New Build Claud Hamilton

Well done! You need to check the spelling here and there! :typing: Spell checkers are not infallible!

One thing that needs stating is how you intend to raise funds. However, step one is getting the word out and 't internet is the tool to use these days.

Good luck!

Foxy

 

Recently there have been problems and confusion where people seem to be asociatng us with the J39 new build. This has been the subject of much negative comments bo5th on here and out on the railways and we would like to make it clear now that we are not asociated in any way, appart from sharing one director, who is working seperately for each project. Some negative comments seem to be aimed at young people and their lack of experience in certain areas, which considering young people are the future of railways and many can no longer remember steam at all, is very short sighted. Part of the reason for the Claud new build was to use it to get young people motivated and involved with railways and engineering.

 

I'm young as well being only 25. But I disagree with a lot of your comments. People on hear only comment on the fact that you have no experience in regard to building a loco. Its not easy. You have to put in huge amounts of work. You might as well give up all volunteering on your preserved lines. And what happens when one of your group decides that putting 15-20 years into a project affects there home life when there early 20s and they want to go clubing rather than be on a cold platform promoting the project. I personally wish you luck and hope you succeed BUT i Will not be donating any money until you have got at least frames cut.

 

If you want to get them involved and motivated, starting a project which might see little if any physical progress for years, might not be complete for decades, and which (at least initially) is as much about PR and fundraising as it is about railway engineering seems desperately unwise. Restoring a loco, carriage or even just a wagon would seem far more realistic and useful, and give them a real sense of achievement which they arent going to get if - as seems likely IMO - most of these projects get little further than cutting the frames.

Chris

 

Yes we may not have experience but as stated on the website we will use experienced people where needed, and indeed we are all aware of the time frame and amount of effort needed to see the build succeed. The point of the orginal post was that some people were getting the Claud and J39 groups confused and so we needed to clarify that we are completely different.

We wish to use the project to inspire young people and show them LOOK this is what young people can do in terms of something like this big project and in the railway world and to make a positive impact. However this is not the only reason why a Claud should be built, its always been a loco that people wish had never been scrapped and indeed several were scrapped on the brink of preservation. It is also a missing link in eastern region preservation showing how a pre-grouping design influenced the design of other later locomotives, such as the B12s and other express passenger engines for the Great Eastern and the London & North Eastern Railways.

 

Website now updated including new "Guestbook" and "Support Us" pages and the latest news is that we are teaming up with the Victorian Steam Locomotive Company in Australia to cross promote each other. We also have received the first part of our commissioned art work. http://www.wix.com/claudhamiltonlocogro/phoenix

 

Why don't you negotiate with the NRM to fund, repair and run Butler Henderson? Close descendent and would be good experience for your group and give you credibility to boot. Walk before you run as they say...

 

Unfortunately I doubt the NRM would wish to put a national treasure into the hands of a new group that has not achieved credibility yet - I don't wish to denigrate anyone involved, but there is no denying that the group is in its earliest days and probably hasn't the organisation to take such a deal on. Moreover, I believe Butler Henderson is in need of a new firebox at vast expense - and whether it's repair/replacement would match up to NRM Policy (or policies specifically regarding Butler Henderson) on replacing parts I do not know.

Surely 61572, as basically an elongated Claud would serve the purpose you suggest better? And am I right in thinking that most of the Claud group are NNR based anyway?

 

The ENTIRE group is committed to building a Claud Hamilton Locomotive, NOT overhauling other engines and we find people suggesting we do so to be insulting. We have been researching the class for a few months now and believe now is the time to be ready to receive donations towards the initial cost of acquiring drawings from the NRM, which will be funded as much as possible by our selves, but will require some donations. This is not the first step towards seeing a new Claud Hamilton, the first (standing up) is generating considerable interest which we believe we have done. The second (walking) (which also requires considerable funding) is obtaining the drawings and converting them to CAD. The final stage (running), actually building and assembling the locomotive is a long way off yet. Its not like we have gone from idea to parts without promotion or proper drawings. We are fully aware of the money, effort and time required to build a new locomotive and are prepared to make this happen.

 

Why do you need to convert the drawings to CAD?

 

This will make it easier for companies to machine parts and also enables us to have some of them CNC machined without having them convert it to CAD at a much greater cost of money and time.

 

Thank you. That is very sensible thinking. Having drawn up quite a lot of locomotive plate work on CAD, prior to laser cutting, it is amazing how much the production costs are reduced.

 

Oh. Not so much running before you walk then - more galloping across the sahara... Unless you have credibility as a group or experienced engineers / finance people on board and driving the project forward on a very long term basis (like the A1ST or Beachy Head project) then the small phrase in the quoted paragraph 'considerable funding' may well prove the unjumpable hurdle. Snazzy website or not. People may like your idea of rebuilding a lost obscure class and might say good luck but they probably won't get their readies out. And another cabside, nameplate, smokebox door hinge finds its home at the back of the container...

 

An old photo but the B17 cab is to the left. I wonder if it is still there. http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1468018


I'm in the middle with this one, I can see the points of both sides. However my money only ever goes to coach restoration and the B12/J15 (and its not much being a student!)

 

I believe in the end that cab was made and constructed. Its just a shame that the group had a sad loss.

 

I believe it blew over in the wind? Might have had a sad loss but what about all the people who donated and have been left with a squished vaguely cab shaped pile of tin and no engine to squabble about what colour it is going to be painted? The B17 project was launched with a massive fanfare, huge ambitions and much PR and here we have a container of bent and twisted metal. Because one member of the group leaves / dies / becomes ill the whole project cannot fold as a result, as has happened here. Yet another aspect of business that needs to be learned by these groups is succession planning and business continuity planning. Without that certain failure awaits as has happened to the B17 people. No-doubt I will get hissed at again as a spoilsport and naysayer but as is usual nobody will say I'm wrong and why so.

People - do something - get a track record - get yourselves known and respected and then go for gold and build the big one. As has been said before there are gazzillions of new build projects with flash websites and Executive Directors but at present only Tornado has crossed the line and boiled an ounce of water. Most of these projects and groups proposing another new build will disappear into the ether and suck a substantial amount of donated cash and an enormous amount of good will from the movement.

 

As I said we will use experienced engineers when it comes to the build as well as having experienced people helping with other aspects of the project.

Just because it might be a bunch of teenagers/young adults wanting to do this it certainly does not mean we can not do it. We are all determined this will happen no matter how long it takes, we are fully prepared at the amount time and effort the project will take, and we will certainly not be doing any engineering ourselves without experienced people on hand.


As for the B17 cab it blew over in high winds, i believe it was repaired soon after

 

Has it been put back on the loco yet though????

Do these 'experienced engineers and people' know they are being used???

 

Martin. Would you like to expand further on that please.