6880 Betton Grange

....or a couple of 8Fs from the Strategic reserve hidden away in Box Tunnel??

 

No the 8f were moved to Avonmouth, theres only granges and a couple of 9f's now left in Box Tunnel. if your lucky you might get 3 granges, but you won't get any numbers, they now run numberless.

 

I thought they were all converted into counties...

 

I do genuinely hope they get it sorted, but it is getting a bit silly, isn't it?

Some time ago we had a bit of chat about next new-build to finish, and the consensus was Betton Grange. I said a gambler's choice might be the G5... am now beginning to wish I had popped down to William Hill and put a fiver on it

 

Well you'd probably still have lost because it looks like the loco most ready to swoop in beat the Grange would be Beachy Head, wouldn't it?

 

You could well be right...

 

Except that Beachy head isn't going anywhere until the bluebell have run it in, ironed out any snags, and are happy with it, it's not been promised to every gala happening in the next 6 months. and I doubt it will be going anywhere this year, other than from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead.

 

I think the G5, although coming along well, is still a little way off.

 

Depending on what you define as 'finished' bets may be closing soon... https://www.facebook.com/6880Betton...JxPA9AogAKQzQuSzSDwT41xZPku59g3py77QpKXeg5ZUl Hopefully link should work for non-facebookers, if not:

 

I guess everyone has a different view, but to me it would be when it is hauling paying passenger trains on an HR or mainline( not 6880 of course)

 

Oh no it wouldn't! Anyway, early days yet but the Grange Team have done it! Looking forward to seeing it, hopefully (as I've said before) on the GWSR soon.

 

I don't feel we are in a race! From my understanding there are a few "underneath" jobs that are easier to do now that the loco has moved over a pit (Atlantic House is well equipped, but had no pit - so anything under the loco such as lubrication runs either had to be done by scrabbling on the ground, or else from above before the boiler was mounted). I think running in traffic will probably be from the summer period.

Nor the next several I suspect. I don't detect any clamour from those who built it to go trailing round the country just to rack up new bits of line.

I think there is a psychological difference between locos built at and for a line (such as the 3MT, Beachy Head), and those that are essentially a project unaffiliated to a particular line. In the latter case you obviously have to be constantly looking for somewhere to run, either short term or long term. In the former, for most supporters, they have supported the loco because they wish to see it run at their own line! Certainly I'd be a bit narked having contributed funds if my own opportunities to fire the loco were restricted by its being away. Plus, from an investment point of view (and we all have to think about money), we need to maximise the opportunity presented to draw in new traffic by the novelty factor: if a new loco is going to generate ticket sales because people specifically want to see that, we need those tickets to be sold on the home railway. Hence I don't think there is a rush to send it elsewhere - in due course no doubt, but not until the newness wears off a bit I suspect.

I'd respect that view elsewhere - I'm sure if the Swanage Railway want to keep the T3 uniquely on their line despite what I suspect is a long list of potential hirees, then so be it: it's only worth hiring out when they feel that it is no longer seen to be drawing a crowd on its own.

Tom

 

See I’d beg to differ. Whilst a loco is new and shiny the potential to hire it out is worth a lot more cash

 

Besides all the points Tom makes vis a vis supporters etc, I very much doubt the hire cash is worth the loss in ticket sales, shop sales, food sales, all the rest. Logically it can't be, otherwise it wouldn't be cost effective to hire it in. The first opportunity to see it in Norfolk, Lancashire, or whatever, will still be the first opportunity if its two years, five years whatever after it first runs in Sussex, so there'll still be a premium.

 

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=851024276836249

 

I'm just glad they've got the thing steaming...

 

Is that a King, or a Castle, or a Hall or a Manor who knows, who cares.........

 

As others have said is it a big manor or a small hall?

 

Plenty of people care. If you’ve got that attitude you’ve no need to comment. It’s better than that Southern tat in your picture

 

I really don't think we need to be behaving so childishly when it comes to steam locomotive preferences. For grown adults we can be unnecessarily rude when it comes to differences in opinion about which designs we like more, and in my opinion it's only ever a bad thing. At the end of the day, the fact that we have these complicated machines that have been obsolete for over 50 years being run, maintained, overhauled and, in the case of 6880, built by volunteers and charities funded by the goodwill of enthusiasts like us is an incredible thing worth celebrating, and we shouldn't be tarnishing it by behaving like 6 year olds and saying "Oh I don't like that specific design of boiler on wheels so I'm going to say it's pointless and anybody who does like it is an idiot". Can we behave like adults instead and have acknowledgement and respect for different people's railway preferences?#