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Matheran 740

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by ilvaporista, Apr 7, 2014.

  1. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    For sale: MLR No 740

    http://irps-wl.org.uk/about/mlr740

    One could make an educated guess as to where this might end up!
     
  2. kscanes

    kscanes Resident of Nat Pres

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    Isn't it already there?
     
  3. Nvincer

    Nvincer New Member

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    Yes, in pieces in the yard.
     
  4. pjm

    pjm New Member

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    I have been told that they do not want it as it is to big a job
     
  5. Nvincer

    Nvincer New Member

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    Surely repairing HC972 from diesel conversion was their biggest job to date?
     
  6. pjm

    pjm New Member

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    That is what they said to my friend, would be nice to see it back at Leighton buzzard for a full restoration
     
  7. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

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    Doubt that given that some of the stuff they have for restoration make ex Barry locos look complete :)
     
  8. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

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    I don't kno whether it is wanted at Statfold or not, but I don't think it is healthy for everything to go there. Other locations are available! How about the S. Tynedale now that they are extending?
     
  9. Charles Parry

    Charles Parry Member

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    Could be a good one for the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway. Be very useful for substantial loads to Pont Cresor. Or maybe Adrian Shooter wants another Indian toy for his garden railway.

    Rode behind her at Leighton Buzzard a few years ago. She put in a great performance till she derailed on the tight turn to cross Vandyke Road. Managed to rerail her very quickly mind.
     
  10. fatbob

    fatbob Member

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    "I have been told that they do not want it as it is to big a job"

    Just to clarify, I can confirm we are not interested in purchasing 740.

    Not because of the amount or size of work involved but because we have plenty to be going on with!

    HC 972 was no small task nor our Mallet No 9.

    Anyone who has seen our Davenport can see that although it is a "small" loco it is a "big" job !!

    I totally agree with 61624 that not everything should come here. Personally I would love to see 740 fully restored and running at Leighton Buzzard, South Tynedale, WHR or even the V of R !.

    It is Grahams policy to share his loco collection with as many people as possible which is why HC972 is currently in Wales, Isibutu is in Cumbria and Harrogate is shortly to join her.

    Later in the year GP39 will be at Apedale, the Corpet at Threlkeld and a loco (TBA) at the Amerton gala.

    Henry

    Statfold Barn Railway
     
  11. Nexuas

    Nexuas Well-Known Member

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    Workshop capacity issues being disregarded here would it be possible to give a very rough "ballpark"/"Fag packet"/"Educated stab in the dark"/"None binding" figure on how much you would charge as a contract job to do ALL the required work on the loco to get her back steaming for another 10 years? By all means respond by PM if you would rather.

    Thank you.
     
  12. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

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    I totally agree with 61624 that not everything should come here. Personally I would love to see 740 fully restored and running at Leighton Buzzard, South Tynedale, WHR or even the V of R !.

    It is Grahams policy to share his loco collection with as many people as possible which is why HC972 is currently in Wales, Isibutu is in Cumbria and Harrogate is shortly to join her.

    Later in the year GP39 will be at Apedale, the Corpet at Threlkeld and a loco (TBA) at the Amerton gala.


    I'm pleased that you agree, and that the Statfold collection is so well travelled - it is a commendable policy. I wasn't having a go at Statfold, as I said I just think it isn't healthy to see everything located in one place, its far better spread around, and I hope that 740 can be found a home where it will see plenty of use.
     
  13. Nvincer

    Nvincer New Member

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    Hi Henry,

    With Statfold being so good at loaning out locos, has there ever been any contact with Bredgar? Or vice versa? I understand that obviously moving locos is expensive but these are two railways with seemingly similar philosophies.

    Ben
     
  14. narrowgauge

    narrowgauge New Member

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    Bill Best was at the first Statfold open day.
     
  15. fatbob

    fatbob Member

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    "Bill Best was at the first Statfold open day."

    They came up with Lady Joan/No1

    In those days we were short of locos!

    I think you are right, the problem is the high cost of transport.

    Henry
     
  16. BiggerBob

    BiggerBob New Member

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    India would like to repatriate the locomotive
    "Matheran’s first ever locomotive up for sale, family wants govt to bid


    By Rajendra B Aklekar, Mumbai Mirror | Apr 10, 2014, 01.32 AM IST

    http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/...ly-wants-govt-to-bid/articleshow/33519951.cms

    The present-day generation of Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy, who built the Neral-Matheran railway route over a century ago, want the Indian Railways and the government to make an effort to bring back an original locomotive that operated on the heritage Matheran Light Railway.

