Castle 7027 Tender

My reference was "Barry Scrapyard, the Preservation Miracle", by Alan Warren. Thanks for your reference as it is risky just using one!

 

Not really needed just now - 85 and 461 in traffic, 4 nearing end of overhaul, and (very excitingly) 171 and 131 due out soon...
Yes, that's right - TWO pre-WW1 4-4-0s (albeit one renewed in 1930s), one of which dates from nineteenth century and has never steamed in preservation.
Good times for Irish mainline steam!

 

"When you've seen one castle you've seen em all."
Replace 'castle' with any other class of steam loco...
Besides there's absolutely nothing to dislike about Castles, but plenty to like...

 

An interesting view (the first bit) measured against the number of Bulleid Pacifics it is being assumed that the movement can assimilate!

 

Inevitable result of getting the design right the first time rather than having to rebuild to fix the mistakes...

 

But all GW tender locos look the same.

 

No. There are several different tenders.

 

To the extent that we are reaching the stage where only three out of twenty Light Pacifics have yet to be steamed? Hardly an indication that no-one likes 'em. Things aren't looking too bad for the MNs at the moment, either. As for 7027, there could be many reasons for lack of progress. Was at Crewe Heritage Centre yesterday, and noted that 5224 and 5553 were looking tired in open storage, whilst 80136 had a tarp over the boiler area. Boiler was on a well-wagon.

 

are light Pacifics Steamers then? I assumed they were dieseals by their looks. My bad.

 

Now the fate of John Bunch's locos seems to have been determined (well, more or less- still waiting for confirmation of 73096's new home), I can well imagine that the Waterman locos may well become the next group of engines to occupy the rumour merchants. Let me add that I have no idea whatsoever what the future holds for 5553, 5224, 6634 and 7027, so I won't indulge in speculation but I do hope that they will have a future somewhere. It does seem a shame that 5224 and 5553, to quote "Bulleid Pacific" are looking "rather tired" at Crewe and 6634 no longer receives any mention on SVR updates. As for 7027, if Pete Waterman decides to sell it, I would not imagine he would have any trouble finding a buyer. With one Castle owned by the NRM, two based at Didcot, three owned by the Tyseley set-up and one by Jeremy Hosking, 7027 is the only Castle remotely likely to come onto the market for many years.

 

Hi John

It is funny that you state that 1 castle is owned by the NRM which is true, 3 owned by the Tysely set up which is also true, but you also say that 2 Castles are based at Didcot. Can I ask why you didn't state that the 2 Castles at Didcot are actually owned by the GWS?

 

What a strange question.

 

When PW bought 7027 IIRC there was an agreement to share parts with 5043- which is why the tender tanks got built at the same time. Tyseley- as I understand acquired 3 castles from Barry but basically got 2 sets of motion- 1 engine left Barry without motion and anyone taking a closer look at 5043 will see much of the motion is stamped 7027- i.e. Tys never had 4 sets for its 4 castles including clun castle which was not a barry engine. I don't know this for a fact but there is for sure not a full spare set of fittings- so effectively the parts share agreement was that Waterman could have a look at what was available at Tys once Mount Edgcumbe was complete. I don't think it is much more than a carcass and there will be a lot of new parts required- Its a shame if the 2 GW tanks are lying around- Waterman seemed to go on a spending spree and then stopped. I would be dubious about 7027's prospects- exciting project to restore a beautiful engine but a £2m bill for an engine with no mainline market and one which is ill suited to preserved line use- a hall or manor is of course not the same but is far easier on a preserved line.

 

Quite simple, Ralicar 22. I didn't know who exactly owned 5051. I know that 4079 was gifted to the GWS but I was under the impression that some other locos at Didcot are owned by individuals or groups and not by the GWS. Thansk to Martin, I now know that 5051 has been gifted to the GWS having initially been purchsed by an individual. I didn't know at the time and felt it better to play safe rather than post what might have been inaccurate information.

 

Perhaps he needs a few more hit records... Its no secret that the music industry isn't earning like it once was, and Mr Waterman seems sensible enough to adjust to changed times.

 

The answer is clear then - anyone who wants to see a bit of Waterman "Loco-motion" needs to go out and buy Kylie's Loco-motion...



Tom (hat, coat, spangly hot pants...)

 

Spouting from my bunker....


Perhaps the Barry Island railway could use Thornbury Castle in it's scrapyard exhibit, save cutting up a useful 9F for the exhibit.
It could also serve as useful spare parts for other British built locos scattered around the world needing imperial measurement fittings..

Now put the lid back onto my bunker.