on who you talk to about Mountaineer will depend I guess on the answer you get I have spoken to both sides of the debate one saying it is complete knackered and needs everything renewing so why not go build a new version of the loco (such as LYD not my comments but someone else's), while on the other hand someone who was involved with the rebuilding and restoration of the Baldwin at Buzzard reckoned that it would still be possible to use the frames after some engineering work was done to them, the thinking was that it is more of a historic artifact and should not be thrashed with in an inch of its life any more, that being the case it could be reconverted to its as built WW1 condition I would guess, what ever happens to it some people will not be happy, as you say I too would love to see this loco back working what ever the condition it is in, but I guess we need to wait and see what happen in the next few months.

 

I would have thought that next year would be the ideal time to launch an appeal to restore the Alco to, as near as possible, its WW1 condition. It is obviously no longer needed or suitable for everyday F.R. needs but I'm sure that it would have a use for specials or as a roving ambassador for the railway. I seem to remember a time when the F.R. could see no role for Palmerston but, thankfully, that proved not to be the case.
Ray.

 

In the latest FR Magazine, Paul Lewin writes that the Alco will be dismantled for assessment once Welsh Pony is finished.

 

Pretty sure that most would prefer Mountaineer to stay as it is, a somewhat original modification and an important part of Ffestiniog History. It's a unique one off and should IMO stay as such and not be butchered by the rivet counters.

 

Isn't it a bit late for that? I'm mystified as to precisely how the date at which an artefact's history is supposed to become fossilised is arrived at. On the FR, I doubt even "Topsy" is exactly as it was when originally built.

 

I was referring to converting it back to WD condition, wouldn't be the FR Mountaineer then, just another Alco.

 

It's appearance changed radically, even during it's FR service. My own recollection is of the slope sided cab it wore in the early 70's.

As engineering workshops don't come much more competent than Blodge, I'd be quite sanguine whether the strip-down inspection indicates the bar frames and other issues are readily sortable to produce (another) working artefact, or points to restoration as a static exhibit.... pickled at whatever stage of it's evolution is deemed most appropriate.

I couldn't imagine any restoration intended to return it to the main service fleet, but "Prince" "Palmerston" and soon "Welsh Pony" have all got themselves a niche as living parts of FR history. Why not the Alco, if it proves possible?

In terms of this thread, such sensitive preservation issues will, I'm sure, assist the PRT in examining the options for some of their collection..... one way or t'other.

 

To be honest I thought the slope sided cab looked a bit strange first time I saw it, the later replacement looked to me more normal or maybe I just got used to it's appearance, whether it was any better or not only those involved in crewing could say.
At least there is a museum the PRT can use! Better that someone is saving these loco's rather than leaving them rusting away to nothing or the scrapman's torch.

 

If we're talking about Alcos, I'll just leave this here...

 

Getting back to the topic of this thread, there are some very nice photos of 'Sotillos', as well as some of the other Sabrero locos via this link-

https://thetransportlibrary.co.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=51&page=24

I look forward to hopefully seeing these locos one day. Very nice looking machines.

 

This is just out of curosity, but does anyone know anything more about the two Lawley's (NG6) in the Rampton collection? All I can find out is that the Rampton collection has two, and they came from a sugar mill in Buzi in Mozambique, but nothing about when they arrived in the UK, or how they got here.

 

Just pop along to their next open day ...

 

They are listed on the Vale of Rheidol Museum website http://www.rheidolrailway.co.uk/museum.htm (which cannot be said for all the locos linked to Mr Rampton) so I assume it is intended that they will end up there.

In 1998 and 1999 many steam locos were imported from Mozambique and were stored in Warwickshire prior to disposal; the two Lawleys were amongst those.

 

Had no idea the Rampton collection had two Lawley's in it, can't wait to see them on display on the VoR one day

 

Hi Ken when I spoke to the guy who had imported them, he told me that some of the locos didn't even get to Warwickshire as they where delivered direct to the guys farm who had brought them while they where in Africa, when I pressed him further for more details, he started to get a bit vague as to how many he dropped off.

 

The two Lawleys were certainly in the Warwickshire field ex Mozambique.

 

I stand corrected where I went to was an old quarry is that the same place? it had about 15 Fellbahns and a few Fowlers but that was about it, there was also a number of shipping containers with bits in like loco spares.

 

That sounds about right. The predominant loco type were Brigadeloks (not Fellbahn or even Feldbahn) and Fowlers, but there were a few different locos. The two Lawleys and a curious SLM tank loco stick in my memory.

 

I wonder where the SLM loco went to?