Iron Duke

I was wondering what the latest story is with Iron Duke at the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire, last I heard it was due to move to Didcot (to hopefully be restored to working order!) following the GWR 175 do last year, but it is still sat in the car park at Toddington. Does anyone know anything more?

 

I don't know anything official but from what I can tell both Iron Duke and 18000 were planned for a move into Didcot - however as you will know the only way in (other than in small bits that you can carry up the stairs from the underpass) is by rail, and by definition Iron Duke is out of gauge! 18000 has similar issues due to the additional width over one bogie that it gained. I suspect therefore both may be waiting for someone to work out how to get them in without wrecking a load of lineside equipment.

 

Thanks for that, thats what I guessed it was, Iron Duke is a tad wide! Hopefully they will both get there eventually, would be good to see Fire Fly and Iron Duke lined up together. 18000 would be another good addition if they could find somewhere to keep it!

 

Iron Duke awaits a suitable wagon to trip it into Didcot's site from the road point at Milton. DBS no longer have anything suitable so we are working with Didcot to see if we can use an MoD wagon or similar to do the job.

 

Excellent, thanks for that info Anthony.

 

Didcot is the obvious place for Iron Duke, when will she be likely to be moved Anthony? Is she steamable ,subject to an inspection?

 

I don't suppose anything in the heritage sector could be legally passed for NR operation without vast expense being involved?

 

Jim, she'll be moved when a suitable wagon is found. She's in need of a 10 year overhaul which will be done at Didcot. Shouldn't be too serious.

 

Am I right in saying that she has the boiler from an Austerity 0-6-0?

 

and cylinders

 

And most of the motion from the peer I had underneath when I visited the G&WR on New Year's Eve. Interesting also to note that the driving wheels had wooden leaf springs whereas the other carrying wheels had steel leaf springs.

 

I seem to remember that Iron Duke had 2 well wagons (1 tender, other locomotive), during GW 150. I seem to remember them at Didcot, and at Cathays. Are they still around, and- are they rail-worthy?

Regards,
Ian.

 

One of the well wagons is at Didcot, I believe this was the one that transported the Tender around. What is very interesting about this well wagon is that it has GWR Dean/Churchward Ratchet Hand Brake, and GWR Bogies, but it is numbered in the BD Series

 

If I remember correctly, the well wagon for Iron Duke's tender was lettered to that effect. That was why it caught my eye.

Regards,
Ian

 

When Iron Duke first ran, for about 10 days backwards and forwards past the Albert Memorial and Albert Hall, she (he) was manned by K&ESR crews, of which I was one. I rather enjoyed being able to say that I was one of the few broad gauge enginemen left in the country!

 

So they didn't manage to get it into Didcot before January 1st when nobody was looking? Pity.

http://clive-hanley.fotopic.net/p68574055.html

It would have been a grand spectacle on the M40. Or should that be April 1st?

 

Iron Duke on the M40 could have been the modern remake of the road going 14XX in the Titfield Thunderbolt!

 

As long as she doesn't run into a tree, or doesn't have a van providing the actual power!

 

http://didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/locos/ironduke/ironduke.html

I've noticed that Iron Duke has now appeared in the DRC Loco list, it also says it is on Static Display. Does this mean it has finally made it to Didcot? or is the move still pending? I haven't heard anything from anyone at Didcot or anyone else about the move. You would think someone would notice that big beast on the move!
I've also noticed that the Gas Turbine 18000 is listed on there too

 

A van? 'Twas a Landrover Sir and you cannot call a Landrover a van.