MHR Restorations and Overhauls

Thank you for that, as I said, nowt to do with the Rly!

 

Answer to the first point, I don't know, but suspect so!

answer to the second point, from personal experience yesterday, it does what it says on the tin well - hat off to John Lark & the building dept.

 

Liking the new Ropley signs hanging from the shelter.

I meant to ask, what's the story with the bogie in Ropley Car Park with the notice on it about being the first part of Henrietta? For a start, Thomas' carriages were Annie & Clarabel, and secondly they were 4 wheel.

 

Cannot answer your question on the history of the bogey in Ropley carpark but with ref to the Thomas link, Henrietta was Toby the steam tram's coach.
Aaaaarrrrrgghh! We've slipped into Thomas discussion again?

 

But Henrietta was also a four wheeler! Though if it is more a replica Wisbeach and Upwell generic thing, it could be great fun to blast up the bank to M&FM behind a 9F whilst stood on the veranda.

 

Apologies for the 'Thomas' related question, but has ex-WD 0-6-0 'Douglas' been sold? It's listed as being on the Ribble Steam Railway. I was wondering what the reason for sale was.

 

Yes Douglas was sold. It was in need of a 10 year overhaul, we had insufficient work for it to justify that overhaul and someone else wanted to buy it from us.

 

Did he puff away sadly looking for a warm dry shed and a driver who would polish him?

 

No he was dragged away screaming by Deisel who whispered in his ear , its the razor blade factory for you my boy whaaaa haaaaa

 

i still think you may have missed a trick by not rebuilding it into a second Thomas and then marketed it as Thomas's evil twin, imagine the fun thomas weekends would be then, who has turned up, is it thomas, or his evil twin
and then to really milk it, at a ropley thomas, confuse the kids by having both fighting over the trucks

 

Flame throwers on the buffer beams and skulls hanging off the lamp irons!

 

where's it gone ?
(the plan to make a blackmotor I assume has gone with it ?).. did it takes it's tender behind...

 

Is that why 45379 is hiding in the Wheeldrop shed???

 

Ribble Steam Railway complete with tender http://www.ribblesteam.org.uk/exhibits/steam/33-hunset-2890-0-6-0-douglas

I was thinking that if it's not a licensed 'Thomas' loco, then presumably it's less useful than any other WD 0-6-0ST (No 'real loco' pedigree, and less weight over the driving wheels than a saddle tank with the added weight of the tender behind). I wonder if the RSR plans to keep it as a tender loco or convert back to saddle tank.

 

Actually I think 45379 original ashcan will have gone off to make razor blades by now!

 

Douglas is in the workshop at Ribble sporting an L&Y type chimney and the smokebox number plate 52322 which has confused many visitors!
All major mechanical work is complete and boiler overhaul should takeplace next year. When complete the loco will feature a number of modifications which should both improve its performance and looks.

 

I don't think she's hiding - more like kidnapped, considering she's trapped until they get the correct motor for the roller doors!

 

Makes you wonder why the door wasn't a manual chain driven style of door. Considering the door isn't being open and shut that often.

 

The roller door is fixed now.

 

That's good to hear.

Hopefully regular inspections and maintenance will prevent a repeat of the previous problems.