2999: Lady of Legend

I wouldn't like to think I'd be doing much walking in any hurry if I called any Restoration team "A group of amateurs"!

Richard.

 

I take your point (and apologies if you think I'm singleing you out I haven't meant too) I really should have replied to Garths post, I just dont think that amateurs is the right word to use regarding several new builds.

 

I don't think that you can call time served engineers, now retired, amateurs.

 

Personally speaking, the attraction of Didcot for me has been the small locos that probably wouldn’t get much work elsewhere. I look forward to their eventual return to traffic.

 

I have fond memories of getting up about 5am to light up 1363 one day as the deisel shunter had failed and we need to do quite a bit of shunting before an open day. When the crew turned up at about 8am, the Fireman looked at the fire and water and said 'looks ok, you might as well carry on'. That was my first 'unofficial' firing turn. I stayed on the job till lunchtime before retiring for a siesta! That was a long while ago now but happy days.

 

I totally agree, but not also necessarily the engineering side of things, how slick has the fundraising side of the things become with the A1 trust (and 2007) and say maybe 82045 and Beachy Head? I know Garth likes to bang the drum about how great Didcot is (we all have our own favorites) but to describe any group that decides to take on a project like the Saint, A1, Duke, or rebuild something like the Welsh Highland, as amateurs I find rather disrespectful.

 

I still think the tender looks like a freshly painted skip.

For clarity:- file that under light hearted banter.

 

Just a question. The tender coupled with no. 2999 does it belong to this engine, or is it just temporary on loan from another engine?

Knut

 

No GWR tender really belongs to any GWR engine. But yes, that's the one they restored with the locomotive, which is why it has flush rivets on the tank. Its a shame it has post 1936 frames, but you have to go with what you have.

 

Carefully raises bunker lid.
"Stating the fact that someone is an amateur does not necessarily imply that their efforts are amateurish."
Closes lid

 

A professional, it could be argued, is someone who is required to deliver something for the minimum cost, using components supplied by the lowest bidder.

 

Well said, that man! .... though, tbh, what with present day levels of training in all areas (let alone the years many spent doing related skilled work in their 'professional' careers), surely the distinction is just that yer 'amateur' doesn't get paid!

 

Literally, amateur comes from Amore, to do things for the love of it.
I have never appreciated the negative tone of "amateur", instead we usually do a task until the result is good, sometimes it just takes longer time.

By the way, a beautiful loco. Congratulations to all involved.

 

Amateurs are people who do

Quite right. A volunteer may be both a professional, by skill/knowledge/training, and an amateur, by motivation, at the same time. Those who use the word amateur as an insult are ignorant and foolish.

 

She has a very curious ‘beat’… teething issues, design feature or artifact of the video?

Simon

 

Valves have now been re-set, I believe. It sounded fine on Saturday.

 

I went on Saturday as well and had a great day (my first Didcot visit since I was 2 or 3) and she certainly sounded like the timing had been adjusted. She seemed to be running well and I managed a couple of runs behind her and when double heading with 6023.

 

Yes, sounded much better on Saturday compared to the early videos on here. Has a nice turn of speed too, but obviously not taxed with load 2! Considering she hadn't turned a wheel a month ago, she is very much running in still, there were lots of people checking her over regularly on the day.
Personally I hope she goes on hire somewhere next year such as Severn Valley or Gloucestershire and Warwickshire, but doubt GWS will let her stray far this year.

 

Is there a programme yet for lining and lettering? I have held back visiting, pending it appearing in its full livery.

 

I would guess it will be painted once they are happy with it, would be shame to spoil the finish if something had to come off or be taken apart.