More Victorian/Edwardian Steam - The Alternative Way Ahead?

The frame plates and other major frame components of 567 were cut in late July. Work is now proceeding at Ian Howitt's works at Wakefield to prepare the frame plates for the first of two machining operations, between which the joggles ahead of the driving axle and the cylinder block will be pressed into each plate. The frames will be erected at the GCRN's Ruddington Works when the pressing and machining is completed. The frame will be assembled with bolts, as has that of 82045, prior to riveting the complete assembly. It is a much simpler assembly than 82045, the horn blocks and spring link brackets being the only cast components in the frame structure, the rest consisting of plate and angle fabrications.

 

The first holes have been drilled in the Frames for GCR 567 at Ruddington. The photos show the holes being drilled to attach the Doubler Plate at the front end. The plate and subsequent Stretchers will initially be bolted in place in order to test the build...subsequently these will be replaced by Rivets. Go to https://www.gcr567loco.co.uk/news for more info.

 

Once space has been allocated, the Frame Side Plates will be fitted with the Mid Frame Stretcher and Motion Plate that have already been made. These will initially be bolted in place - then Riveted. Further Design work and manufacture of components is ongoing

 

I suspect that double frames aren't that much of a complication, Churchward was quite content to keep turning out double framed locos until 1910. But to make a new build just a little more special why not go a little bit further and produce a sandwich frame loco? Dean's Barnums were compact powerful little mixed traffic 2-4-0s, pretty much equivalent to the Dukedog apart from slightly larger (6 ft) drivers.

 

As a slight tongue in cheek suggestion for a Victorian/Edwardian esque loco....

Why not the Yankee Moguls? Midland Railway, Great Central and Great Northern all used them, and they have a tractive effort similar as the later Mickey Mouse classes. (About a thousand pounds different which could be tweaked perhaps?)

 

The 567 project is maintaining progress as the plates are now a frame - albeit bolted together rather than rivetted at this stage. Bogie plates have also been cut.

Should there now be a separate thread for this project? Or have I missed it?

 

I've often thought that but as just an armchair supporter 'not wanting to tread on toes' I keep holding off starting one.

 

It certainly seems that, if anyone wants to see a new classic Victorian express loco, this is a project to support rather than starting any more hares running.

 

Tom's suggestion, a few pages back, is an excellent one, it would be well for one Victorian new build to be finished and make the going, if only to prove the viability of the concept. Might be that the locomotive is a pretty but underperforming folly, not to be repeated, or as I hope, a little stormer which shows the way ahead.
Whilst the current preservation fleet may be ageing, there is time to wait and see what is the best course.

 

There is one, I found it this morning.
https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/567-victorian-4-4-0-new-build.1288431/