Steam Locomotive Restoration of the Decade 2010-2019

On the theme of Railcars.

NER petrol electric autocar

 

Do we need a separate category for each of Railcars, Coaching stock, Wagons and other Rail mounted stock?

 

You mean looking like this:-
May 1980.

Peter

 

While we are spoiled for choice, for me it has to be the Bluebell's H class - what a little beauty!

Peter

 

She’s certainly been a stalwart performer this decade - the best part of 40,000 miles so far on this overhaul which is not bad for a loco now well over 100 years old.

Tom

 

If we are including railcars, the Cravens class 105 on the ELR.

 

If we're going off piste with railcar's then let's also consider other things with internal combustion engines, Paul Spracklen and 50026 really Spring to mind.

 

What we need are a series of categories with a bit of back story a live review of them running and then a winner from each category. Then we have a quarter final in which like items are grouped i.e. infrastructure, rolling stock, locomotives and buildings with two of each selected. Then a semi final and then the grand final. All with public telephone voting and gripping TV coverage, I give you... Restoration's Got Talent.

I am available as a consultant for a very large fee and mountains of chocolate...

 

The Wickham DMU at Llangollen. Beautiful job.
Pat

 

Are we going for restorations eg. 6023, 45699, etc, or including overhauls, such as 263, 564, etc?

 

That’s it yes but all I saw was the centre wheel lying in a pile of scrap with the frames for Galatea in a separate part of Steamtown .

 

We'll all have our favourites but IMO all restorations/overhauls are worthy of praise, especially ones carried out mainly by volunteers.

 

I'd support diesel being included within the category of locomotive restoration. This shouldn't be about our individual favourite locos - though it will influence our choices - but recognising the achievements of restorers in getting locomotives back on the rails. That means that, much as I like the H class, I couldn't vote for what is effectively keeping it running, whereas with 50026's restoration being at least an equal achievement to one of the Barry restorations mentioned above, I'd value the comparison.

 

Steam 92134
diesel 50033
railway Midsomer norton

 

On that criterion, I should nominate Wainwright P class No. 178 - lovely little loco, restored for the first time in 2010 having had a somewhat peripatetic existence between entering preservation in 1969 and that restoration. Nearly all the work was done by a volunteer group, including one now sadly departed volunteer who always comes to mind for me when she runs. She’ll bow out towards the end of this year after a bit over ten years in traffic. I’ll miss her when she goes.

Tom

 

Well my motto is, if you’re going to have one, best make it a big’un! So as the title of the thread doesn’t mention the UK, but does specify STEAM, I give you Big Boy UP 4014. What a beast!


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As a point of order, the title is quite specific in that it states that it is about steam locomotives not diesels nor DMUs nor carriages nor stations. Lets keep it to the subject matter and if people want to discuss the merits of other subjects let them start another thread.
I would also suggest that restoring a loco from deleriction is one achievement but maintaining it in pristine operational glory is equally important, and that is why I put forward the H Class. How many once pristine locos have been allowed, once restored, to be run into the ground and then left to decay again.

Peter

 

I agree with you on the importance of continued maintenance but, taking your emphasis on the specific words of the title, see "restoration" as being the initial restoration to working order, not subsequent overhauls.

 

It should however be borne in mind that subsequent overhauls of a restored ex-scrapyard locomotive can be far more onerous and costly than the initial restoration. After a working life in preservation that has often exceeded the years spent in revenue earning service with the original owner, many of the main components become totally life-expired. Complete replacement of items such as boilers, frames, cylinders is now increasingly prevalent when an overhaul is due. In monetary terms, this can often mean an expenditure of £750,000 to £1 million for an overhaul on a Class 4 or 5 locomotive, and considerably more for anything larger.

It should also be considered that many restored ex-Barry locomotives have since spent longer being stored out of use on heritage railways than the time that they were at Woodhams yard

On this basis, I think that the word 'Restoration' can apply equally to the original return to steam from scrapyard condition, and to subsequent major overhauls.

Andy