Anybody looking for a GWR project ?

Its in the nature of local authorities to be parochial, and I'm confident that they operate under strict regulations to keep them that way whether they like it or not.

 

Bit of a dormant thread resurrection, but it seemed the most appropriate place to add it. Just found this photo on Flickr of No. 5 having some cosmetic work carried out on it at long last.

https://flic.kr/p/Q5S83g

 

I was going to reply to this revived thread about preservation parochialism but I shall refrain. It will do no good. But if I won euromillions bringing over here an Alco RS-3 road switcher and a South African GMAM/GO would be high on my list. Where would I run either of them ?

I don't know.

But with the sort of money Euromillions doles out I'm pretty sure I could fund their restoration, a shed to protect them, and money for a railway with no over-bridges to lay a third rail. A custom drawbar should tale care of them hauling British stock at 25 per. (it'd need universal joints for the GMAM)

 

A nameplate from 'Cecil Raikes' is for sale on the current Crewe Railwayana auction (finishing today ).
I am puzzled by how a nameplate from a National Collection loco has appeared for sale, as to my knowledge all of the locos plates were stolen while the loco was in open storage at Breckside Park depot in Liverpool - unless anybody knows differently.

Bob.

 

On a more positive note, this month's Steam Railway mentions that Cecil Raikes will go on display in the new Birkenhead Transport Museum. It's not scheduled to open until 2024, but it's great news that this "Cinderella" engine finally has a viable plan which will return it to public display. The article doesn't make clear whether the engine will recieve any cosmetic restoration before going on display, however.

 

Hi Bob, hope you're staying safe. Re the missing nameplate I had a dig through my photo collection and found an old BTC commercial slide which shows Cecil somewhere after it left NCB service but before it went to Liverpool and the nameplates are present. The loco was in store at Derby works for many years and I'm guessing that the B&W photo may have been taken at Derby. Interestingly the LHS nameplate appear to be missing by then. The loco was officially presented to Liverpool Museum by the BRB in 1965. Perhaps someone else can confirm the photo locations and/or suggest a rough date. It has always baffled me how the loco was allowed to be towed over BR as the tyres were almost double flanged and it was always prone to derailment when being shunted at Steamport.
Cheers,
Ray.

 

There's a few GWR projects that would be rather nice to get stuck into!

 

Looking at the B&W picture and if it was taken after the colour one, I wonder how long it was stored before someone emptied the smokebox of all the char?

 

When GNR No. 1 went to Doncaster for the exhibition there (2003?), the chimney had to be removed to get the loco out of York. When they went to unbolt it, bearing in mind it had been nearly 20 years since its part steaming, apparently there was still a decent quantity of ash in the smokebox.

 

I suspect that the colour picture may have been taken on Cecil's arrival at Derby from Shipley Colliery so is the earlier of the 2 photos. According to a Steamport guide book of 1978 the loco had spent 10 years at Derby Works so must have spent at least another 10 years at Breckside Park before coming to Southport. The photo below shows the loco soon after arrival in 1978 with several major parts missing. It appears that some quite extensive 'restoration' had been carried out by, or for, Liverpool Museum after they acquired it in 1965. We refitted the coupling rods, condenser pipes, weatherboard (all that remained of the NCB cab) and some smaller parts. Most of the inside motion was in the bunker. The replacement front bufferbeam was beyond saving. The smokebox wrapper may have been replaced at BrecksidePark - the chimney barrel certainly had. A new front bufferbeam was fitted before Cecil was returned to its owner who then placed it on open display near Liverpool Pier Head. Hopefully this historically important loco (the most powerful loco in Britain when built) will finally be treated with the care it deserves. My personal view is that Museums on Merseyside (or whatever they are calling themselves this week) should hang their heads in shame.
Ray.