V4 2-6-2 No. 3403

Suppose what happens now is dependent on, whether the A1SLT has confidence that 3403 can generate its own revenue stream? or whether it might be better focusing on marketing its existing projects.
Although a lot of preparatory work will have already been done, and much has been said about keeping its 'team' together do those people still want to do another newbuild project...

Hard to think of another extinct Wow factor engine that they might think on -
W1 (In its conventional Form )?
A B17 Streamlined ?

 

Streamlined Thompson A1/1? (More of a neverwazza rather than extinct, I grant)

 

Given it will never steam again, they could walk across the site from Hopetown works to the Darlington museum and measure up “Derwent” for a replica - far more interesting

I’ll fetch my own coat …

Tom

 

I think the V4 question will need to stay on ice for a while. The cost of supporting Tornado increases continually and the funding stream is tighter now. The big ticket items for the P2 have been paid for, but there is much still to fund and much work to do, not least development of the valve gear.

There is no longer any expectation of the P2 joining in the 200 year celebrations in 2025. The current aspiration is that it will appear as a visually completed locomotive, but not yet ready to steam.

In recent times the Trust seems to have developed a wider focus in line with a changing economy. They have been putting more emphasis on developing their own railtour business. The new locomotive works offer a much better viewing opportunity for visitors. They are very keen to develop their link to the main line and, in due course, a turntable. This will open a new market for turning and servicing other railtours. In summary, the Trust is now about much more than building and operating extinct LNER locomotives. Keeping Tornado and the P2 running will be a big enough challenge in itself.

My personal view, unsubstantiated, is that the V4 will be sidelined by other priorities: never abandoned, just quietly shunted into the long grass. My dream of a K3 has certainly gone up in smoke!

 

Not hard at all.
I think this fits the criteria.
https://www.lner.info/locos/U/u1.php

 

I am certain that this has been suggested somewhere previously

No one who worked on it liked it and it was always short of steam. The ex LMS crews who got lumbered with it when it was tried on the Lickey hated it

 

A definitive attack of big chufferitis?

 

If only it had air brakes …

Tom

 

L1 would be historically interesting; W1 (conventional) would be interestng, especially if it were optimised, U1 would be fascinating and completely bonkers.

 

To be Blunt Garratts are ugly freaks, would rather see two 01's, Even a P1 has wheels that would permit 60mph mainline and you could modify the design to take an A3/A4 Boiler and get another one of those built ( for Scotsman etc at the same time). And yes an L1 would be interesting and a lot of its problems wouldnt manifest tootling along a preserved line at 25mph

 

Whereas the vast majority of diesel and electric locos run on pairs of bogies, far fewer steam locos have done so, and very few apart from Garratts. Bulleid tried it with his Leader (and the subsequent Irish version), which perhaps count as "nice idea but". Fairlies have been very successful on one railway, with temporary success in a few other places. Is there scope for something like a new-build Kitson-Meyer?

 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100039811017105

 

It is reassuring to see that that one was a spoof.

 

Yes I think it was in response to the number of half baked new build ideas being 'launched' at the time.

 

Kitson-Still for the win...

 

If the A1 Trust are to build a 3rd locomotive I think it needs to be a smaller/lighter one like the V4 that has wider route availability on the mainline and greater potential for seasonal hire to a heritage line. There is limited scope to operate three large express engines - even if you get into bed with LSL, they have their own fleet too.

 

I think the Garrett family are handsome beasts .

if there is a freak in your post it is the P1 - a loco built to solve a problem that didn't exist.

An A5 Tank would be much more interesting than an L1 ......not that either of them will ever be built

 

not if we’re talking *Robinson* L1…* one of the ugliest tank engines going, which simultaneously looks like it could pull anything you give it, while being about to trip over its own pony truck. Ugly, but a long lived success. I’ve got a lovely model…






*became L3 when Thompson built his L1

 

Something like this perhaps?
Be interesting to see an 0-6-0 on the mainline [that isn't a pannier tank].

 

I think we’ve got to be realistic, that would be useless on the mainline