Bluebell Railway General Discussion

Strongly agree with the last post, if 563 is in a long overhaul queue at the end of its ticket, then it's just reverted to its static status, so nothing lost

 

It most certainly was.

Mother nature had been far too busy evolving the world into the place we now know it. And she only thought of adding colour to everything after BR SR main line steam had ended - having tested it on Bulleid pacifics before then.

Bryan

 

Lost what, though? Once its been analysed and recorded, what then? Its not like a personal sniff-test, or anything- these things are purely academic, although I do understand where you're coming from.
But the Wainwright D? Lode Star? Gladstone? Who exactly do they benefit in their current condition? Pretty in a museum, something for tourists to photograph. Thats all.
The trouble with "preservation" in the UK is it is just too dynamic. There is a real pull to have the "stuffed and mounted", unstuffed. Like pharaohs trumpets, slthough that is probably not a great analogy, given the outcome.
Personally, I could think of no greater tribute to the Stephenson Locomotive Society than to have "Gladstone" steamed and running again, 100 years after its original preservation in 1927. Something unthinkable then.
But then in my defence, I am very, very biased
Edit- if ever found in a long overhaul queue, such engines should just resort to their former status as "museum display"

 

We don't know what is lost, as we don't know what question will be asked. That's the point.
After all, we had plenty of pictures of the Doric arch at Euston, so it's no great shakes it's demolished, right?

 

Nobody is suggesting the scrapping of anything. Come on, now.

 

The Shinkansen is a waste of space in the NRM. I assume it's only retained because "it's popular" and to avoid offending the Japanese.

I agree that the transfer of 563 has gone well, and it is much better as a working exhibit than stuffed and mounted. It didn't need to be deaccessioned to achieve this. As a national treasure, it deserves a place in the National Collection, wherever it happens to be displayed or operated.

 

I agree with you on deaccessioning, and you'll find my comments from the time if you look - I'm just delighted that things have turned out so well.

As for NRM collection policy, I stand by my views - the Shinkansen serves as a powerful reminder of the global traffic in railway ideas.

 

To me, this "originality" thinking is what led to the loss of Ben Alder, umming and aahing over the fact that it's boiler had been replaced. It ended up being scrapped. Thanks.

 

Absolutely. And it could never be meaningfully "de-accessioned", at least not in this country.

 

Getting more back on the Bluebell theme.... looks like 2999 is staying a bit longer

 

OK my personal view is if we want to steam loco X what will it add to our experience or knowledge.

The T3 which is a similar loco is currently in steam

On the other hand I suggest that Gladstone as a tender 0-4-2 express loco IS unique

 

That would be something to see in steam....oh, and let's have it in Southern Railway green....

 

Although previously it was static in an environment controlled room and not static in an open siding so not quite nothing lost.

BTW I'm somebody who has been supportive of it being back in steam. It's been great to have a pre-grouping engine back in steam and it has generated big interest at a railway that needs every penny. Just saying that there are downsides and care needs to be taken to make sure that it doesn't rust away in a siding.

 

I dont know, the Shinkansen is a pretty important part of the railway story and is the forerunner of modern high-speed rail.

Also its fantastic that people in the UK can see it up close, as a lot of us are never going to go to Japan.

Also I don't know why an item being popular is seen as negative for a museum artefact.

 

I’m unconvinced by deaccession of 563. I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy driving the loco, and I am grateful for that chance, but that doesn’t change my unease.

There are so many locomotives awaiting an overhaul. Pretty much every railway has a long queue. Most of that queue will be living outside because few can keep theirs under cover. Restoring 563 has an opportunity cost versus one of those. That lack of cover is a very significant issue.

 

Another example of the International Railway development would be A "Big Boy"
So when do we get one over here?

 

Its not just loco's that need to be under cover but coaches as well

 

Would you settle for 4-8-2+2-8-4 Garret from South Africa?
https://www.heritage-railways.com/locosdb/locosdb2.php?RefNo=2097
or
https://www.heritage-railways.com/locosdb/locosdb2.php?RefNo=3372

 

Despite it's silly Branding of "Railway Museum", it's our National Railway Museum, and I assume its brief is limited to the Railways of the UK. The Shinkansen is an important part of the history of World Railways, but not of railways in the UK. If we were going to display a foreign vehicle that has really influenced our railways then perhaps a GM F unit would be more appropriate.

Of course it's great that the Shinkansen can be seen in the UK, but not at the NRM, at the expense of British exhibits.

Being popular is not a negative. The NRM needs footfall to protect its funding. But being popular is not a justification for adding an inappropriate exhibit to the national collection.

 

It’s an obvious opposite book end to Rocket though. Sadly I think the story of railways is rather missed out of the displays with little attempt to link them and interpret them.