D9016 / 55016 Gordon

I suspect that line will come back to bite you! Lol

 

As I say its way outside my area of interest, although in practical experience terms I probably know more about how an internal combustion engine works rather than a steam engine having stripped and rebuilt the former. It mainly caught my eye in terms of the costs quoted for mechanical works and on looking at a Deltic engine in cut away drawing... bloody hell that looks complex.

 

I never said it, just reporting what was said, I suspect, very tongue in cheek.

 

I notice that the current move of these two engines is indicative of a slow shift which has been observed by many, and indeed discussed on here several times, both in the context of steam and diesel locos. I refer to the shift of ownership slowly passing from "average" individuals/groups over to "larger" organisations...

How many (steam and diesel) locos have been bought by a bloke or a couple of individuals in a group and then restored an run for anything from 5 to 20 odd years. However eventually the overhaul and maintenance costs spiral higher and higher with the larger engines slowly being bought up either by larger (therefore stronger) enthusiast groups (who are capable of the fundraising), more established railways/societies (again with stronger membership/income) or in this case a more cash endowed organisation. All three of which potentially have the means and capital to proceed with these vintage machines where the previous owners could not. As many have said on here, clearly the days of just buying an engine with your mates are over!

It would seem that many small classes of diesels are concentrated within the likes of people such as the Class 40 Preservation Society (own 3 out of the 7 Class 40's), the Deltic Preservation Society (own half of the Deltics) and now Icons of Steam (own 1/3 of Deltics). There are of course parallels with some steam groups such as Southern Locomotives Ltd.

I'm not making any sort of argument that this is a good or bad thing here, just looking at a long term view of the movement and its ownership structure, a subject I find quite interesting...

 

In fairness the early days of individual ownership actually "protected" the locomotive from scrapping but the continued operation (including maintenance and overhaul) has - as is pointed out - become so expensive particularly with inheritance taxation that only organisations with the expertise of taxation and Trusts really have any chance of protecting long term futures of preserved locomotives. Although a "private" matter I suspect VT, WCRC and LSL among many have ensured that locomotives are subject to Trust ownership to protect the preserved locomotives hence ensuring a longer term future for main line steam operation.

Sad to say the necessary expertise and legal formalities are beyond the ken of most individuals hence the need for larger organisations to become involved.

 

I wonder if it is possible to make Cl66 engines sound like Deltics. To start with two engines would be necessary to provide the beat resonances so evocative of the Deltics at speed. Also the Cl66 engines run at less than 2/3 the revs of Deltic engines and the number of cylinders is different. Perhaps a pair of EMD 567 16 cylinder engines (a precursor to the Cl66 engine)?

 

Heheh yes I know...but as we are all aware, the forum is very good at shooting messengers

 

I Was wondering, as the Napier engine was used by the navy in some machines, are there any spares that are availible via this route, we all have heard about MOD coventy climax engines in crates zero hour, so might there be napier engines overhauled for fitment into navel vessels sat in navy Stores yards somewhere, ?

 

See #14 and the posts thereafter.

 

Hmm, very nice pair of vertical parallel twin cylinders on both examples there... Bet they both go like the clappers too...!

Richard.

 

Tomorrows transit move for 55022 from NYMR to Crewe

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O50881/2017/12/11/advanced

 

With Mr Hoskins now owning the Deltics my mate had an idea.. Why not start the Torbay Express from Paddington with Deltic to Bristol where steam takes over.. There should be spaces for the Deltic fans to have run from Paddington to Bristol so it would virtually guarentee a full train every week.. just a thought..

 

On this year's times, they'd need to be in Bristol for 08:00 so an early start needed from Paddington.

 

Deltic: Kings x - York, 60532 to Edinburgh, or, to Newcastle, Carlisle, break, S&C, or WCML, then back to York, Deltic back to Kings X.

A sell out for as many time as its run.....

 

Maybe the positioning move to get the engines and stock to Bristol with Deltic power might be an option as well as starting the Torbays a week earlier and extending the season by a week and handing these two trains over to heritage Deisel operation, using one of the deltics and the Western if its availible As well as having one, or both available as thunderbirds for the duration so if the steam loco fails FTR, you at least have heritage traction .

 

I'd certainly put my hand in my pocket for that.

 

Please...........please.........all these suggested tours, I'm only a poor (very) OAP, I can't afford em all.
I'll put an extra effort into getting some part time work for Mrs V to boost funds and then I can book on all the tours.

 

A 68 has just arrived at Grosmont to collect RSG. Scheduled to depart for Crewe at 11:05.

 

You'll have to flog the Jag if you're that poor...

 

Nah, it's bought and paid for. It's over 13 years old now, I bought it new, the Jaguar stays. Although if I'm honest I can't justify keeping it, road tax, insurance, etc and it doesn't get used a lot now, but it's mine and it's staying.

I'll have a walk down near Healy Mills this afternoon to see 55022 pass through.