Find and buy a scrap locomotive to restore

The Beano ( not the steam one )once had a joke about the train not running because of Reeves on the line .The next drawing showed Vic Reeves walking along the track
with the annoucement " Vic Reeves is still on the line "

 

To the OP - my advice is to join your nearest preserved steam railway and start progressing towards being a fireman. You'll learn a lot about steam traction and if you also help out in the workshops you'll get a good idea about what it takes to restore and run a steam loco. If none of this puts you off then I'd join an owners group or think about forming a group to buy and restore a loco.

 

To buy a loco from scrap condition, restore it and certify it to mainline standard and then run it for 10 years, don't expect much change from a couple of million, those left unrestored are pretty ropey at best and even with income, mainline running still usually makes a small loss for many owners.

Certainly I'd be on the phone to Mr Waterman about a certain Swindon 4-6-0 if I ever won the Euromillions.

 

Hi Stephen.
When I was 24 years old I had great ideals: one was to preserve a bus. But. lack of secure storage space, cost storing elsewhere and a growing family put that idea on the back burner. I never did buy a bus, but have been supportive of road transport and railroad preservation groups/societies ever since.

If you do manage to find a suitable locomotive, raise the finance needed, form a support group including those who are capable of the restoration work that would be fine.
But your troubles will not be over. Many in the preservation movement will bend your ear; they will point out, often vociferously, what livery it should have plus list a host of other intricacies associated with the loco that it had in its working life.

 

2x 21 Year olds (plus around a dozen others) have just completed exactly what this topic was set up about...

 

Was it Ian Riley that said to make a small fortune out of owning a locomotive you need to start of with a large fortune?

Whilst these 21 year olds have done very well restoring certain locos, weren't mos of them part of apprenticeships in heritage railway skills or whatever it is? Definitely commendable, but not I think what the OP had in mind. Also I can't see your average Hunslet going mainline (I bet there is one I don't know of and I'll look silly now!)

 

Possibly but the sentiment is bang on the money, if your looking at mainline running to make money, your in the wrong game, you do it because you want to and it's fun, probably only 35028 comes close to profit with the VSOE contract.

 

Not if I win it first - 5043 was always my lottery winning loco but now those chaps at Tyseley seem to have sorted her to a reasonable state ;-) its either 7027 or 7229 who benefit from my imaginary millions!


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I have a back up plan anyway, involves a wrecking ball,a wall at Swindon and a Dean Goods

 

I'll drive the low loader for you David...and deny all knowledge it was me!

 

The TKh lads have learnt most of what they know from their time at CVR. No railway apprenticeships where they are concerned.
They also played a significant part in the restoration of S160 6046, for which there are still plans to mainline register once a few more other tasks are completed.
Got the overhaul of S160 5197 to finish first (hopefully in time for Feb Steam Gala next year), the tender tank was lifted last week witth the wheelsets being overhauled by the same group of lads whilst the tender tank receives some weld repairs.
There also (4)8173 waiting in the wings too, whose overhaul will start once '97 up & running. Plus there the running maintenance of 2944 / 6046.

 

Are there any plans for the second TKh to be restored?

Chris

 

The lads do want to, but there is not timescale set for it. As you can see above, we have plenty to be getting on with at present.