7027 Thornbury Castle

It would be a shame if either of those is built, operated for ten years, and then left dead for a prolonged period, but there would still be a difference; a 4700 (all right, a sort-of 4700) that people can at least go and look at, versus just one more Castle while there are several others that people can look at and probably one or two that they can still ride behind.

 

I have my doubts that even a bodged “4700” will see the light of day any time soon. Much is made about the heritage railway industry’s need to educate but how do you educate by building a fake? A bit like building a Spitfire but sticking an Hispano engine in it because you can’t get a Merlin.

 

You have got that very wrong ! I work in education and copies, reconstructions or your ill considered word 'fakes' if you must ,play a huge part. Just think of WW2 evacuation experiences at the GWSR etc, 4248 under '' ''overhaul '' at Swindon by women, lron Duke at Didcot, the Bristol Boxkite hanging in the entrance hall at Bristol museum. There are countless other examples. They all play a huge part in education. Use of the word '' fake '' implies subterfuge and deception, its simply incorrect in all these circumstances.

 

Plenty of replicas of WW1 types about with completely incorrect engines. Maintaining a 100plus year old rotary engine is no joke, even without considering the idiosyncratic handling.

 

And how would you describe the construction of 4709? Compared to another new build I’ve chucked a few quid towards, there’s been no subterfuge or deception regarding that one.
I would hardly say it’s the same regarding 4709 is it?

 

I am afraid you have lost me there. I was responding to the inappropriate word ''fake'' , are you ?

 

I'd have to disagree on that example. Part of the Spitfire is the iconic sound of the Merlin engine. Did a 4700 have it's own iconic sound? Would TC have a different sound to the other preserved Castles with this boiler? Simple fact is that, once it's under the 4700 casing, as long as it looks right enough from the outside, no-one's going to mind what's underneath.

 

I feel the same about Routemaster buses. I get why TfL went for the Cummins lump late in their lives, but the result sounds nothing like the Routemasters of my youth.

Excuse digression!

 

Digression continues ... I was in the back garden at home a couple of months back. Heard ... the sound. Said "Routemaster" to startled partner ... and found one out the front dropping off a wedding party.

 

So which of you bright-spark piston-heads think they could actually tell the difference in sound a steam loco makes with an ' incorrect ' boiler then...

 

Oh, I dunno, put a Terrier boiler on a King, and I think I could probably hear the difference.....

 

The impression given buy those groups is they are new builds when they are not.
New build is just that a completely new locomotive, not destroying restorable locomotives to make a Frankenstein locomotive.

 

Shhhh don't give them ideas, for their next project.

After the Routemaster new build of course, based upon a 1978 Allegro shell and a Ford Zetec engine.

 

The 4700 was never going to consist entirely of new components and that has never been claimed by anyone. Other than the pejorative "Frankenstein", what term would you prefer for a new build that re-uses some components from withdrawn locos (such as, in the 1030s, a Manor that re-used parts from a Mogul and probably numerous standard components from the stores)?

 

Is the new 47XX being built to the Swindon design drawings? Where the early Manors built to the Swindon design drawings?

 

What other relevant drawings could there be?

 

I think the inference is ‘ is 4709 being built to the Swindon design drawings?’ Or not.

 

Think the answer to that is Yes, just not entirely ones that say for 47xx on them ?

 

Outside cylinders? Tick
GWR design? Tick
GJ Churchward? Tick
Exposed cab? Tick
Doesn’t look right? Tick

What more could you want?



Tom