New Build Night Owl - 4709 Begins

Great News on Didcot's website:
Didcot Railway Centre | News | Latest News

Also a very good looking leaflet has been produced as well. Definitely one project that is going to fly.
http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/forms_central/4709_appeal_leaflet.pdf

 

Excellent, been waiting for this announcement for a while. Though can't believe they've raised enough to have the frames cut already! Seriously tempting to sign up to this.

 

It will be a fund-raising race to see which of Llangollen's new-builds will be finished first - the 'Patriot' or the 47xx.

Bob.

 

Or 6880?

By my totally subjective reckoning, I think it will be 6880, Patriot, 47XX. Interesting that 4115 has proved to be in such decent condition. Almost makes it a shame for it to have been broken up, such a perfect class for much heritage railway work. Ah well.

 

I think being a member of 6880 Bob is aware of her. However let's not stray off topic so soon.

There is still six 41XX in preservation as well as two 5101 and a 61XX. So we haven't exactly lost anything significant with the loss of 4115. A 47XX though really is something different, it's not just another GWR 4-6-0. Wishing the guys the best of luck with this one

 

Indeed not, I was just being a bit reflective.

 

No, it's yet another GWR 2-8-0!

 

You can never have too many GWR 2-8-0's! Although of course, some are better than others....

 

Well, Swindon was always noted/notorious for such things: lets think...
9017, 7802, 7808, 7812, 7819 and arguably 7200, 7202 and 7229 are all surviving "Frankenstein" locomotives just for a start... Beyond that I cannot imagine there is a single preserved Swindon locomotive that is not currently sporting parts that have served on long scrapped sisters or cousins.

 

Fantastic project this, looks very achievable.

Chris

 

I am aware of the age-old and oft-repeated arguements about people being able to do whatever they want with their time and money, but I must agree with you. This project does absolutely nothing for me. Three locos die, two of them very useful classes for preserved lines. Why? So we can make a large 2-8-0. The number of 28 and 38xx for sale and unrestored suggest that they are not that popular a loco type with preserved lines and have no mainline potential. Is it a unique design? Does it fill a gap in large gap in preservation?

Didcot started the ball rolling with the Rail-motor, which I thought was a unique and interesting project about resurrecting something. Since they seem to be going new-build crazy. They hadn't even half finished the Saint and a County was started, now with two new builds ongoing a third is started. One at a time would've seemed simpler to me, but hey, as I said, its other peoples time and money.

We all have different views on our hobby and it would be very dull if we all agreed. But I for one, won't be contributing a penny to this and wouldn't if I won the lottery. One has to wonder with The Saint, The County and the Night Owl, just when some of Didcots long-term residents might next get some TLC. I know different groups may be/are involved, but there is a finite amount of money, men and shed space and everytime another new build is announced I see 6106/7808 etc going another 10 years away from steaming.

Shame.

 

Frankenstein loco? maybe. but 5205 has a bum cylinder and the 2-8-0 is well, yet another 2-8-0. shame about 4115, but dont forget 4110 at tysley and 4150 at SVR have still not steamed yet. I think its a great project and I hope it succeeds, but I think three new builds at once at the GWS is too much and they should finish 2999 first

 

I'd much rather see a "frankenstein" loco in steam than a very original pile of iron oxide.
And it's just a continuation of Swindon practice in the interchange of standardised parts.
I'm quite looking forward to this one being done.... lined up next to the Saint, County, Grange & Patriot in a few years time
(The 38xx County looks quite a good idea as well.)

 

Whats the coupled wheelbase length for this loco... is it longer than the P2 ? will it fit in the loading gauge ?

Steam Locos were all built as horses for courses, i cannot see a 47xx being that popular a resident heritage line loco as its quite big (esp if the correct size boiler is attempted- perhaps they can borrow one off a king as we've got loads of them ) and has plenty of curve chewing potential...
As a Mainliner though i think this brings a different kind of interest to the party that the 8F does and the 9f used to... if it will fit.

6 wheels good, 8 wheels better !

 

So three locos - 2861, 4115 and 5227 - are "destroyed" just to create one "new build." Just as a unique LNER built 8F is being wrecked to create a faux County. Doesn't seem right to me although it could be argued I suppose that if these donor locos had zero chance of ever running again then let them give up their parts. Is that really the case though?

 

But look what happened to 71000. Phoenix from the ashes and all that.

 

Saggin - when you ask how they could be described as alive..........

How are they any differnt from the Standard 4 tank which the Mid Hants got last year, which they hope to steam within the ten years? They existed. Irrelevant of state, they were still locomotives. They are not any longer. A SLITHER of hope existed for their reincarnation all the time they were intact. Now, alas, they are offically deceased. They are ex-locomotives. If they weren't sitting on rails they would be pushing up the daisys.... etc