Non-working replicas?

No great fan of the A4's, but thought it was a shame that 60008/10 went back to North America last year. I did wonder, belatedly, whether Julian Birley could have offered to build the Wisconsin Railroad Museum a non-working replica of Dwight D.Eisenhower instead: it seems that they have no intention of steaming it, and I'm sure a realistic dummy could have been built for less than he offered to pay for the real thing. Do you think this would still be a goer?

While we're on the subject, what about 1442 in Tiverton Museum? Could the same thing apply? They would want something a bit more convincing than the replica used in The Titfield Thunderbolt, but I reckon one could be built without undue cost.

Civilised discussion only, please!

 

what would be the point of either given that there are several other examples of both classes.?

 

I must confess I can't see the point of any of those replicas. All of those existing locomotives are in safe locations, and if you feel strongly enough about seeing them, then visit them. But do we need another 14XX when we have 1450 doing such sterling work up and down the country, and a further one in the shed at Didcot?

No, we haven't got any A4s running currently, but two of our four over here are being overhauled and will be back sooner rather than later. And who says Mallard will never steam again? After the success of Scotsman thus far, I think the NRM would be thinking over their options carefully. Yes she's one of, if not the most popular static exhibit, but she could replicate Scotsman's success one day...

I would be more interested in a non working replica of classes we don't have in preservation. It would provide something different and if engineered carefully, who says the funds to steam one couldn't be found at a later date?

I've mused a few times that I'd love a non functioning replica of Great Northern (Thompson rebuild) to have in the garden, one day. In "as built" form with the short cab, no smoke deflectors and that lovely Prussian blue livery. I am being sincere there, and in no way trying to start another of those debates! But the point stands that sometimes a static replica is probably easier to fund than a fully functioning one. Look at the GW single replica.

 

Channel any money into work on an existing loco rather than build a non working replica of it. You know it makes sense

 

An entirely valid answer, for which I'm a covenantor to Tornado, a founder member of Prince of Wales, have donated to Taliesin, the Saint, the Patriot and the Grange, Flying Scotsman and numerous others.

But none of those scratch the itch I have for seeing a Thompson Pacific in the flesh, and very specifically 4470 as built. She must have looked magnificent when outshopped in that blue livery.

So my personal wishlist includes something I know I probably could never get a group large enough to agree to build as a functioning replica, but a non functioning one - who knows! Would make a great talking point at garden parties...

 

And the same goes for Tiverton Museum, whose custodians I'm told do not take kindly to suggestions from visiting enthusiasts that their engine would be better off elsewhere.

 

A total non starter, and a waste of scarce resources, the attraction of steam is that it is the sight and sound of it in action. If your neighbour took a fancy to your dog would you swap it for a stuffed replica?

As for Mr Martin's replica 4470, I think if you had a straw poll on locos I'd least like to see reincarnated I think this one would be somewhere in the top 10.

 

Are you sure John? This is the engine I mean.



In this exact form and livery. I love it.

And no, I'm not trolling, I'm not Gresley-bashing, I do genuinely love this locomotive design. Just appeals to me, I love the austerity and yet purposefulness of it.

 

Yes that was a great shame...another Bulleid preserved

 

Yes I did mean that one. Take half a dozen railway enthusiasts and they will all disagree on more than they agree on. The cylinder layout is very poor and the least that could be done was to line up the bottom of the cab with the tender. I think W A Tuplin had a lot to say about that.

 

Line up the A1/1 next to a princess and I dare you to say the same things. Very similar layout and I don't hear LMS fans calling for Staniers head

 

Oh, that's torn it.

 

I think this thread has reached the strategic fork in the road already. Turn left for a continuing discussion about non-operational replicas. Or turn right for yet another punch up about one specific locomotive from one specific designer.

(Mysterious voice from stage left

Choose wisely, before it is too late - if it is not already too late. Even now, I hear the barking of the dogs of spam drawing near ...

(Delphic oracle recedes back into the swirling mists...)

 

And on that bombshell...

Thank you very much for reading. Goodnight!

 

Last word from me, line up anything against a Stanier Pacific and it's the red one every time. As I said railway enthusiast disagree on a lot.

 

Have I missed something? If it's going to be a static replica stuck in SAC Martin's garden, then what difference does the cylinder layout and cab aesthetics make??????????????


Keith

 

Well, that's certainly poked a stick into the usual hornets' nest. Julian Birley must have thought it was worth a shot; and historically, I believe the Americans didn't want DDE and didn't really know why it was being offered to them. I think the person who talked about this idea being a waste of money is missing the point: namely, that a dummy replica might release the real thing for an active life. It's a shame that two of these locos seem to be destined to be for ever stuffed and mounted and a long way from home. I think Tim Littler wanted to do something with Dominion of Canada, too, but that fell on stony ground.

The comment about 1442 is not one that I find sensible: I'm pretty sure that there is more than one steam line in the West Country that would love to have an auto tank to operate without having to join the queue to hire 1450, the only operational member of this class as far as I know. I can believe that the Tiverton trustees would look askance at 1442 leaving the museum, but I think it is regrettable that potentially active steam locos are immured, wherever they are. City of Birmingham is the most egregious example of this. Duplication isn't necessarily a bad thing either: I think it's great that so many 5's and BR 2-6-4 tanks are still with us!

 

Agreed. 35012 was a rebuild. Who in their right mind would want on of those?

 

Noting your signature of course

I think it's fair to say that Bulleid is very well represented in preservation. I wonder if more non functioning replicas of 20th century locos are really needed. What about rolling stock and locos from the 19th century? There's not exactly a glut and there were many fascinating designs. The Jenny Lind springs to mind.