7027 Thornbury Castle

I see from the GCR 2020 accounts that "Thornbury Castle" is projected as a 3 year restoration to steam. That would be an impressive result.

 

Agreed, but let’s wait and see, however it’s good too see Cinders getting ready to go to the ball.

 

A bold timeline to achieve but not impossible, they've done some pretty impressive work there before, and as they've been made guardians of the engine by it's owner they probably have much enthusiasm to work on such a prestigious loco.

If I recall right also, Thornbury Castle's boiler was said to be in remarkably great condition. It's quite possible too that the owner is putting a lot of the money in for it to be restored up front, so of course if you got the money for it in theory any engine can be turned around in a swift enough time.

 

As boiler work is often the most expensive part of any restoration, it's good to hear, she has a sound boiler, but that makes you think, why has it taken two owners before some concentrated work got done, Waterman, had the facilities, the staff, yet nothing was done, and JPP, well, i don't think he would have ever restored it, he sold it on very quickly, as if he really didnt have the funds in place, and it was a leverage tool to get him a place on the WSR board,

 

Its been well documented over the years that her boiler is in very good condition.

I suspect that the main reason why she has never been restored, in recent times at least is that she has been owned by owners who liked talking about owning and restoring a castle and the column inches it generated, but didn't have the inclination to actually spend the money doing so.

FWIW did Mr Waterman buy her directly from Tyseley or was she in different ownership during her spell down in Devon?

 

Just to advise that Thornbury's tender (Tank and chassis) has disappeared from the front of Lbro shed and I suspect it is now in the shed being worked on.

 

Thornbury's tender frame has re-appeared in front of the shed and it looks like the front couple of feet (where the crack was) is still to be removed.

 

The tender frame is still outside the engine shed together with the centre driving wheels.

 

I think the inside cylinders of Castles drive onto the leading couple axle.

 

Thanks for the correction Huochemi.

 

There is a very nice photograph of one the new nameplates for Thornbury fitted to a splasher .....on a FB page.

 

This one? https://www.facebook.com/114458853436676/photos/a.118404569708771/306088694273690/

 

That's the one GWR4707. I wasn't sure about how to post a link.

 

I didn’t know Facebook pages had splashers

Tom

 

Certain niche ones do....

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It is good to know that work has been continuing cleaning and painting the frames and wheels in the shed. The rear drag box has been removed and new angle iron is being sourced for repair work. More parts have been made or sourced.

 

Here are a couple of pictures of the work that has been done so far.

 

Here is another two views of the frames.

 

Outside the shed today was the front bogie frame. Some primer paint has been applied, so work continues steadily.