Maunsell L1

From the L1 FB site ........

Maunsell L1 TrustWe need to research financing, as we're currently only a handful of steam enthusiasts with experience with narrow gauge. (Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway). Our understanding is being developed further by building a 3 1/2 inch gauge tich. But we need to raise initial funds which will be done over the next year or two to prove we can do it. We are serious it's just a matter of funding the project.

 

Like threelinkdave, I won't touch Facebook or twitter with a barge pole. However a lot of people do use them, so in principle they could be appropriate ways to gather interest, and even a "like" probably helps to draw an idea to more people's attention. So it's not an unreasonable way to float an initial off-the-wall suggestion, in order to assess the possible level of interest. But that's as far as any proposal will go unless and until there's a team of individuals able and willing to contribute their time and a whole range of skills, and a lot of individuals (or a few very rich ones) willing to contribute cash. Any project that doesn't achieve that level of support within a reasonable time should be formally and publicly abandoned.

 

Photo of tender body at RAF Binbrook

 

hhmmm...
building LBSC's 3.5"g TICH doesnt sound like much help!
building LBSC's 5"g SR L1 MAID OF KENT might be of more help!!
hundreds of miniature SR L1's around the country running on club tracks.
cheers,
julian

 

Thought this was amusing from the Dean Goods (S.Reeder version):

So basically it's just Stuart and his mate and they haven't bothered to check if the plans are available - it's got to be a winner!!!

Keith

 

I have nothing to do with this project but the lads running it are constantly slated on this forum for a lack of engineering experience. As options to gain engineering experience are relatively limited for today's teenagers, building a live steam model loco does not sound like a bad idea. At they end of it they would have a far better idea of what is needed for a project like this one than seems to be the case now, along with some useful practical skills.

 

Yeah, right!

As if........................................... building a nTH gauge model is far removed from building a 12" to the foot model................................. how do I know? from looking first hand at 3, 5 and 7 1/4" models and talking to the guys that built them...............................................

This whole "project" is nowt but a flight of fancy by some impressionable youths who have no experience on their sides and need to grow up. and fast by getting involved hands on with one of the new builds and gain first hand experience of the all the pitfalls et al...........................................................

 

Yes, I agree, but still think that building a working model isn't a bad way of growing up and learning about the subject together with gaining some skills such as lathework. Their mistake is surely setting up projects, facebook pages and all that jazz first...

 

They could of course correct this mistake by taking it down.

Making mistakes is part of growing up, not learning from them is stupidity.

1. Take down the page
2. get hands dirty on models
3. Deciede if they want to goto the next level
4. Join an existing group and learn the ropes.
5. Deciede if they really want to do it.

true memories die hard, I know one bloke who blew himself big style 20 odd years ago, if Facebook had been around he'd be slated here too.. but that same person now is associated with a major group going leaps and bounds… certainly didn't waste his 20 years since I last knew him.

 

i still think that building a 5"g L1 to the well known design would be of more use than building a 3.5"g TICH for the L1 project!

preservation is littered with examples of 'ill-informed youngsters' starting something big and worthwhile eg leonard heath humphrys on the ffestiniog, and the original didcot/GWS lads.

as an example of SR design work the L1 is quite a good loco. personally i can think of better locos. getting the NRM SECR 'D' class back into steam might be more interesting and likely! no idea what it's internal condition/boiler is like though!

cheers,
julian

 

Of course, building a model might allow the use of a copper boiler, as per their proposed J39...

 

Before they build the model, perhaps they should do a plumbing course and learn about copper boilers..

 

Agreed completely: the people who started the Bluebell railway had to knock on Bernard Holden's door because none of them were old enough (legally) to chair a meeting. The GWS pioneers similarly had the 'daft' idea of preserving an 0-4-2T and auto trailer. Look where both enterprises are now.

The problem arises in the ease with which it is now possible to float a 'daft' idea in the public square by means of a few keystrokes on a computer. The risk is no longer that the proposal will just disappear into oblivion (and how many did?) because of unrealistic expectations or absence of proper planning, but rather that the same will happen under the spotlight of this and other fora resulting in ridicule, public humiliation and the potential alienation of new blood in the Heritage railway movement.

Up to 5" gauge, a silver soldered copper boiler is the preferred route. LBSC's (aka 'Curly' Lawrence) L1 (Maid of Kent in 5" gauge) featured such, but as I remember, had issues with its valve gear, dealt with in the Model Engineer magazine at the time. Getting to grips with one of these would teach our young protagonists a lot, as would getting involved with others who know what they are doing. This is an advantage which early preservationists didn't have in the same measure.

NRM SECR 'D' class back into steam might be more interesting and likely! no idea what it's internal condition/boiler is like though!

References to putting 737 back into working order always put a smile on my face: look under the smokebox door when you next see it. There is a row of dovetail joints which are more applicable to woodwork than locomotive engineering. Leave it alone; it would spoil the superb paintwork to do anything else with it and the NRM has more than enough to spend its money on (4472 and TVR 28 for example).

David

 

Personally, I think it's time to stop taking the p***. We all know that these projects are going nowhere, but there's chance that the lads might knuckle down and turn their hands to something useful. And I do wonder how many of those pouring scorn have actually attempted to achieve something themselves.

 

Whilst I have been a member of this forum for some time I haven't logged in for a while or ever posted. I do however lurk
But this thread has compelled me to do my first ever post. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing!!
Anyhow, here goes nothing.......
The constant bringing up about the mistaken comment about a copper boiler, I am sure that some of you have said or written things that you regret, I know I have! but how lucky you all are that you don't have people waiting to bring it up time and time again.
The lad that wanted to name the J39 after his dad, he wanted to as his dad died and he wanted it to be a legacy to him, is that really such a bad thing?
Also I do not believe that S Reeder is anything do to with this latest project, I don't know this for sure, but then to be fair neither do you all know that he is but that hasn't stopped you all posting that he is has it?
By continually posting links to their pages, website etc you are in fact giving them more publicity! If you just stopped doing that then no-one would know about them and they would disappear as you would like them to.
Above all, please remember that these are all human beings, a fact that I think a lot of people forget when they are hiding behind their made up names on these forums.
A last but very valid point, I am not anything to do with any of these groups. I have just read all the threads that get started every time and felt I had to finally say something.
Just my two pennorth

 

The thing is, there is a recurring theme with these proposals, and as the man famously said, "Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them". That is the problem.

 

I totally agree MarkinDurham but to keep on flaming them and bringing attention to them is not the way to go either. Just ignore them and then if they do manage to get something off the ground then great, or they'll just go away and we'll be none the wiser.
I just don't understand why some are getting so upset about them. Surely there's better things to get upset about in life?