Current and Proposed New-Builds

That sounds just like the missus!

 

Are you overhauling her?

Tom

 

Or one of the GSW domeless boiler 4.4.0 classes!

 

I don't think I survive long if I suggested she needed new frames.

 

Back to the thread, how about a G&SWR Drummond 403 class 2-6-0? (May be useful for a heritage railway in the Glasgow area!)

 

Or this?

 

What is happening with the Doncaster P2 project? Their website is a fairly barren area for information and there's not a lot on their FB page apart from sales of tee-shirts and a photo of some bearded bloke with his thumbs up.

Whereas, for example, the Patriot, t'other P2 and 82045 sites are very informative on their own progress.

Were I to be looking for a project to support other than the one to which I have sent the odd quid or two, the Doncaster P2 would not feature on the list.

 

I guess the answer must be, "not a lot" hence very little information on actual progress. I visited their stall at a model railway show last year and they were asking for more volunteers to fill posts concerned with managing and running the project (rather than asking for volunteers to assist with funding or construction - although such people would be most welcome) so I guess they don't yet have the "base" that they really need to progress very much. I could have totally misread this so please accept my apologies if I'm barking up the wrong tree, but that's the impression I have (as one who supports more than one new-build and an "old-build" GWR 2-8-0 at present).

At the risk of incurring much disdain, the revised shape of the P2, which this group seems to be trying to recreate without tremendous success at the moment, is more appealing to me than the Darlington one. I just like the "A4" shape, which seems more graceful to me. That's probably because I've seen such a shape on many occasions whereas the original P2 has been seen by very few people alive today. No doubt I'll be gobsmacked when I see it for real though! I agree that I would not be inclined to support the Doncaster P2 project financially at the moment because I don't see any real progress when compared to some other projects. However, as I'm committed to a couple of new-builds anyway, the matter is somewhat academic to me. I do wish both P2s the very best but I'm in no doubt which one I'll see running first!

 

Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder, and if that's the shape that appeals to you, and indeed many others, no-one has a right to challenge that perception. Personally, I believe that the original 2001 was probably the most handsome locomotive ever to run in Britain, and this from an LMS fan.

There is room for all opinions, although not necessary all shapes of metal.

 

I for one am pleased that the Doncaster based P2 group are trying to make the other original version of the P2. It's just a pity that nothing seems to be happening. In the same way as I'd love to see Duchess of Hamilton running with the "bathtub" streamlining, as it's such a radically different profile to Duchess of Sutherland/City of Birmingham. Love to see the slopping smoke-box refitted to 'Birmingham as she was like Hamilton a streamliner and that slopping 'box represented the half way house between the streamlined locos and none streamlined represented by 'Sutherland.

 

The problem with the P2 is that almost simultaneously, two groups said "we're building a P2". One was a new group; the other a group with a proven track record. If you want to see an LNER 2-8-2 running in the UK, to whom are you going to give your hard-earned money? Hopefully, if someone on here can get to the Doncaster Group's convention on the 10th of February they can post about what progress is being made. Or better still, one of the members of the Doncaster P2 'top table' could tell us more?

The frames have already been cut for the Doncaster loco so it will be a P2 - it would have been a fun exercise if they suddenly said "right, change of plan - we're the Rebuilt W1 trust now!!" You still get something with an A4 nose, and utterly unique to boot.

 

Indeed yes. It's just so unfortunate both groups popped up at about the same time. Especially when one, in this case the A1 Boys already had a proven track record with Tornado.

 

James the Red Engine at Thomas events?

 

Unfortunately they weren't very good... Heavy and sluggish and shy of steam.
The Superheated version (and superheated rebuilds of these) were much better.
A tender loco, although not as useful as a tank, would be a much better ambassador for the G&SW, as they had very few tank locos and the only survivor is a shunting tank.
I normally strongly advocate that new builds should be class 2 - class 4 tanks, but for the G&SW the exception has to be made...
A Manson or Smellie loco would be a better ambassador, though.

 

Perhaps it ought to be said that "Smellie" is pronounced "Smiley".

PH

 

Spoilsport - you've ruined about 35 years of childish enjoyment, ever since I first read about Smellie's wee bogies ...

Tom

 

you'd pronounce it that way if it was your name.... Hyacinth comes to mind

 

If it was my surname, I'd change it .... end of!

Query: Will both groups be creating every drawing, every pattern etc.? What components (bearing in mind even I spotted the differences in motion and cladding!) are common to both flavours?

The situation with the B17's looks to be comparable and no-one's even building the streamlimed version.....

 

The Manchester United group already has a smokebox, cab, running plates and an entire ex-GE tender. The Llangollen B17 group only has the frame plates, bufferbeam, rear dragbox, and frame stays.
I would rather donate $ to the Spirit of Sandringham, since the frames already exist. Also, it would be nice to see a streamlined B17 as well.

 

In regards to the Doncaster group, they could do something with the frames, like convert them for use in a new-build P1?