GWR 'Dean Goods' no. 2516 - suggested restoration in Steam Railway issue no. 401

The April 27th - May 24th issue of Steam Railway asked whether the sole surviving GWR 'Dean Goods', no. 2516, could be restored to running order. Similarly, the April 12th - May 9th issue of Heritage Railway mentioned the possibility of using an intact 'Dean Goods' boiler - being offered for sale by a group based on the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway - to build a new member of the class or using that boiler to restore no. 2516.

Since it is an engine which has never run in preservation, how much interest would this generate? Personally, I would like to see it run in the early Edwardian GWR colour scheme (the one with the Indian Red wheels, frames and splashers), with GWR freight and passenger stock, on lines like the Llangollen, SVR, West Somerset, Dean Forest, South Devon, Bodmin & Wenford, poss. the Cambrian at Oswestry, the Gwili, Bluebell (no GWR stock but the 4 Mets would make an interesting pairing)..........

 

A lot of interest - but not just yet...

 

I think it would be tremendous. There's few Victorian era six-coupled good engines in preservation, and fewer in steam (The two SECR, two L&Y, and one Caley from memory) .

 

As I said, interest noted, but don't expect it any time soon. There are many who think the same. Give us time. Lots of it. And some cash would really help too ;-)

 

So not totally off the radar then........any future appeal would get my cash....

 

With 4 wheel GWR stock being restored at Didcot and Gwili I can't think of any more appropriate engine to haul them

 

I'd be happy to put my hand in my pocket toward 2516's overhaul, provided that its condition was such that an overhaul could be conducted that would not compromise the locomotive's condition excessively. I'd be just as happy to see the boiler used on a new build. Or both.

 

Ooooooooh! With a round-topped firebox and polished dome.... yes please! :dance:

Seriously, it sounds like the spare boiler would be a straight swap which would mean the original could be left untouched. In fact, the best route might be to acquire the spare boiler, survey it, restore it and then call 2516 into the works for a bottom end overhaul and boiler change!

Foxy

 

Anything wrong with 2516's current boiler (apart from the Inside firebox being painted a nice shade of magnolia)

 

Not as far as I know but I understand that the spare has had little or no use and, logically, could be sorted and ready to go before 2516 is dismantled, thus speeding up the whole process. Just a thought....

Foxy

 

I think that a Dean Goods is missing from the magnificent line up of locomotives at Didcot. Once the Saint, County and 47xx are finished, perhaps a swift "running chassis and tender" job with the spare boiler incorporated? As I'm not a member of the GWS its clearly not my remit to even dare to suggest how the society spends its resources but a Dean Goods at Didcot would be nice and educationally (in terms of interpreting the history of the GWR) useful too! Another "just a thought!"

 

That being said, Beachy head is taking its time, and neither the T1 nor the M&GN boiler's have got projects affilliated to them (to my knowledge).

Then again, there must be a great deal of fittings, drawings and moulds available for GWR parts, which were getting on for well standardised on a late Dean Goods. If anyone is genuinely thinking of founding a newbuild Dean Goods project based on the P&BR boiler, PM me, I'm in.

 

One of Harold Gasson's books said Didcot, in BR days, had a stationary boiler from a Dean Goods. Is it still there?

 

It is still here, but it's not off a Dean Goods — IIRC, it came from a Cambrian 0-6-0. Using it for anything is complicated as I understand it's officially listed under 'fixtures & fittings' on the site lease, so until the great day comes & the GWS owns the ground upon which it stands, there may not be a lot we can do with it.

Pete S.,
C&W Dept.,
GWS Didcot.

 

That's what damage deposits are for ;-)

 

Is it a P Class or a Std 9 Pete? It surely wouldn't be an actual Cambrian boiler - aren't they long gone.

 

Sorry, I was with you as far as "Is it a..." & lost you at that point. As far as I'm concerned a boiler is

1. an fundamental part of the tea-making process, or
2. some bit of witchcraft that the Dirty Engine People need to let them pull coaches & wagons about the place.

... in that order

I'll endeavour to post a picture of the thing a bit later.

Pete S.,
C&W Dept.,
GWS Didcot

 

I am not sure exactly what it is from, but just because the engines were scrapped it does not mean the boilers were not kept for uses such as a stationary boiler, why use a standard boiler when that could be used on other engines, use a good condition one there is no other use for.