Engines Being Scrapped?

The only mikado "up there" I can think of is the long stalled GWR 2-8-2t 7229.
It started off back on the fast lane for restoration then for the "usual reasons" ..Ended up in the hard shoulder.

 

That's how I see it. There's more important things IMO to spend money on, but if people want to - good luck to them.

 

The only mikado "up there" I can think of is the long stalled GWR 2-8-2t 7229.

But perhaps you are guilty of blinkered standard gauge only thinking.....?

 

Indeed. Think narrower!

 

Yes, saw one on Wednesday from a 2-6-2 + 2-6-2...

 

Nope, £175 to £280 depending on what sort of scrap the steel is. Does it have a copper firebox? That would push the value up.

 

Yes indeed. 133 is parked up at Dinas presently.

 

Or 134 that is being restored.

Duncan

 

As originally a northerner.. The north starts after the M62... Anything below is midland or south

So any 2-8-2's north of the m62

 

Depends what country you are in. Here I'm definitly in the north

Yes, I did mean the NG15. And there is a second one to do after the first is finished. The relevance is - without the volunteers and funding, anything of less than national importance can end up being scrapped. The NG15's were facing a bleak future because they too were imported for a failed commercial scheme. It just so happens they are of a useful gauge or they would have been just as difficult to find a home for.

The main thing is, whatever you want to fund / work on, always always go and have a go rather than just sitting there. If a group end up saving the Finnish loco because they are madly passionate about it, fine. If they are just doing it because 'it musn't be scrapped' then it is likely to get back in to a similar situation to now once the group get back to doing whatever it is they really were intending to do.

There are quite a number of foreign locos of 'different' (rather than 'narrow') gauge up and down the country and apart from those in national museums I can't think of any that are doing well. Even most of the foreign locos of standard gauge over here have ended up either neglected or repatriated because there just doesn't seem to be the same degree of passion involved except from maybe a very few. The Norwegian 2-6-0's, for example. Do they both still exist? And of course the two Polish 0-6-0's that started the thread.

 

IF these Polish engines would really be useful at some point to KESR then surely there is a point in starting a dialogue, agreeing a price and putting in place a fund raising mechanism (regular direct debit syndicate perhaps with the additional tax benefit of charitable status) so that over time they can be paid for. It is probably a good deal cheaper than building suitable locos from scratch...

 

as I understand it, the polish engines are too large for the UK loading guage, but whayt of Ireland , with it's larger loading guage occasioned by the wider track guage. Would these locos lend themselves to converting to 5'3" guage easily I wonder/

 

376 is on the K&ESR, currently under overhaul which may be completed in 2012. 377 is operational at Bressingham. These locos are within UK loading gauge.

 

No they are not they are slightly wide on the cylinders. As are the TKH tanks

 

I stand corrected! Nevertheless both locos have had active and useful careers on UK preserved railways.

 

While the K&ESR may need more locomotives that are designed for distance running rather than shunting, it has recently obtained 4253 for restoration
and there is already the possibility of another arrival, both of which are/will be funded by the DD system. On that basis, I think it is very unlikely there would be any K&ESR interest in these Polish engines from either the Board or individual members.

 

Personally, I would argue that 4253 is a probably a bit big for the KESR. I can't help thinking of the SDR, which, having restored 3803, decided she was too big and tried to sell her. In any case, 4253 will take a lot longer and cost a lot more to return to steam than the Polish tanks would.

But sorry, I forgot - 4253 is British, which makes her superior to the TkHs in every respect. :mmph:

 

4253 isnt too big, she is with in the axle loading gauge for the line, the problem is that at some stage the smaller tank engines will not be powerful enough for the loads expected, and the small bunker capacity is another problem,
so we either have a coaling stage and water at Robertsbridge and re coal during the day which would mean we can still run as we do, or we have to look at engines with the range to work all day without needing to come off at Rolvendon for coal

putting in coal at Robersbridge could be easy , all you need is a open wagon and a shovel parked up next to where you would run round or in a head shunt ,thats the choice, after all the wagon could always be worked up with the first train of the day but a terrier or p or charwelton can only run with the vintage set or 2 mark ones, and as the vintage set can seat as many as 5 Mk1's then you could use the vintage set , but the commercial pressures are that we need catering on most trains which means Mk 1's which in turn means more larger engines, so whats the answer?

 

What is the actual width over cylinders ? (Ive tried to look on various Polish sites but cannot find out).

I know they are not too wide (comparably to other EU locos), they cannot be too far out overall as they have worked on at least 3 preserved railways, that are not Berne gauge.
My guess is they are too wide for Spa Valley due to Network rail clearance regulations, not due to physical platform clearance. If this is the case, then passing 2 of them at the same time in a loop may be a little close for comfort, or a platform on a curve, but otherwise they may be ok for most railways). In addition to the cylinders, the footplate steps (and front steps) may also need to be tweaked.