3'6" Gauge in the UK

There is one 3'6" QR Beyer-Garratt remaining in preservation. No. 1009. 4-8-2+2-8-4, 136t. The axle loading should be OK as QR was built to 16t if IIRC. And no, you probably can't have that one....(but I sure do wish they would fix it!)

But, damn....

"French-built sister No.1096 was the last of the class in traffic, featuring on occasional rail enthusiast tour trains. Unfortunately it suffered a hot axle box and was subsequently scrapped at Banyo in 1973; the loss of this engine after such a trivial fault seems tragic in retrospect, but at that time the Queensland Railways had a significant number of withdrawn steam locomotives in storage and awaiting scrapping."

 

As a youngster, I was on an excursion with 1096 when it failed - it might have been the last one. A very sad decision to have her cut up. B18 1/4 No. 843 was also disposed of around this time.

3'6" ? There is quite a bit of it around here.

 

I had another look at the Wath line. In Worsborough there was a level crossing with the A61, which would be a snag, and the Penistone to Silkstone Common section is still used by Network Rail as part of the Penistone to Barnsley line. However the section between Silkstone Common and Worsborough Country park is now a cycle track and doesn't seem to have any problems. It includes the section where 2395 spend a lot of its life, and also includes an overbridge over the M1.
It is about 6km long (3.75 miles) with an increase of elevation of about 100 metres from Worsborough up to Silkstone.

 

Spread over 8 axles. It’s the bridges you need to worry about, not the track. But it’s no worse than double heading some of our existing preserved classes.

And as for the dodgy Midland axle boxes, nobody would notice if you beefed them up a bit for a replica.

Personally I’d be more interested in the LNER version, but anyway, never mind.

The whole 3’6” gauge thing sounds like a solution looking for a problem, to me.


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I'm sure donations towards the restoration of their existing foreign locos would be most welcome: I believe Tinkerbell (a Danish 'F' class 0-6-0T) is due to return to running order soon.

 

Did the 3'6" thing relate to availability of locomotives and stock from South Africa? Otherwise we might get accused of being "big chufferites".

 

Partly that, but also WIBN to have running in Britain some British-built locos that are big but very different from anything running at present.

 

I've created a Facebook WIBN page, but only 10000 members pledging donations would get the Garratt on the ground, so its interest at the moment, and probably forever. Remember the last working one is still running- the last steam elephant! https://www.facebook.com/groups/618128735211128/

 

You might like to know that "WIBN" normally is used to mean "wouldn't it be nice" on here, not the phrase you have on your page.

 

Sorry have modified. Has my FB theories on the origins of why 3'6" was formed- ditto 4'8" ish. Roman chariots and narrowboat width!

 

Much as I wish the ELR well, amazing they have raised so much considering the original purchase is equivalent to £45000 today. Therefore not something I'd contribute to, not like its a part or an overhaul. Seems Kettles are like Houses near London, way overpriced. Just hoping the next Lotto winner uses their money wisely bringing some Garratts and 19Ds back from Africa and a 3'6" line.

 

Houses and locomotives are subject to the same rules of supply and demand, if either are overpriced then they don’t sell.

 

I have read this several times and apologies but I really cannot understand the point you are making?

 

Like why would people want to contribute to buying a working locomotive that works anyway? And yes, they are overpriced as you can build a new one for less thasn a purchase price and the next overhaul. And changing property into a commodity for people with money they seem to have gained is what caused yer Brexit and all this trouble. Surely the decent thing is for owners to sell on to benevolent future owners at 10%+scrap. A few multimillionaires have overheated a market with barely any money to keep things goings that they have.

 

that post is even more strange than your previous one

 

I'm a big fan of SAR locos and Garratts having worked in Africa, but where in the UK could you build a meaningful 3' 6" gauge line? Even if you could (eg Dartmoor) the cost would be horrendous, the appeal very limited and no chance of any income from loco loans, out or in. I wouldn't be bunging any money in that direction for sure. I'm happy to get my fix at the excellent WHR.

 

The least unrealistic possibility would be to lay mixed gauge track on one of the existing preserved railways. It would need to be a line that was originally twin-track now with only one, in order to fit those African beasts through the bridges etc, and you'd probably need four rails at the stations to put the coaches at the right distance from the platforms.

All a pretty extreme WIBN and anyway what's it doing on this* thread?

*Edit: I posted this on another thread. It has been moved to here, which is the right place for it.

 

Is this a better thread?
https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/36-gauge-in-the-uk.1151086/

 

I've had this thread in the back of my mind for a while now, I've just been tracing the route of the Stranraer-Dumfries "Port Road" on Google maps. A lot of it has been built over be A-road improvements, but there seems to be a length of about 17 very scenic miles from Palnure (near Newton Stewart) east towards Parton, which doesn't seem to have too many obstacles in the way.
Regarding loading gauge, the line was originally single track, but there are no tunnels, the few overbridges are mainly minor rural roads or farm tracks which could presumably be raised or modified if required. Obviously WIBN, but thirty years a new A1 would also have been WIBN!