Narrow gauge loco design

A really interesting and good looking locomotive! Could be fun if it would be a reality.

Knut

 

The WHR has standardised on NGG16's - and hopefully an NG15. The K1 restoration did not produce a useful locomotive.

 

Let's just say, whatever the motives for choosing "Gowrie", I rather suspect that lugging heavy summer trains up the ski-slope didn't feature too prominently on anyone's list! The project seems very do-able, especially if Blodge like the idea. If so, I predict double-headed 6-coupled Hunslets storming Goat Tunnel .... assuming someone can cut through all the whatever-it-is that's kept "Russell" off the big WH by the time "Gowrie" is finished!

K1 comes across as a useable (at a push) ornament. Great to see in steam, but hardly in the first flush of youth. Myself, I'd love to see it have a crack at the VoR. Perhaps 6-7 up 1:50 is a more reasonable aspiration than 5 up 1:40. Photographic types would love it!

 

I didn't assume there was any intention of involving Boston Lodge, except perhaps for advice and that they will be using the South Yorkshire workshop where Hunslet 1215 is currently being restored.

 

Mention of the Ffesterbahn was merely me speculating on one factor liable to improve any Gwynedd-related NG project's prospects. Well, that and the contact email address mentioned on the Facebook page!

The FR has built up a formidable outfit over the six decades since their Simplex first spluttered back into life, to the extent that any given member of Clan Spooner would surely be mightily impressed. Best say, I don't know of any connections which the "Gowrie" newbuildists may (or may not) have.

TBH, so much has been accomplished in the world's oldest functioning railway workshops that the only recent restoration which really surprised me was the MetRly 4-wheeler for the TfL 'Steam on the Underground' event. After that, short of Blodge announcing they were going to recreate an IKB 'Atmospheric' broad gauge installation, I doubt too much would!

Between Blodge - where the Manning Wardle marque now resides - and Keef's (plus keeping half an eye on TMA Engineering), I'd say we're doing better for NG manufacturers than at any time since Beyer Peacock shut up shop over half a century ago ... and that's before considering the rapid build-up of expertise at Aberystwyth and Pant, not forgetting Ravenglass, who also have a fine (albeit limited) track record for newbuilds.

Has anyone else noticed the Bala mob angling for first dibs on a "Gowrie" away visit on the project's Facebook page?

 

I can't see an email address on the FB page but looking through there is reference to BL offering advice and support but referring to a workshop in Derbyshire .

 

Herewith one lump of relevant Facebook content. The email address referred to in my earlier post [#85] lurks at the foot of the page:
https://m.facebook.com/groups/906858619368479?view=permalink&id=1578982745489393&_ft_=qid.6506031424418028707:mf_story_key.1578982745489393:top_level_post_id.1578982745489393:tl_objid.1578982745489393&refid=18&__tn__=,;

 

Anyone interested in getting in 'on the ground floor' of a possible new build of an Irish 3 foot gauge loco should check out the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/562353547490786/ which ic considering a replica of C&MLR No.7 'Peake' or similar.

All help possible needed especially on the fund-raising, organizational, and mechanical fronts

 

Yes, there was a livestock market in Welshpool, part of which is now a very large car park.