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French "Pacific" on the GCR

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by Flying Phil, Aug 25, 2020.

  1. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Depends what you mean by real? It was not a steam locomotive but was a locomotive in the sense that it was powered and could haul something and had a top speed of 40/45 mph. I've heard that it cost a seven figure sum to build so wasn't a cheap piece of kit. A real steam loco could probably have been built for a bit more but I wonder what the outcry would have been if this had been done and then subjected to the same fate.
     
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  2. Bikermike

    Bikermike Well-Known Member

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    Seven figures could be as low as £1m. Most new-builds are coming in at multiples of that (5-7?)

    I do wonder why they chose a brit as basis - was there one nearby to copy?
     
  3. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    I was able to take a couple of pics when it was running in on the GCR back in 2020.
    MI French Pacific front.jpg MI French Pacific Rear .jpg
     
  4. Cartman

    Cartman Well-Known Member Account Suspended

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    Were there any actual real loco/railway fittings on it? As it had to run on rails presumably the wheelsets, axles/bearings etc would have to be functional.

    If so, would any bits be salvageable for 're use?
     
  5. Apollo12

    Apollo12 New Member

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    Everything had a short design life, then it was thrown off a cliff. So no
     
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  6. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Post production editing and CGI of course.
     
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  7. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    Good to know Matt that the regular driver has survived and is posting on Nat Pres. Wouldn't want readers to think that he had done a Captain Smith and gone down with the ship.:eek:

    Peter
     
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  8. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    Has the number of Branch lines designed for One Way Traffic just gone up by One? :):)
     
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  9. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    200ft drop onto the rocky bottom of a quarry . best of luck with that one
     
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  10. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    Some restoration projects have started with worse!
     
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  11. Hunslet589

    Hunslet589 New Member

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  12. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    Whilst the engine was built for the film , it was built to fulfill a short term criteria with a clear plan for it in the end . Any thoughts of proper axleboxes, motion parts, springs , cylinders probably should be dismissed .
     
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  13. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I've taxed worse...
     
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  14. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

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    A video of the ‘crash’.

     
  15. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Buffers and couplings. That’s about your lot. Apollo12 can possibly identify more. Unless he was driving it when it went over the cliff, that is. :)
     
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  16. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Can anyone explain the change of gradient onto the "bridge"?
     
  17. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Slight incline to give greater "Range" whilst keeping the speed up?? ie greater "Spectacle".
     
  18. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    Did the tender stay coupled?
     
  19. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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  20. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    Ian castledine image from Facebook .

    upload_2021-8-24_21-24-53.png
     
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