Lottery-win dream loco shed...?
Discussion
All right, so let's say you won £100m on the Euromillions... if your mind works like mine, you'd want at least one steam locomotive as part of that equation. What would you buy, or have built?
For me - I'd buy one of the unrestored ex-Barry hulk Bulleid Merchant Navies and return it to original streamlined form with the chain-drive-in-oil-bath valve gear. I'd also make stupidly generous offers to the museums in Canada and the US which own those two LNER A4s and have them returned here permanently. I'd also build the never-was-built GWR 'Cathedral' class Hawksworth Pacific, which would have looked like a Swindonised Stanier Princess but with a Bulleid-derived boiler (apparently Hawksworth was mightily impressed with the Merchant Navy during the '48 locomotive exchanges), and I'd build a replica of the LNER W1 4-6-4 (in its later conventional form), with the big firebox, a mechanical stoker, Lentz valve gear, double Kylchap exhaust and as high-pressure a boiler as I could get away with, then go have a crack at Mallard's record (that's if the Americans haven't taken it first with their 'Project 130').
For me - I'd buy one of the unrestored ex-Barry hulk Bulleid Merchant Navies and return it to original streamlined form with the chain-drive-in-oil-bath valve gear. I'd also make stupidly generous offers to the museums in Canada and the US which own those two LNER A4s and have them returned here permanently. I'd also build the never-was-built GWR 'Cathedral' class Hawksworth Pacific, which would have looked like a Swindonised Stanier Princess but with a Bulleid-derived boiler (apparently Hawksworth was mightily impressed with the Merchant Navy during the '48 locomotive exchanges), and I'd build a replica of the LNER W1 4-6-4 (in its later conventional form), with the big firebox, a mechanical stoker, Lentz valve gear, double Kylchap exhaust and as high-pressure a boiler as I could get away with, then go have a crack at Mallard's record (that's if the Americans haven't taken it first with their 'Project 130').
Being an ECML/GE chap, the ones i would like to see (and might if they get their respectives fingers out) are the B17 and D16, preferably in its original form, a K3 and V1/3
Then the W1 in original form and the U1
Other railways
GW the 47xx was on my list, although now a goer
LMS LNWR Prince of Wales, Claughton
SR H16/G16
Diesel 10000 and 10201 plus Falcon/Lion/HS4000 and 18000 the gas turbine
Then the W1 in original form and the U1
Other railways
GW the 47xx was on my list, although now a goer
LMS LNWR Prince of Wales, Claughton
SR H16/G16
Diesel 10000 and 10201 plus Falcon/Lion/HS4000 and 18000 the gas turbine
crostonian said:
Would have to be a diesel fix for me - a Deltic and a full HST with original Valentas in the old BR livery to begin with.
For steam I'd love a Stanier Pacific and finally prove they were quicker than the A4.
That would probably eat up most of the budget!
Stanier quicker than an A4? Not a chance. With a steeper gradient, 114mph with the brakes on fire is all they would do! Fine engines, but better for taking heavy trains over Grayrigg, Shap and Beattock than going for all-out speed.For steam I'd love a Stanier Pacific and finally prove they were quicker than the A4.
That would probably eat up most of the budget!
crostonian said:
Would have to be a diesel fix for me - a Deltic and a full HST with original Valentas in the old BR livery to begin with.
For steam I'd love a Stanier Pacific and finally prove they were quicker than the A4.
That would probably eat up most of the budget!
HST with modern diesels and traction motors and a 300mph top speed. For steam I'd love a Stanier Pacific and finally prove they were quicker than the A4.
That would probably eat up most of the budget!
Spent many an hour considering this, I think I'd like a nice new 5AT 
Otherwise, I'd probably fund restorations of existing machines - South African Railways' CL. 26 3450 & NGG16/A 155, and over here Alco-Cooke 'Mountaineer' on the Ffestiniog Railway. To be honest, most of the cash would end up being spent on the FR, funding new loco shed facilities (Boston Lodge is in dire need of proper ashing out facilities since we went back to burning solid lumps of carbon), more carriage sheds, and more replicas of missing history, such as single Fairlie 'Moel Tryfan', some more Mk.3 Quarrymans carriages, returning 133 and 140 to steam, etc.
Otherwise, I'd probably fund restorations of existing machines - South African Railways' CL. 26 3450 & NGG16/A 155, and over here Alco-Cooke 'Mountaineer' on the Ffestiniog Railway. To be honest, most of the cash would end up being spent on the FR, funding new loco shed facilities (Boston Lodge is in dire need of proper ashing out facilities since we went back to burning solid lumps of carbon), more carriage sheds, and more replicas of missing history, such as single Fairlie 'Moel Tryfan', some more Mk.3 Quarrymans carriages, returning 133 and 140 to steam, etc.
Rich1973 said:
I am not greedy - a 47, 50 & hst will do me!
47 and HST for me too and an 86... And some German stuff, sort of remind me of a VW campervan,a DB 103 and 218 (had to look them up as no idea what they were)just remember the pictures. Edited by motomk on Thursday 27th March 00:07
All you bloody diesel fans, shut up a minute, we're talking REAL locos here! 
A Chapelon 242A1 replica would also be on my list. It'd be pretty fun to run it through the Chunnel (having disabled the smoke alarms first!) and the steep gradients of the CTRL could make things interesting!
I think it's fair to say there aren't any heritage railways in the UK which are entirely satisfied with what they have. There's always room to improve operating and visitor facilities, and often to extend...
A Chapelon 242A1 replica would also be on my list. It'd be pretty fun to run it through the Chunnel (having disabled the smoke alarms first!) and the steep gradients of the CTRL could make things interesting!
I think it's fair to say there aren't any heritage railways in the UK which are entirely satisfied with what they have. There's always room to improve operating and visitor facilities, and often to extend...
RoverP6B said:
All you bloody diesel fans, shut up a minute, we're talking REAL locos here!
Presumably you still like to adjust the timing on your car with a lever next to the wheel old timer!I was at Barrow Hill at the recent do with my dad and brother.
I came to the conclusion that you reach an age where you become 'of your time'
I appreciate and like steam locos, but I grew up and have travelled lots of the rail network with diesel and electric.
I have no interest now in class 66's, voyagers, pretendalinos and the like, but I am sure that those that are growing up now will look back on them fondly one day.
If we are doing foreign as well, I will take an Austrian 1044 & 1020 and a swiss Re 4/4 as well!
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