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Loco seen on M6 today.

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by Rob P, Nov 22, 2008.

  1. Rob P

    Rob P New Member

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    Whilst on my way to the NEC this morning, I saw what looked like a Baldwin narrow gauge steam loco heading north on a low loader. I only got a glimpse, as I was going south at the time. It may not have been a Baldwin, but was definitely a tender loco, possibly 2 foot gauge.

    Can anyone tell me what it was and where it was going/had come from, please?

    Thanks.
     
  2. Roger Dimmick

    Roger Dimmick Member

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    The locomotive is Dahuichang number 4, a 762mm gauge C2 class 0-8-0 tender locomotive. The locomotive was built at Harbin Works and has the number 221 of January 1988, and is one of the last ever built.

    It has been on exhibition at Shildon, and you saw it on its return to the FR at Porthmadog, where the loco will be restored by its owners - the 'C2 Project' Group - at Boston Lodge.

    The photographs below show the loco arriving at Porthmadog on Duncan Milner's lorry, then the loco stabled for the night outside Spooner's Bar. It should be towed to Boston Lodge tomorrow, using the Group's wheel-skates...

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Further photographs will appear on my fotopic site soon...

    More information can be found at http://www.c2project.org/
     
  3. Meiriongwril

    Meiriongwril Member

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    Hi Roger -
    will the owners be running it on the Fr or WHR after it's restored? Or is it destined for another railway?
     
  4. Ben Fisher

    Ben Fisher Member

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    I too suspected the loco spotted on the M6 could have been Dahuichang 4; there are some more pictures at the WHR Project site, for the simple reason that it arrived in what will become the first part of the eventual WHR platform at Harbour. But if so, travelling from Shildon to Porthmadog, what was it doing heading north on the M6?
     
  5. Roger Dimmick

    Roger Dimmick Member

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    Duncan has to go home and sleep at some point... ;-)

    The lorry would have been travelling from Duncan's yard (I can never remember where it is).
     
  6. Roger Dimmick

    Roger Dimmick Member

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    Hi Meirion

    I'm not 100% certain what the Group's plans are... but I'm pretty certain that they are considering running it on the F&WHR.

    I do know that there will have to be some drastic surgery to re-gauge the loco and adapt the cab to fit the FR loading gauge.

    Look at the cab front in the photo below and you will see a curved line above, and a straight line leading down from, the window on the left - this marks the FR structure gauge... :-k

    [​IMG]
     
  7. Roger Dimmick

    Roger Dimmick Member

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    Right, I've just popped into 'Spooners' and spoken to Andrew 'Rabbit' Nelms of the 'C2 Project'.

    The loco seen was definitely No.4, on its way to Porthmadog from Duncan's yard in Stoke-on-Trent.

    and - Yes, they do intend to run the loco on the F&WHR when they have completed the restoration...

    [​IMG]
     
  8. snowtownbob

    snowtownbob New Member

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    Pipe dreaming and MAJOR engineering, but pony trucks fore and aft and the resulting 60cm gauge Mikado could be as useful as the Harz metre gauge 2-10-2s --which have bigger grates and more tractive effort than NGG16s for the same all up weight of 60 tonnes.
     
  9. Rob P

    Rob P New Member

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    Thanks to all for the information.
    I appreciate it.
     
  10. Meiriongwril

    Meiriongwril Member

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    Thanks Roger - should look a treat!
     
  11. SillyBilly

    SillyBilly Member

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    The photo from the cab is brilliant Roger.

    "The train arriving at Platform 2 is the C2 hauled service from Shildon, please alight while we re-gauge your loco."
     
  12. Jeff Albiston

    Jeff Albiston Member

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    It will be even better when it's roaring up Aberglaslyn Pass or up to Tan-Y-Bwlch.
     
  13. planetpower

    planetpower Member

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    It would be nice paired up with the ALCo :smt077.
     
  14. Marquis DeCarabas

    Marquis DeCarabas New Member

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    Couldn't agree more; had a couple of enjoyable trips on that engine with Evan years ago. Seems such a shame that the engine is cold and folorn at the back of Glan-y-Pwll.

    :smt102 :smt102 :smt102
     
  15. ipod

    ipod Well-Known Member

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    I guess it's safe, well protected and undercover.... a rest period makes it all the more exciting when the day comes for it to see the light of day again.
     
  16. well i have just rumbled across this and i will say surely the WHR could need this loco quickerhttp://vimeo.com/2578284
    thats indeed a beast of a engine
     
  17. triassic

    triassic Member

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    Cracking vid you found there Jud, how the hell do those locos stay on the track? [-o<
     

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