Colne Valley Black 5s

Anyone know if much progress had been made with these in recent years?

45163's restoration looked a bit more advanced than that of 45293 last time I saw updates but neither seem to get much publicity.

 

Thanks!

 

They both seem to be making steady progress, still hoping I might snap up 45293 with my lottery win one day and convert it to caprotti ( wrong wheelbase, bearings, vandalism blahdiblah....)

 

Yes, good to see them progressing, although I can't see them being long term residents of the CVR - perhaps good news for the NNR or MNR when they are finished. I could certainly see the NNR stepping in with the offer of a deal when it comes to the boiler overhaul of one or the other.

 

I do get the impression with the numerous visits of Black 5s to the NNR over the years that maybe they would like one based on the line permanently.

It certainly seemed that 44767 was planned to have stayed on the line for a few years if it hadn't been taken out of service.

 

I'd reckon once they're running they won't be hanging about at colne valley. Lovely line but only about a couple of miles long.

I think they've got expansion plans but whether it happens or not is anyone's guess.

 

It's not a couple of miles, in fact I don't think it even quite one mile.

That's not to put down the efforts of the people who run it, but it is a very short line.

 

I paid a visit there about 10 years ago, as you say a very short line, I could not get over the amount of motive power that was there both Steam & Diesel I counted close on 25 in various condition, I known a few have since left the railway but there are still a lot left for such a short line.

 

Come to think of it I wonder what the long term plan for 35010 is.

 

There was a replica project mooted some time ago, think they even managed to cast some cam boxes.

 

See http://www.britishcaprottiblack5.org.uk/

....but also see: https://www.heritagerailway.co.uk/end-of-black-five-dream-for-duke-of-gloucester-engineer/


Keith

 

Yes, I have an eye on that project. Its suspended at the moment (as the Prime mover is getting on and not fantastically rich) pending another capable person /wealthy picking up the baton/ drawings research. I also know of one such interested person but he has his hands full with another project at the moment.
If this one did pick up again , an existing post war Black five with cracked frames, f*cked cylinders but a decent boiler would be a good start, but because they are such versatile machines they are pretty much all fixed up or in the process of...
Wonder if theres a decent boiler to be had from one of the Plinthed Mediterranean 8f's...

 

Different boiler, 3B for Black Five and 3C for 8F. 8F boiler is one foot shorter in the barrel.

 

Indeed and yet the owners of 44901 decided selling their proper boiler and trying to obtain an "8F" boiler from overseas is a better way to go about the restoration. Greater minds etc

 

I think that 44901 was bought by the present owners after its boiler was sold, so I guess the didn't have a choice other than to go for a brand new boiler or an 8F one AFAIK they have yet to secure an 8F example. As a matter of interest, could a 3C be converted to a 3B simply by replacing the end of the barrel, or are there differences elsewhere as well?

 

I'm almost certain the boiler was sold post acquisition by the present owners as it was always their plan to use an 8F boiler, they have coomon interest with 8274 as I understand. Barmy to me as the boiler is obviously decent enough to be considered for future use on a mainline black 5.

 

Lot less effort on making an 8F boiler fit a Black 5 than a Hawksworth County...

 

Indeed, but lets not torture ourselves again by raking over that scandal ....