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Steam Locomotive Restoration of the Decade 2010-2019

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by Pete Thornhill, Dec 31, 2019.

  1. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    On the theme of Railcars.

    NER petrol electric autocar
     
  2. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    Do we need a separate category for each of Railcars, Coaching stock, Wagons and other Rail mounted stock?
     
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  3. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    You mean looking like this:- 80-5-4 7 45699 (2).jpg
    May 1980.

    Peter
     
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  4. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    While we are spoiled for choice, for me it has to be the Bluebell's H class - what a little beauty!

    Peter
     
  5. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    She’s certainly been a stalwart performer this decade - the best part of 40,000 miles so far on this overhaul which is not bad for a loco now well over 100 years old.

    Tom
     
    Last edited: Jan 1, 2020
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  6. Cartman

    Cartman Well-Known Member Account Suspended

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    If we are including railcars, the Cravens class 105 on the ELR.
     
  7. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    If we're going off piste with railcar's then let's also consider other things with internal combustion engines, Paul Spracklen and 50026 really Spring to mind.
     
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  8. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    What we need are a series of categories with a bit of back story a live review of them running and then a winner from each category. Then we have a quarter final in which like items are grouped i.e. infrastructure, rolling stock, locomotives and buildings with two of each selected. Then a semi final and then the grand final. All with public telephone voting and gripping TV coverage, I give you... Restoration's Got Talent.

    I am available as a consultant for a very large fee and mountains of chocolate...
     
  9. Dunfanaghy Road

    Dunfanaghy Road Well-Known Member

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    The Wickham DMU at Llangollen. Beautiful job.
    Pat
     
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  10. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Are we going for restorations eg. 6023, 45699, etc, or including overhauls, such as 263, 564, etc?
     
  11. sgthompson

    sgthompson Part of the furniture Friend

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    That’s it yes but all I saw was the centre wheel lying in a pile of scrap with the frames for Galatea in a separate part of Steamtown .
     
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  12. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Maybe there need to be categories to cover returned to main line work from scrap condition in whatever livery the owner/s choose, and perhaps for the nit pickers, what they think is historically correct.
     
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  13. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    We'll all have our favourites but IMO all restorations/overhauls are worthy of praise, especially ones carried out mainly by volunteers.
     
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  14. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    I'd support diesel being included within the category of locomotive restoration. This shouldn't be about our individual favourite locos - though it will influence our choices - but recognising the achievements of restorers in getting locomotives back on the rails. That means that, much as I like the H class, I couldn't vote for what is effectively keeping it running, whereas with 50026's restoration being at least an equal achievement to one of the Barry restorations mentioned above, I'd value the comparison.
     
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  15. Dan Taylor

    Dan Taylor New Member Account Suspended

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    Steam 92134
    diesel 50033
    railway Midsomer norton
     
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  16. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    On that criterion, I should nominate Wainwright P class No. 178 - lovely little loco, restored for the first time in 2010 having had a somewhat peripatetic existence between entering preservation in 1969 and that restoration. Nearly all the work was done by a volunteer group, including one now sadly departed volunteer who always comes to mind for me when she runs. She’ll bow out towards the end of this year after a bit over ten years in traffic. I’ll miss her when she goes.

    Tom
     
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  17. Sheff

    Sheff Resident of Nat Pres

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    Well my motto is, if you’re going to have one, best make it a big’un! So as the title of the thread doesn’t mention the UK, but does specify STEAM, I give you Big Boy UP 4014. What a beast!


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     
  18. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    As a point of order, the title is quite specific in that it states that it is about steam locomotives not diesels nor DMUs nor carriages nor stations. Lets keep it to the subject matter and if people want to discuss the merits of other subjects let them start another thread.
    I would also suggest that restoring a loco from deleriction is one achievement but maintaining it in pristine operational glory is equally important, and that is why I put forward the H Class. How many once pristine locos have been allowed, once restored, to be run into the ground and then left to decay again.

    Peter
     
  19. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    I agree with you on the importance of continued maintenance but, taking your emphasis on the specific words of the title, see "restoration" as being the initial restoration to working order, not subsequent overhauls.
     
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  20. Andy Williams

    Andy Williams Member

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    It should however be borne in mind that subsequent overhauls of a restored ex-scrapyard locomotive can be far more onerous and costly than the initial restoration. After a working life in preservation that has often exceeded the years spent in revenue earning service with the original owner, many of the main components become totally life-expired. Complete replacement of items such as boilers, frames, cylinders is now increasingly prevalent when an overhaul is due. In monetary terms, this can often mean an expenditure of £750,000 to £1 million for an overhaul on a Class 4 or 5 locomotive, and considerably more for anything larger.

    It should also be considered that many restored ex-Barry locomotives have since spent longer being stored out of use on heritage railways than the time that they were at Woodhams yard

    On this basis, I think that the word 'Restoration' can apply equally to the original return to steam from scrapyard condition, and to subsequent major overhauls.

    Andy
     
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