1014 County of Glamorgan

When you’ve annoyed enough people,where on earth will it come from?

 

My thinking was, during its initial stint, could money be raised to put aside for the new outer 'box sheet? Obviously expensive, but not as expensive as the inner' box.

Richard.

 

Except that it isn't just a singular sheet it is also the backplate and throatplate which are expensive pressings. If this loco ever runs I can envisage it tootling up and down at Didcot before going on tour and, when the first 'ticket' is up and the novelty value has worn off, being parked up like most of the GWS collection. I find it very sad to see to route that the GWS and some of its satellite groups have taken in recent years.
Ray.

 

Along with the rest of us, I'd say that's a pretty safe bet.

 

I believe the GWS attitude is that they have a museum collection with some working exhibits. They only need 3 or 4 working locos at any one time (true of most railways) so why are people dissappointed that they don't have a dozen in working condition that will be sat around idle while their boiler certificates tick away.
That they constantly seek to expand their collection should be applauded (Even if that now days requires compromises on accuracy). Yes, one of their sub groups has dropped a mighty bollock recently, but despite that the main groups and volunteers actually working at DRC deserve better than all the negativity that comes their way on NP.

 

But that said and you have said few times there is a shortage of locos out there so i am sure they could get work for it

 

Do they get negativity on here, only ever seen it directed at those making the decisions, interestingly considering the fuss about 7027, a substantial amount of the most cutting criticism was coming from volunteers actually working at DRC who were also emphasising that it just reflected the underlying tension there between the volunteers who seem to have limited interest in the new build projects and the powers that be who have limited interest in the historic fleet.(being neither volunteer nor power that be I cannot comment on the validity of either argument bar noting that it has been one that has been floating around for a fair few years)

The only suggestion of hassle being directed at the volunteers seems to have come from the CEO and as noted in post #347 he has unfortunately not shown himself to be the most accurate witness in the whole process, see also the various justifying posts online suggesting that the previous owner of 7027 had passed away.

 

Toddington, Bridgnorth or Minehead might. Would it clear the platforms on the MHR? Horses for courses.

 

Exactly, if the GWS want to go down that route, overhaul the 55xx, the 66xx, the 61xx even Cookham Manor or 5322. All much better suited for the site and hire.

I'm sad to say, but I am in my latter 40's and I cannot see the King or 5051 being overhauled in my life time and as for either Hall I just can't see it.

 

[Best Severus Snape impression] Obviously.

The matter of hire years is a bit of a red herring, in that the overhaul timetable is the same whether hired out or not. No? Whilst many loco hire agreements are specifically to cover some shortage, others have been driven by more WIBN motives. True, in these constrained times, that second category will be harder to justify. If issues arise funding a 10 year overhaul, straight from traffic, hire may be more than less likely.

Your comment re: modern traction presupposes diesels, especially the earlier, claggy variety won't face much the same issues as coal fired locos. I'm afraid over the medium term, diesel has no more future than coal. I reckon the last commercial use will be shipping, if only because they're only visible from the ISS.

What we face is the end of doing things the way we have. That emphatically isn't the same as saying "You've had your fun, now ■■■■ off". Coal is at the forefront of many current concerns and I've spoken about fuel elsewhere, but we're also going to need a lot more cooperative effort across our movement.

The good news is we've had the makings of that since day one (strictly, that ought to be since before day one, as Fairbourne Railway staff worked on the PW of the Talyllyn, ahead of the first train way back in 1951), with certain lines and centres known for excellence in various specialised fields.

There never has been any rule stating something has to be restored at the railway on which it's to run. Not everyone volunteering is necessarily interested in running trains. Some mightn't even be able to differentiate LWNR from GW carriages by livery alone. Not every activity vital to the operation of a line or museum needs be carried out alongside a railway. Does Herston Works have a rail connection with tbe rest of the Swanage operation?

Will every line survive? Possibly not, but that's actually been the case since day one. Some schemes failed before they got going, others for various reasons, not always directly related to viability. We've some lines could even return to the big railway (and I'll eat my android if that includes the Gwili!)

**HERESY ALERT** There are routes where the scenic qualities of the route are the primary draw. Past electrification schemes were advanced for the PB&SSR (precursor to the WHR), the VoR and even the Talyllyn. Quite likely some others. Just because we've got a bee in our bonnet about steam doesn't necessarily mean an entire railway automatically becomes non-viable without it.

The world is not about to end. If I'm wrong, please do feel free to tell me about it ..... afterwards. The only thing I do know for certain is that nothing will be solved by hand-wringing and lamentations. Adapt, or die and if the choice is "die", be so good as not to take everyone and everything down with you.

I blame that bl--dy Richsrd Wagner. Goddam Götterdämmerung

 

I have a PBSSR loco on my to do list for that very reason That and I just plain like them.

 

The Peebles 3-phase jobs, Russell ..... or have you found some obscure document proving Gowrie was really a PBSSR loco*?



*very little surprises me.

 

The Peebles ones, I've always had a secret love for them. Disapointingly not on the Gowrie front

 

You have to wonder how differently things might've panned out, had the 'General Undertaking' identified some staple traffic to support it's ambitions. I always quite liked the idea of the Beddgelert to Bettws-y-Coed line.

By the by, I never really tried to work it out, but how the hell does 3-phase catenary cope with junctions?

 

This thread must in the running for the 2022 furthest off topic award. We seem to have gone from talking about an english new build standard gauge steam locomotive, to narrow gauge and Scottish electric railways in the space of half a dozen posts (Is this a new record?)

 

Not even close!