Brighton Atlantic: 32424 Beachy Head

Always a dangerous thing to do on here (especially on a thread that has seen considerable drift) and to save us all a getting a long list on NP perhaps those that want to revel in failure should visit this site. . . .

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/70332-failed-preservation-projects/

 

Not once up and running, but several got to the stage of gathering stock and (even leaving aside all those that couldn't generate enough interest to get off the ground) Bob only knows how many serious schemes didn't survive the money raising stage. Remember, no websites back then to leave a readily identifiable cyber-corpse.

 

I have been saying this for years. Have it on the GCR and see if we can't get a few of the narrow gauge new builds on display and running on a demonstration line at Quorn and Woodhouse...

 

This is really the wrong thread for this topic but in many ways this particular project exemplifies my misgivings about the way priorities on tourist railways get determined at times. However this issue has been done to death on NP in the past! No point in going on about it further

PH

 

Nice idea....and you just gave me a flash vision of Lyn and Lyd double heading F/WHR observation stock up a gauntleted stretch of track in Wensleydale!

 

Barrow Hill had a gathering of early replicas/new builds and GCR once hosted both Rocket and Planet for an event but having a major event built entirely around new builds would be a damn good idea IMO.

 

Some projects never got off the ground... but I'm talking about projects that actually got started running trains but later closed, like the Swansea Vale. There was another on the outskirts of York that operated 69023. Can't think of any others off the top of my head.

Regarding the building of 32424, I imagine it would have remained on the WIBN list but for the discovery of those boilers...

 

The Swansea Vale may have "failed" in the sense that it no longer operates but in closing both the Gwili and P & B benefitted significantly from extra stock/volunteers/track etc. I certainly wouldn't call that failure- it helped the Gwili achieve a longstanding ambition! That's the point really, let's not think what's been lost but focus on what's left...

Regards

Matt

 

Standard gauge 'down south'... local schemes to retain the Cranleigh line plus the Westerham and Hawkhust branches, which would likely fall into the 'community rail' category today, had they succeeded. The Ashford Railway Centre got further than most. There were propsals (SG and NG) for Cowes - Newport. The Bridport line was the subject of an abortive scheme by 'Thirty Inch Railways' a few years back (and would still make for a great broad gauge branchline IMO). Proposals for different parts of the old 'Cuckoo' line surface periodically too. Loads more south of the Thames I've either thought totally unrealistic or never even heard of.

Edited after reading Matt's post: He's quite right....The Bluebell certainly benefitted greatly from the Ashford collection. So's everyone who's visited the Bluebell, or watched a film or TV programme made there, ever since.

 

Well, the Bluebell is connected to the national network now, so for some lines (and more all the time, happily) it would, in theory at least, be possible to get it to them without use of a low-loader. Yes, it would probably have to be towed, and pathing might be an issue, but... The low-loader people have, I'm sure, gotten better with time/experience, but still, it's not the best thing to do to these machines...

Noel

 

I think it would be wonderful to see the variety we have. The A1, the Saint, the Grange, Beachy Head, the P2, the Patriot, Lyn and Lyd and Brown Bear, Catch me Who Can, Rocket, Firefly/Iron Duke, the list goes on and on and on...

Then of course you could have stands for the locomotives not completed yet - a chance for everyone in the various groups to gather, share notes, chew the cud and see what is needed/who can help what, etc.

All set against the backdrop of something rather special - doesn't have to be GCR of course, but a preserved railway - with original rolling stock and buildings and similar galore.

The past, present and future of our movement in one place.

Hell, we could even put some stands up along the embankments of the GCR and have a Plandampf style parade of new builds...

 

Don't forget the Tyseley 2-2-2! ;-)

 

Hmmmm. Yes.

 

Careful now. We're in danger of straying into WIBN territory.

 

Not at all. A number of GWR 2-4-0 classes received superheated boilers, notably Barnums (1889), Stellas (1884) and 3232s (1892). But then the GWR had many more superheated locomotives than any other line.

 

We are getting a long way from the Brighton beauty, but I would be interested to see what proportion of different companies' locos were superheated at different dates.
I know the GWR went a long way with superheating locos (although GW superheat was barely 'super' at all, just a glorified steam drier!). Horwich also went in for superheating in a big way, and higher degree superheat, too.
One railway which did superheat a lot of older locos was the GNR(I). Proportionately they may have gone further sooner than any of the British railways.

 

Ooh...Ta! Though (according to my GW bible) none of 'em seem to have lasted till WWII. I suspect you may have identified a few new new builds for the Swindon types looking for "something different" Got any piccies?

 

Oh yes I'd be up for that, though really I do think we should wait a bit longer for such an event. There's few new builds out and about to hold such a gala, perhaps in a few years time though, that won't be so much a problem.

 

I take it by 'this issue had been done to death on NP in the past', you mean done to death by you, with very few listening?

It's as has been said to you many time before I supsect, being realistic with how the movement runs itself is well and good, but this is not really a movement that can succeed and continue to inspire people if we're all about being super effecient and not have any interesting WIBN project going on.

 

So you go on about it further!

PH