    The steam locomotive - one of the original four - has been in the UK for the past 30 years, and has now been put up for sale by the Railworld Museum at Peterborough, England.

    While no reserve price has been set for the loco, the sale will be executed via informal tenders, the deadline for submission of which is June 30. Railworld Museum says the sale will be to a new owner who has the resources and the commitment to restore and operate the Berlin-built locomotive and provide access to the public. The sale is being managed on behalf of the trustees by The International Railway Preservation Society.

    Sources said there were four novel steam locomotives that the Peerbhoy family had bought specially for the mountainous stretch from Messrs Orienstein & Koppel, Germany. These were specifically built for the narrow curves and steep climbs of the Matheran hills. Of the original four engines — MLR 738 is stationed at Neral and is still used occasionally on the route for special tours, MLR 739 is at National Railway Museum in New Delhi, MLR 741 stands outside Matheran station, while MLR 740 is the one in UK.

    Built in 1907, the 19.97-km stretch between Neral and Matheran in Raigad district of Maharashtra has been included by UNESCO in its tentative heritage list among mountain railways of India.

    "The Neral-Matheran railway is our family's creation and we would like the government to honour Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy by getting this original locomotive back to India," said Ali Akbar Adamjee Peerbhoy, a great-grandson of the Peerbhoy family, who shuttle between Matheran and Clare Road at Byculla where they live.

    Comprising two sisters, Fatima and Zainab, and three sons, Husain, Ali Akbar and Ali Asgar, the family own the Khatija Resorts at Matheran, run a charity in Saurashtra, and a school near Neral.

    They also resent the attitude of the authorities towards the quaint railway and its founder. "Even the locomotive that stands outside Matheran station today does not bear the Peerbhoy name. The Railways should at least install an adequate plaque at the site," Ali Akbar added.

    When Mirror contacted Indian Railways Executive Director (Heritage) Manu Goel, he said he was yet to hear about the upcoming sale, and would have to inquire about it before commenting.

    Meanwhile, Phil Marshall of the International Railway Preservation Society, said, The locomotive is currently dismantled and in secure storage following a comprehensive condition survey by a third party. The boiler report and basic mechanical assessment are available to interested parties, and inspections of the locomotive can be arranged."

    Asked about the expected price, Marshall said, "As the sale evoked considerable interest, we decided not to set a reserve price. We want to ensure that the loco is restored and that the public will have access to it. As such, we will also take into consideration the future uses of the loco."

    Echoing the Peerbhoy family's sentiments is Prof Dr Balkrishna Bhosale of the sociology department of Mumbai University, who is writing a book on the history of Matheran and its railway. "This is the chance.... we should buy the locomotive and restore it. It's a matter of shame that the locomotive is outside India. The Indian Railways must make a bid for it," Prof Bhosale said.

    Built in 1907, the locos were very successful and the fleet of four worked the line exclusively until the introduction of diesel engines in 1965. Thereafter, the steam locomotives continued in service for some time, until they were withdrawn in 1982.

    The MLR 740 was donated to Britain by the Government of India in 1985 in recognition of services towards the establishment of India's National Railway Museum. The engine was acquired by the Amberley Chalk Pits Museum and arrived in UK on November 28, 1986. It was donated to Railworld Museum, Peterborough, in 1991."
     
  17. MuzTrem

    MuzTrem Member

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    It will be interesting to see whether anything comes of those calls. Of course, I quite understand why the Indians would want her back. But on a personal level, I'd be very disappointed to see her leave the UK, as I never managed to ride behind her during her last boiler certificate :(
     
  18. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    The Indian Government donated her to the UK in good faith as a "thank you" for help in setting up their own NRM. I vote she stays. After all there's a sizeable Indian community in the UK and maybe they would identify with this and thus be encouraged to visit whereever she ends up operating.
     
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  19. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

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    The Indian Government donated her to the UK in good faith as a "thank you" for help in setting up their own NRM. I vote she stays. After all there's a sizeable Indian community in the UK and maybe they would identify with this and thus be encouraged to visit whereever she ends up operating.

    An interesting parallel with the North American A4s - discuss!
     
  20. MuzTrem

    MuzTrem Member

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    Well, I've always argued that the Americans and Canadians should be allowed to keep their A4s - so no-one can accuse me of hypocrisy for wanting No. 740 to stay in the UK!;)
     

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