The perfect 'new' engine for preserved railways?

Probably more than that. For example, a loco will probably have at least one and maybe two P&V exams during its stint in traffic (working on a P&V being about once every 20k miles or so, and locos doing maybe 40 - 60k miles in traffic). That will likely take a loco out of traffic for a few months, during which other things may be attended to. You also have to think of down time around annual boiler exams etc., plus the law of sod that always strikes when you can least afford it.

So on the Bluebell, I'd reckon on:

Normal requirement = 3 in steam; 1 on wash out; 1 undergoing intermediate repairs; 1 contingency. Under repair you probably need three at any one time (one being dismantled, one having boiler work, one mechanical ~ ish). That gives a core fleet of 9, of which 6 are notionally operational at any one time, but even that feels tight. I suspect you'd feel more comfortable with ten locos, with 7 notionally operational and 3 under repair at any time. To keep 7 in traffic probably means completing an overhaul roughly every 16 months. Ten locos of the same class would undoubtedly be operationally more efficient than what we do now (not least in the need to keep spares and so on), but probably rather dull from a volunteer point of view!

Tom

 

Dean 3511, 3201, 1661 & 2361 classes.

 

I like it!

 

A very numerous L.N.E.R locomotive class that sadly didn`t reached preservation is the 0-6-0 class J39. Could this have been a canditate for a useful and good engine?
http://www.lner.info/locos/J/j39.shtml

Knut

 

Would sir like it with a copper boiler, or a steel one?

Tom

 

Do you mean a copper- or steel firebox?

Knut

 

Nope! He is referring to the J39 Facebook group who were planning to "build a copper boiler"

 

OK, thanks Gav 106 I have never heard about of the J39 facebook group before you see.

 

It was a painful period, but has become a bit of a NatPres verbal meme. See also "Facebook newbuild" and "L1 new build" (Thompson or Maunsell L1 undefined).

Tom

 

gimme a Pom Pom please

 

Definitely!

 

how much would it cost an company who have the resources and manpower to batch build a fleet of 0-6-0 tender engines that could be then hired out under run and steaming fees? as spot hire engines with the hire and steaming fees going into paying for overhauls and having spare components such as a spare boiler that is ready so as an engine becomes due for overhaul it has a ready overhauled boiler ready to drop right in and maybe a spare cylinder block if ones needed ?

 

I am genuinely surprised that no one has ever progressed with a replica Dean Goods as it would be a useful and attractive proposition for any former GWR line, likewise the lack of interest in a Dean Single Wheeler has also been a shock although perhaps there just isn't the appetite for 19th century new builds?

 

I would imagine you would need about 2 million each. But it all depends on how much volunteer labour you have to add to it. But then again why would you want a tender engine? A large tank engine the size of a Fowler 2-6-4 tank would be perfect surely? If your requirement wanted a loco that was powerful enough for all services at all railways. But then again saying that it would be cheaper to buy up a load of GWR tanks of the same type and do thorough overhauls on all of them than whole new builds.

 

I was always told that once the pannier at Pontypool was completed there was plans to start one down there with the existing boiler

 

I'd gained the impression there was a good deal of interest at Didcot, but also a desire to finish the current projects before cutting any metal on a new one. Hard to disagree with that as a policy.

 

Oh well that's good news at least, although I wonder whether it may be better to go down the Churchward County route and do as a stand alone project. My father (BTW I bought your book for him as a gift and he likes it!) always says about the Dean SW's that he doesn't expect one to be built in his lifetime sadly, on their present rate of completions I am not that optimistic in my time and I am in my 40's!

 

Midland Railway Johnson 2F - or a Kirtley 0-6-0 if outside cranks would please more folks

 

Kirtley outside framed 0-6-0 in Johnson condition, please. Like the one which was preserved then scrapped by that incoming Swindonian heathen...