5668 to follow 4253 to KESR

My photos were taken about a year earlier but they are in the loft. I'm sure that the base colour on my slides was more of a blue!

I always thought that it was a very smart 'industrial' livery.

 

Shall we call it a bluey green Steve!! I'd like to find some better pics to establish the colour more accurately. It would be nice to run her in that livery for a while.

 

I can just see Thornbury Castle blasting up Tenterden Bank now *runs for cover*.

 

Would it make it to the top, though?

 

Of course it would! The boiler on a weltrol, the rest....

 

hauled by a Terrier?

 

Out of curiosity - what load limit do you allow for a Terrier / P class? Also, I assume (been a long time since I visited) that you can get water at both ends of the line if necessary?

Tom

 

I don't see why people are worried about the smaller locos being done away with, they'll always be needed, banking all this Swindon scrap up the hills! *winky smiley face goes here*

 

It's usually 75 tons for the P class, and 85 tons for the Terriers. We can water at Tenterden, Rolvenden and Northiam. There are no water facilities at present at either Wittersham Road or Bodiam.

 

With 5668 due to leave that only leaves one of the Rippingale colection at Pontypool - how long before that makes its way to the KESR?

 

Thanks Fireline. That's actually marginally more than our limits (70 and 80 tons respectively for P and Terrier) and your max gradient is steeper, but ours go on longer in one sustained direction. I suspect our limit is more to do with water capacity than absolute haulage ability.

Tom

 

That was the last one, there are no more left on site.

 

Thought there was a 2-8-0T left - so what became of it?

 

The Rippingale 6 were 4253, 5668, 2874, 3855, 5967 & 9629. The only one of those that is a 2-8-0T is 4253 which as we know has gone to the KESR. As far as I'm aware the only one left on site is the pannier, 9629.

 

You mean the ex Rippingale 5 - 9629 is owned by a different group and AFAIK there is no intention to sell it or for it to leave Blaenavon.

 

Nor, to the best of my knowledge, is there any plan for 4253 Ltd to acquire any more engines. Don't forget that we've got our hands full for the best part of the next 20 years! Contrary to a belief held in some quarters, we haven't set out to upset or offend anyone. We wanted to acquire an engine capable of running the Tn-Rb extended line. Events have led us to the position that we are in now.

 

Sorry old chap,

9629 was never part of the Rippingale collection. Totally different set-up.

Regards,
Ian

 

Great idea! IIRC ex-WC&PR Terrier "Portishead" passed into GWR ownership when that Col. Stephens line closed?

 

Two in fact. GWR 5, Portishead was ex 43 Gipsy Hill and the other , GWR 6, was ex 53 Ashtead.

 

None of my business as I have not contributed, and perhaps OT, but a pannier on the Pontypool and Blaenavon would look great! South Wales needs working pannier tanks as an iconic item in Welsh railway history, and I have a feeling that the Gwili (lovely line though it is) doesn't have one. Happy to learn if I'm wrong; yes I know about 6430 at Llangollen, again a lovely sight, but that isn't South Wales and doesn't offer the industrial background that the P&B has. Sorry if I'm waxing too nostalgic about the good old days of NCB in the Valleys.

John