A Locomotive for National Preservation/Heritage Community

wasn't 2859 under threat and must be saved?

 

I think you need to solve the funding problem first, before looking for a locomotive.
Like any business, unless you have a customer there's no point making product.

NP hasn't been the most open walletted of places since I've been here.

I have actually discovered 35025 Brocklebank line is for sale and possibly within reach of NP generosity..

LINK IS HERE

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HORNBY-R-...=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item41841ea839


Seriously though, NPs ability to raise even £100k would be questionable, and if it did maybe it'd be better setting its sights on a J94 or Polish Tkh (USA) tank and paint it as an ex-BR example..as its BR steam that's being discussed, suggesting lack of apetite for anything else.

Maybe NP should make a model railway layout instead ?- easy enough for people to contribute remotely, could be made to travel...

 

The nearest you'll get to a USA Tank is a former Yugoslavian Class 62. Effectively a copy of the American design. The Polish Tkh bears but a passing resemblance.

 

This thread is descending into a farce akin to a certain facebook project, due to people peddling their personal preferences.

Lets step back and assume that a suitable loco is available, maybe on a fix and run contract, and is just needing an overhaul. What is needed is Experience...do we have any un-commited persons?... a Workshop....can facilities be shared?...and Money...to overhaul an out of ticket medium sized loco could cost from 250,000 to 750,000...can we raise that much?

 

Agreed, a need to find out if this project can even get off the ground means we need to find out if if can bd financed


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So an outline of that the project would be, intentions and down to earth expectations would be needed.
This would enable the project to not become fixed and drawn into a lot of people chatting about what they want.

 

Would people like me to make background enquiries, perhaps whittle things down to 3-4 options and then go from there? Assuming the people I would contact have any interest in letting a bunch of people at their lumps of metal or sell them...

 

Before that. There needs to be a feasibility study.

 

And also, I would request before people start contacting others under the flag of National Preservation, could they please go through me please.
Thanks

 

Absolutely..perhaps it's best if you make initial contact when the time is right? I'm happy to go away and research methods of operation of such a venture and to provide some of the legal stuff? Anyone else fancy jumping in with some help?

 

Well, it was worth a try!

Going back to the original premise, if this NP idea has legs, I have a feeling that it will probably end up being a passenger locomotive. It is very hard to enthuse people into supporting the restoration of a freight locomotive enough to part with cash. Those which have made it appear to either have a large backer (ie heritage railway) behind them, or are part of a larger pooling of locomotives that can be rotated time goes by. Its a shame, but it goes back to the issue of what floats most people's boats.

 

I would just like to add - that this idea is for an ambassador for railway preservation, and membership and support should not be limited to this forum..


This forum contains a broad spectrum of enthusiasts from across the UK and seems like a logical first place to grow the idea from..


If we showed commitment to a project, involving lottery funding if possible and the NRM would be also a good idea - I know the lottery fund other projects but this would be unique in promoting preservation and heritage across the country as a whole. It would be nice to involve the NRM and local preserved railways where such an engine would visit - perhaps involving education visits for secondary schools, FE colleges and university engineers - the scope for education is vast, the history of the loco and steam engines, the science behind how it works for a level and gcse physics, and perhaps monitoring and component construction from university's

 

Which is why I don't think a NatPres loco will ever work. I have no great interest in a project which is similar to others. I'd much rather put money into something unusual which still has some use, eg. Crane Tank on the Foxfield. Yet another Bulleid, Standard Tank or Austerity doesn't do anything for me.

Most loco owning groups are presumably people who have similar interests (they all like that type of loco), they live close to the loco so they can get physically work on it, and the group is small enough to make decisions.

Unless there's another Mr Hosking on this forum somewhere, I also don't know where NatPres members are going to get the money to buy, restore and re-restore a loco. Glyn can barely get enough members to contribute to the running of the forum and pay for the server costs.

Richard

 

But then there were people who said Tornado would never get built and that was built by subscribers from all over the world

 

I'd be willing to be involved. Time and financial constraints mean that I can't do much on my own, but could as a cog in a much bigger machine.

My personal locomotive suggestion, 33001. The SR Q1s are locomotives only a mother (or rail enthusiasts) could love. It's a reasonable size, a unique restoration project, wider appeal (Neville from Thomas the Tank Engine)?

Alternatively B4 Normandy or Adams Radial No. 488? Both missing in operational railway preservation.

 

All this thread will produce is hot air and a squabble about whose favourite engine will be selected. Even if an engine was selected the next big unsettleable squabble will be what colour it will be painted. Set the facebook page up and call in Stuart Reeder and Alf Roberts to manage it

 

And to add, where would it be restored etc.

 

Rememberence Line workshops?