M&GN boilers

I notice that there have been some questions in earlier posts regarding the other boilers that were recovered from the Maldon joinery factory. The Derby Belpaire boiler from M&GN No.50 has been at Mangapps Railway Museum since 1988. About 20 years ago, a group from the GCR(N) had made an offer to buy it, which was accepted, but after several years nothing more was heard from them, so another offer from a private individual was accepted, but this deal also fell through. Currently the boiler is lying unloved, neglected and surrounded by weeds and, given the current price of scrap, it's next move is likely to be to China........unless anyone has a better idea!

 

Re: Brighton Atlantic

That's not good news. I'd forgotten about that one, mind. So, what classes could use that boiler?

Mark

 

Re: Brighton Atlantic

an M&GN Class C would be my favourite

 

Re: Brighton Atlantic

A M&GN class C would be good in my opinion too. The G6 boilers looked good on them.
Does anyone know if a M&GN tender still exists? There was an appeal to save one in the
seventies .

 

Re: Brighton Atlantic

something for the NNR to consider, in time?

 

Re: Brighton Atlantic

Well, you would think so, but the NNR have known about this boiler for at least 20 years without, AFAIK, showing any interest. Time is the real issue, I suspect that for this, the sole remaining major component of an M&GN loco, it's running out!

 

Re: Brighton Atlantic

I can't imagine that the NNR wouldn't love to have a Class C but with regret I suspect that they are doing the right thing by not taking on the project. I doubt they even have the space to spare to offer shed room for a project. It's a great shame and if I win the Euromillions it'll be rectified

 

Re: Brighton Atlantic

It's the M&GN society rather than the NNR if any who would be the ones to get the boiler but with the B12, J15, WD, Wissington, D5631, Quad set, Suburbans, LNER & GER Mainline carriages, M&GN GER LNER & Wisbech & Upwell Vintage carriages as well as numerous wagons and the Museum at Holt they have plenty to be getting on with.
If there was the space it could make an interesting display somewhere, I would have thought a new build loco would want a new boiler unless the old one was in very good condition. Don't forget the J15 had virtually a new boiler the last time it was overhauled and this has been well worth it.

 

Re: Brighton Atlantic

Anybody know what happened to the other Atlantic boiler? Ray.

 

Re: Brighton Atlantic

It was scrapped at Brightlingsea, in the early '90s I think. Sail & Steam had some financial problems and the boiler was scrapped, either by the receiver or the firm's landlord.
I agree that the radical overhaul on the J15's boiler has proved very worthwhile, but the loco had serious and repeated boiler issues ever since it's original restoration in 1977. The boiler at Mangapps has been inspected and ultrasonic tested, the general conclusion being that it is in reasonable condition and certainly capable of restoration. An odd coincidence is that it is fitted with a GE smokebox, either from a J15, F5 or similar, presumably fitted after No.50 was scrapped at Stratford in 1945. This caused some confusion re identification when it was first removed from Maldon.

 

Would it be any use to the F5 project, now based at Mangapps, or is it completely different dimensions?

 

The M&GN boiler was offered to the F5 group, but was rejected as they wanted total originality. The dimensions are broadly similar, but the major difference is the belpaire firebox- the F5s had round-topped. The one thing that would have been suitable was the smokebox door, but that was one of the few components that they had already got!

 

I thought that GCR 567 group were after it? or has that hit the buffer stops already......

 

I wish it could go back on an M&GN C class... look nice on the quads.

 

See post #1 on this thread. The GCR(N) group mentioned was the 567 group.

 

It does seem incredible that there is a boiler in (apparently) reasonable condition from a loco of which there are no survivors and from a railway with no surviving locos and yet it is literally kicked into the long grass. I wonder whether some kind of joint project between Midland Railway Centre and M&GN JR Soc (I know I said they shouldn't) with a deal that it spends half of each ticket as a MR 2581 class (someone who knows more than me would be able to say whether they also made it into LMS ownership) and half as said M&GN Class C / LNER C/1 2 or 3 (4 if it keeps the GER firebox?). One loco two railways and twice the fanbase/fundbase...Blimey it even crosses a grouping divide.

 

Question. Probably a daft one, but what the hey.

There's at least one unrestored Jinty with little hope isn't there? How similar is a Jinty to a J40?

Could this boiler plus Jinty bits give you a M&GN J40?

 

I was being rather romantic when I suggested it was one for the NNR, I appreciate.

There's also the T1 boiler at Avon Valley - another LSW 0-4-4T, anyone? Unless it would fit something else...a Jubilee 0-4-2 maybe?

Ok, ok, I'll stop dreaming...

 

But that was 20 odd years ago, I thought this 567 group was new only a couple of years ago.