MHR Restorations and Overhauls

A new build Black motor has been a perennial subject on NatPres, not least because a relatively simple but powerful 0-6-0 would be quite a sensible prototype for many preserved lines (shares a lot of components in common with an M7, for a start).

But this isn't it. The boiler is wrong - too small and too low. The dome (a very distinctive feature of Drummond locos with the built in safety valves) is wrong. The chimney is wrong. The cab profile is wrong. The running plate is wrong (with a step under the cab and huge front buffer beam). The wheels are too small, so no splashers above the running plate. The smokebox is wrong, either in extended form on the superheated locos, or the original non-superheated form with wingplates and sandboxes built in to the front splashers.

Whatever this is, it sure as heck isn't a Black Motor! It might be a nice simple and reliable locomotive now with extended coal and water capacity. But let's not pretend it has anything to do with the LSWR...

Tom

 

hi tom,
i dont disagree with what you say, but i still think DOUGLAS is a rather nice conversion and looks splendid.
cheers,
julian

 

You're being too negative. On the positive side, the colour is right. Well I think it is!

 

Ah, but is it the right shade of black?

 

Yes, though as I recall, Donald and Douglas were based on pre-group Scottish 0-6-0s of some variety, and themselves had rather a strong Drummondian appearance (though possibly Peter, not Dugald!)
On the subject of the tender - like SACM I am interested. I had a quick look through the Vintage Carriage Trust Tender survey, but couldn't find any obvious contenders, either listed at the MHR or the Ribble Steam railway. I sort of assume an original underframe and a newly constructed tank - does anyone know?

Tom

 

As a non-superheated member of the class, it should really be lined holly green

Tom

 

if i remember correctly, the chassis is an old midland most likily 4f and the tank was a new build i think at some stage there were a couple of old tender chassis at ropley, one was an ex schools former snowplow, which is i think under the unfinished 31625 tender, and this one. 31874 had a new tank on the existing chassis, 31806 used the tender it came from barry with, but had the raves cut and re welded to slope inwards 31625 ran with 31806's tender because hers was never completed, the tank was made at swindon, and i believe there were a lot of mistakes made when building it that have to be put right ,hense why the tender was swopped

 

In that case, even the colour's wrong! Why were they called Black Motors, then? Black 5's are black so shouldn't Black Motors be black?

Confused.

 

I seem to remember reading that the name black motors came about either through the general strike in the twenties or another strike that the engines were blacked by the union at the time for one reason or another and the name stuck.

 

Any ideas yet to where the u boat will be going to after August

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The rumour is Swanage and has been for many months now.

 

Rumour has it the first of the engines due to leave the Mid Hants this autumn maybe leaving sooner…. I was told 34016 Bodmin was due to be pulled out of the Ropley head shunt today to be split to enable her to head off to somewhere up north.

 

Interesting. Perhaps it will be a staged movement over the next few months of various JB locos, with 31806 leaving last in September. Certainly makes no sense having to get them all extracted from the MHR in a hurry come September.

 

34016 currently in the cattle dock at Alresford awaiting transport! Not alas to be a MHR restoration, but a WCRC one

 

Is it being taken by road or rail? And will it be there during the gala

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if it's in Alresford Cattle dock, it's going by road.

Good to see her again....happy days....

 

Do you know that for sure, or are you just repeating the general expectation (which I think I may have helped to start the day 73096 came out of service)?

 

I know this questio is not reavlent to restoration but anyone know whats happening with the timetable for the gala no loco allocations as of yet

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Confirmed to me on 22/2 by someone who knows