Collection X

Regarding the non 2ft/600mm locomotive there are not that many to consider;

The 700mm O&K Mallet has now moved to Hedelands Veteranbane in Denmark. Bagnall Conqueror is to be moved to W&L but from the pictures it appears to be at the back of the shed and may therefore be one of the last items to depart. The PL 0-6-4t nr 695 has already departed - it was shown on a low loader in the BBC clip and / or associated photos back in October. I don’t know where is went; I don’t think it went to Aberystwyth particularly as they don’t have other gauges laid out other than in their museum. I thought I saw a photo published on Facebook that might have suggested it was as Statfold but I can’t find said photo anymore and I may be wrong so please don’t quote me. This leaves the 2-6-2t Delta class AK 16 and the class CC 666. The Collection X book does state Peter Rampton acquired the later it in part because he was attracted to the potential of regauging the later to 2ft ‘without too much difficulty’ but as per the reasons highlighted in the posts above I would question that, even if it was re gauged, where could it run? It was designed and built for the Saptura Lines in Bengal where curves were no sharper than 400ft so yes only rebuilt standard line in 2ft would probably work. May be that was Peters plan before he obtained the VoR as the BMR was and is such a line! (The PL did have writing on it stating it was sold to the Brecon Mountain Railway Ltd rather than any other entity) But that is all conjecture. Regardless, unless re-gauging would happen, the CC and the Delta probably have the least certain future in the UK but life is full of surprises.

 

SER 695 PL went to Statfold Barn.

 

This was posted on Facebook and I put a link to it on the W&L thread as this loco had been discussed there. However, the FB post was quickly taken down and the link no longer functions, so I don’t know if it was ever confirmed as correct.

 

695 Kerr Stuart 4408 was stored under cover in the compound at Statfold NGMT during November.

 

The latest Llanfair Railway Journal says that Conqueror is close to being released, initially to go to the Welshpool display shed. New homes were still being sought for 666 and AK16.

 

Should arrive Thursday or Friday I believe.

 

The latest edition of NGW said that 666 is being kept at the farm by the new owner, while AK16 is going to Statfold.

 

Interesting, I wonder what Statfold has planned for 695 and AK16 now that they have no 2ft6 track left. At least they’ll be in good hands.

 

It's a pity that there was no interest for CC 666, given that, according to the Collection X book, Peter Rampton "was attracted (to its acquisition) by the potential of regauging it, 'without too much difficulty', from 2ft 6in to 2ft", as it has an outside frame.

 

As I alluded to in a previous post, I don’t believe the re-gauging of CC 666 would have been the issue. It is the length of both its fixed wheel base (with its 42” dia wheels) and total wheel base that would be problematic; the later I think would be greater than anything else in the UK on 2ft ( Breyer garrats aside).

 

As a bit of speculation, maybe they'll find themselves heading to the West Indies at some point.