GWR: the case for more replicas.

Agree, fascinating as a Dean Single or Metro Tank would be, I'd rather see Betton Grange and County of Glamorgan running first than multiple half constructed kits around the country, though Lady of Legend appears to be almost on the home straight now.

A new Bulldog and Duke would be nice, any idea where we can find some parts to start with Tom ?

 

If Lode Star is never to steam again then why not a new-build Star? The missing piece for the 4-cylinder fans.

 

Projects have different stages involving different skills and people though. If the current projects are all beyond the drawings and information gathering stage it's not going to make much difference if the folks who are good at that stuff make a start on another project.

 

On my namesake line, the standard GWR passenger loco (as far as photographic evidence is concerned) until Mr Churchward's designs took over, appeared to be the "Metro" Tank and so I've often wished that one of these had survived or could be built from new.
Another little beauty appears to be the "Sir Alexander" class 2-2-2 one of which ended its days on the Witney Branch. Again, a pleasing design and 2-2-2s are somewhat rare in preservation.

See:http://www.vanguardpublications.co.uk/History.htm

One problem (for me) is seeing these period locos operating without the matching coaching stock but Victorian coach restorations seems to be a growing phenomenon and that's for the good.

 

Pre grouping GWR seems to have done quite well stock wise, quite a bit at Didcot and SVR and also some restoration going on at Gwili too.

 

No, common sense and saving money. If you have one class of locomotive with good frames that's redundant, and another class with less good frames you do need, then it makes sense to combine the best of both.
If, at the same time, you can also put one over government beancounters and take the proverbial out of pompous directors, then what's not to like?

 

Or convert Thornbury Castle into a star... 4027 Thornbury Star ?..plenty of 28xx's around to get bits off.

 

maybe but specifically this thread is about pre-Churchward locos

 

Thornbury Abbey would be better.

 

Hello,why not think outside the box and rebuild a real whacky GWR Loco?
My idea:



http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/GWR_Hurricane_locomotive

As practical as the 'Night Owl'!



Niiiiiiick

 

I have to admit that the GWR propaganda machine was second to none. An awful lot of people taken in by it even today.
Guess I'd better hide for a while.

 

I set out my case for discussion, which makes sesne on many levels. If you want to discuss anything else lads, go make your own threads.

Really this Forum is a nonsense, when even admin join in dragging a thread off topic.

 

You suggest the lack of pre 1903 GW locos was an excuse for building some replicas. That doesn't make a sound case for doing so, does it? If I used pure 'lack of' as a reason, (never mind an excuse) I could think of hundreds that would fit that criteria.
To be honest, I don't think there's much enthusiasm for the idea.
If I was in the pub, which, unfortunately I'm not, and started talking about a subject and the talk drifted, I wouldn't say 'if you're not going to talk about what I want, I'm going.'

 

9/10 times I'm in a pub the conversation starts on one subject, wanders around a dozen topics and ends back where it started.

 

Many 19th century locos are fascinating and important because they are such rare survivors, however in practical terms it's only really worth building replicas of really significant locos such as Planet, Firefly and so on. It's not without significance that the Bloomer has never been finished.

However .... A much more difficult and ambitious but really worth while project would be to construct a reasonable length of broad or mixed gauge, on part of the Gwili for instance and some replica broad gauge coaches so a broad gauge TRAIN could again be experienced after over 120 years. As well as Firefly and Iron Duke I would love to see a replica Corsair or perhaps an Associated Company's 4-4-0ST.

 

Bit harsh, could just demote him to Reading Private.

 

What a mad thing, presumably adhesion is nearly as low as a Bulleid Pacific.

 

And, according to Sekon, it was rumoured to have run as fast!

 

Oi. Watch it.