NRM's J17

Obviously I wasn't there at the time, but the 'Rumour' was told to me by a couple of ex Stratford apprentices, one of whom made a wooden roscoe lubricator for a cosmetic restoration. As all three ex GER loco's and Thundersley were all restored at the same time it may have been for another, but initially there was an amount of faking carryed out at the time.

 

It wouldn't be the first loco from the National Collection to be 'restored' to an earlier condition using wooden parts. When L&YR Radial tank 1008 was restored at Horwich works a wooden chimney to the earlier shape was made and fitted. AFAIK it is still on the loco. Remember that these locos were only ever expected to remain as static museum pieces.
Ray.

 

No, Y14 is normally limited to 4 coach trains unless in exceptional circumstances, in order to protect the engine long term, as she's getting a bit old these days! It is capable of hauling more, but given the other residents in the fleet, there isn't any point. This year, it did good service in Spring/Autumn and was a useful standby during the high summer when longer trains are commonplace. It's an arrangement that looks to me to work very well.

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I wonder, with a large complement of home locos in operation, whether the NNR would consider making the locomotive available for hire to small railways struggling for motive power during the summer season (although having said that, my mind has gone completely blank for railways which are flat with low enough traffic to avoid extending the loco too much but do not have a resident steam fleet). May well not happen but would be quite interesting if it did

 

Wensleydale would fit the bill, for one.

 

Might be a nice boost for the Wensleydale too - a good draw for visitors.

 

I think the Y14 would look at home at Colne Valley or the Mid-Suffolk

 

I would love to see the J17 steam too although I can't see it happening any time soon. I can imagine it would need someone to step forward and agree to pay for it.

The wooden parts on engines could be true but I find it hard to believe. Surely it would just make sense to leave it as is rather than fake parts. The wooden chimney for example. He probably made a wooden pattern to get one cast. Remember also at the time lots of facilities were available, probably spare parts and also other locos going for scrap which could have been used to donate parts.

I read somewhere that for example the tender on the MR compound was swapped with one originally on a SDR 280 as it was the right type and in better condition.

 

In those days the key attribute for a preserved locomotive was held to be original (eg as built) condition, so it would have been seen as desirable to replace any later additions with mockups of the originals. For much the same reason no-oone wanted anything painted in the hated BR liveries.

 

I know it has visited both in the past as a J15, would be nice to see it at either again now it's been put back to GER condition. But both those lines are very short running distance, and I think they are ok for steam locos to suit their needs at the moment.

 

I can assure that when 1008 was cosmetically restored Horwich works did make and fit a wooden chimney - it was not a pattern. The L&Y radials (and A class) originally had chimneys with a pronounced taper and flared top. Over time these were replaced by an almost parallel type with a less pronounced lip. As the loco was to be displayed in 'as built' condition (it was the 1st loco built @ Horwich works) and no original chimneys were, presumably, available the wooden replica to the old style sufficed. I was told this, first hand, by my father's late friend who was involved in the restoration.
Ray.

 

Whilst the E4 on close examination, and the J69 on a more cursory review, don't have any wooden parts, I have always been suspect of the chimney that Doncaster fitted to the J17 when it was 'restored' there in 1963. Having looked under the J17 is is still in as withdrawn condition and appears to be well worn. The tender is a colander with many large rust holes visible.

 

That would be completely in the hands of the M&GN Society and not the NNR. Who knows what the future may hold?

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(Sucks in cheeks and whistles) yeah we can sort that out with a bit of weld...

 

In the past, requests haven’t been that numerous tbh.

Chris,
In the past there were not a huge number of requests!
Alex

 

Surprised there is not more demand to hire the Y14, the only operational standard gauge locomotive in GER livery.

 

I suspect, that the livery is the problem.

It's a bit colourful for the BR livery brigade.

Chris

 

I’m a BR livery fan who likes a bit of a mixture, some BR, some pre nationalisation!

 

Lovely as it is, with the load limitations I can't exactly being that popular as a loco for hire, look at the SVR for example they need something that can take 8 coaches from Kidderminster to Arley and back so what have have they gone for? A BR standard 4. Not exactly big chufferitus but something that can do the job with a bit of power in reserve.

 

I would have thought for galas, when there is a hankering for something a bit different to the usual workhorse fleet, there would have been more demand for the Y14. Lots of railways seem to run lighter loaded vintage sets too.

At the end of the day the Y14’s home is the NNR where it is rightly cherished.