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O&K 2 foot gauge 0-6-0 WT for sale

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by Felix Holt, Dec 12, 2014.

  1. Felix Holt

    Felix Holt Guest

    See http://www.tractionads.co.uk/html/current.htm
    scroll down about half way, the loco is called Elsa and is for sale by a Mrs P Durkin

    Anyway interested in setting up a consortium to buy and then restore this loco????
    35K is the rough estimate of price.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 13, 2014
  2. Felix Holt

    Felix Holt Guest

    I'm attaching some photos of the loco. I also now have a report on condition by Keef's.
    We need about a dozen folk prepared to invest 3K in the first instance, plus somewhere to locate the loco.

    Any interest??
     

    Attached Files:

  3. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    Not for me thanks, but good luck.
     
  4. Felix Holt

    Felix Holt Guest

    Three more photos.
    Alan Keef report concludes "Elsa is a good example of a typical ex African industrial locomotive – very largely
    complete and serviceable but modified and adapted during a long and full life. It represents the opportunity for someone to acquire a 2ft gauge steam loco that potentially can be returned to service for a relatively modest investment."
     

    Attached Files:

  5. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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  6. Felix Holt

    Felix Holt Guest

    From the report: "She is very largely complete, has 6” x 12” cylinders, 20” driving wheels and
    weighs approximately 9 tons in working order. From measurement of the
    wheelsets, she is 24” rail gauge rather than 600mm."
     
  7. Felix Holt

    Felix Holt Guest

    Anyone interested in a consortium please contact me via PM
    Thanks!
     
  8. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    I would suggest £35k seems rather high given that to overhaul will set you back probably the same again

    Recent separate conversations have indicated a part restored Barclay on the market for close to £5k and another in need of restoration for £15k

    Much as Elsa is a nice little engine , where would it be based , what is the likely steaming fees and usage once restored ? Can it at least pay its way (as much as a steam engine can )
     
  9. Thakeham5

    Thakeham5 New Member

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    But are we talking standard or narrow gauge here?
     
  10. Felix Holt

    Felix Holt Guest

    It may well be that the price is high, but the loco was running until 1999 and has been in store since, so it's not the restoration of a wreck by any means.
    Of course an owner is going to ask top dollar (or pound!), and it may be that a much lower price would be accepted (especially if few offers are forthcoming).
    The size of the loco obviously means this is only suited for a line where the engine doesn't have to pull large and heavy trains.
     
  11. Charobin

    Charobin Member

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    For comparison, a 10 1/4" gauge steam locomotive changed hands last month at around £35k. 2ft gauge stuff has sold at that price mark (and higher - remember Sybil's asking price sans boiler was £50k and I know James turned down an offer a fair bit higher than that). I am sure Keefs will have advised where to pitch the price with their expert knowledge of the market.
     
  12. Felix Holt

    Felix Holt Guest

    Might the LSR be interested?:)
     
  13. Charobin

    Charobin Member

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    Unless a private owner was able to make a very good case for basing it at Launceston, probably not. Four Quarry Hunslets is more than enough to maintain the daily service (two will suffice) and there is a degree of commonality between the Hunslets that an O&K would not have, meaning it would always be remembered as the awkward different one! The sheds also tend to be packed full in the winter as it is, without slotting another loco in somewhere.
     
  14. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    Where was the loco "running" Felix? I saw it, in steam, in Ted Hamer's garden in Zimbabwe in 1989 but the track it sat on was only a couple of feet longer than the engine - it certainly couldn't move. Did it subsequently go somewhere else where it could run? Whilst I respect Keef's opinion I suspect they are being optimistic about Elsa's condition and a full overhaul would be necessary and that should be reflected in the price. At the end of the day,though, it all depends who is bidding. Remember that 7 1/4"g. Duchess that, last year, went for 140k (over twice the estimate) just because two well known figures were playing 'mine's bigger than yours' ? Ray.
     
  15. Felix Holt

    Felix Holt Guest

    "Elsa was brought to the UK in 1989 when Ted Hamer and family returned here. Between 1990 and 1999 Elsa operated regularly at two private railway locations in Kent, until the expiry of the boiler certificate and the need for a further re-tube."
    From the report.
     
  16. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

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    I'd have thought 35K isn't an unreasonable price for this engine and I would expect it to be snapped up, but I wouldn't necessaily expect the overhaul to be cheap. On the other hand, it doesn't have a big, expensive to fix, boiler and most of the mechanical work could probably be done in a home workshop. If I had 35k to spare I'd be there like a shot!
     
  17. Hurricane

    Hurricane Member

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    This was the engine that sparked my interest in steam… coming across it one day going round Ted's garden just outside Canterbury.
     
  18. pjm

    pjm New Member

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    Leighton buzzard could do with a O&K not sure they have enough:D
     
  19. Anthony Coulls

    Anthony Coulls Well-Known Member

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    Back to Elsa please. Make a nice garden gnome for someone.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 13, 2015
  20. Felix Holt

    Felix Holt Guest

    Gnome from gnome?
     

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