The late Paul Rileys 15 inch Duchess of Devonshire,

Hi all, I am not sure if this is a subject that is only spoken in hushed tones, but ever since I heard about this loco, I have wondered what has happened to it and whether anyone has decided to take it on and to get it finished.

I read on Google that it was about halfway through the build process before Paul passed away. At the same time, it says it was up for sale, but it doesn't say whether someone has bought it to finish it off.

It sounds like a brilliant bit of kit that needs to be finished; does anyone know what the current situation is with the loco?

 

It was up for sale about a year ago for £75,000 (advert now says £65,000) but I don't believe it's sold. The photos on the advert are apparently in the pway shed at New Romney.

 

Thanks for the update. Do you happen to have a link for the advert?

 

The part built Duchess is currently residing at a business called Denver Light Railway in Bloxwich and is available to buy

 

Ok thank you. So it can be yours for £100,000

 

i really don't want it....

 

From what I have seen on Facebook, they say it is too big for the RH&DR to use, which is a shame. Hindsight is a wonderful thing at times, but if that is the case, what other 15-inch gauge lines could it possibly run on without having the same issues?

Some one mention going back to basics and redesigning it using CAD. There was a comment about the driving wheels are to big and being very close to the Boiler.

I understand that it was built to a 1/3 scale. If it had been built at 1/4 scale, I think it would be too small, so you might need to think about a compromise scale somewhere between the above.

It is beginning to sound like a Euro Lottery win-type project.

 

There's a DB class 50 one-third scale ( I think) currently looked after by the VSM in Beekbergen, Holland. The owner died, but it has its boiler.
Now what?

 

For a start i suspect there's plenty of scope to negotiate a more palatable price

 

It's a bit too big for our 15" project here in Italy, but you can dream! We are still fiddling with clearances, so decided to build a coach mock-up.

 

Too big in what sense? If it's built to 1/3 scale it surely can't be too big for the loading gauge. Do they just mean that it's more powerful than the RHDR needs? If so, I'm sure the 'Ratty' or Bure Valley would welcome it with open arms...if somebody else paid for it.

 

From what has been said on Facebook, it would be too long for Hythe between the stop blocks and point work, and so the report said it could hit a couple of the bridges. To be honest, I find this all a bit strange, considering that it was being built at the Romney and the guy was a Director.

The other thing which does not make any sense whatsoever is that, according to the report on Facebook, it has used a standard Romney boiler, so I don't understand how it can be out of gauge. It also mentions that it had 1/3 scale wheels cast, which are much bigger than standard Romney driving wheels; maybe they should have made it to 1/4 scale.

 

I happened to be in the unit where the loco is stored a few weeks ago. It quite impressive and was being built in streamlined form. The boiler has a roundtop firebox which would tally with being a 'Romney type ' Size wise to the untrained eye it was comparable to the Romney engines. If it ever gets finished it will be quite something.

 

Hi all i have the locomotive in question with me and there is nothing odd about it its a shame it has not been snapped up and finished

 

Hi Mikado, thanks for the update. Ever since I heard about this loco, I have been asking myself that same question: why hasn't it been finished? Trawling Facebook and other social media, there appears to be a fair amount of negativity about it. I have never seen this locomotive, so I really can't comment. The only photos I have seen have been published in the RH&DR house magazine.

As my background was in electrical engineering, But I will say that I would not want to be taking something like this on right now without the right team in place to do the work. Also, the issue of ownership would be something that needs to be agreed upon well.

I am not sure what others think, but has anyone considered setting up some sort of Trust fund to own the loco? And as a ballpark figure, would anyone like to guess just how much it might cost to get finished?