Gas Turbine 18000 to Didcot?

Saw this on the Wikipedia page for the Gas turbine locomotives 18000;

"In the early 1990s it was secured for preservation; it returned to the UK and was kept at The Railway Age, Crewe.

It has now been moved to Barrow Hill Engine Shed and been repainted in a green livery.

It was due to move to Didcot Railway Centre before the end of 2008 but was still at Barrow Hill in August 2009"

I wasn't aware of this before - anyone have any more information on this move?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_18000

 

..and didcot has road access issues at the moment doesnt it?

 

Not for much longer according to the website - as it doesn't have far to go, then perhaps being out of gauge won't be a problem?

http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/news/latest.html

 

Suppose it depends how many bridges are encoutered between Milton and entering the GWS site, not like a steam loco where you can take off the chimney or safety valve bonnet if needbe.

 

We no longer use Milton (it closed earlier in the year), instead we have a new loading area in the West Yard, near the flash new 'HM Prison' style signal box. I can't see gauging being too much of an issue; I think there's only one signal gantry it would need to go under. However at the moment we've nowhere really to put it, and seeing as it's already under cover, I wouldn't think there was too much point in moving it to be honest.

Long term there is a plan to incorporate it into the centre, however I wouldn't hold your breath on it just yet.

 

Whatare the Gauging issues? Height seems to be assumed but were not the alterations made to one of the bogies? ie I suspect it might be bogie width.

 

Having had to shunt, look at, be within 100 yards of this thing for too many long years I can safely say you have more chance of pigs flying than moving this thing over the network.

Martin is right it was modified to accept measuring equipment and as a consequence is possibly the widest locomotive (if you can still call it that) in the country.

People who have no knowledge of the loco have moved it in the past and indeed tried to fit it down past our platform at the Heritage Centre. The platform still has the chunks missing out of the ramp at the far end.

The loco also sat in the same spot and wasnt moved for over 12 years. When we came to move it our 03 at full power with sand down on a dry railhead wouldnt shift it. It took 4 attempts and 1 scrap coupling to move it (ill leave you guys to decide how we did it) when the bearings cracked it sounded like someone had loosed off a shotgun!

Couple this with the fact that there are various bits of the bogies secured with rope and still futher bogie bits in the cab.

It would need a massive amount of money and modifications to even make it fit for travel over plain line. Ground signals and point heaters could easily be taken out by some of the springs.

No Hoper im afraid

 

Matt..

Look around Didcot on your next visit, 6023, 2999,firefly,steam railmotor.

Never say Never.

or Mr Croucher and Mr Howells amd the rest of the team may prove you wrong.

Ian H

 

Does this mean that 18000 will be restored to main line standard in time to haul excursions for GWR175?

 

of course it can be mainline for GWR175, as they purchased one of the RR Trent engines from 777 that landed short of Heathrow not so long back and plan on putting that in with a couple of minor mods to handle the slightly more powerful gas turbine than the original one............

 

Well 18000 arrived in Didcot today (2Oth July).
It was parked up next to the signal center ready for movement to the Railway Centre

 

There will be a few available soon, unless the Vulcan guys have nabbed them. As they were used in the Invincible Class of Aircraft Carriers. And Ark Royal will be broken up soon if not already.

 

Maybe it could be a candidate for an MTU repower or as a prototype for the GWML electrification The othe Western region gas turbine became a test bed for the LMR 25KV electrification and was clasified as class 80. sadly it did not last long enough to carry a tops number

 

There were a few Olympus engines coupled up to emergency generator sets dotted around the country. Maybe there are still some available?

 

Unfortunately the marine Olympus engines are too dis-similar to the ones used in the Vulcan hence they're of no use to VTST - that's why once the trust are unable to make a good set of 4 engines out the 8 the project started out with it'll be the end of XH558's flying days, unless some popup from who knows where, although by that point the airframe hours will be up on her anyway.

 

At the risk of going too far off topic. Are there any Concorde engines still about and if so would they be suitable for either project? Some years ago Rolls Royce ventured into the power generation market. I think they mainly used an RB211 bassed engine but who knows.

 

Any news of when it is being moved on site?