A class 25 with a few windows and panels missing! [ September 28, 2005, 04:59 PM: Message edited by: Alan ]
Equally beautifully restored is the first class 58, now all the class is retired in this country, but many are being refurbished, repainted for french contractors and used in France in the contruction of a new TGV line. [ September 28, 2005, 05:01 PM: Message edited by: Alan ]
Alan, you have shown a whole lot of locomotives, not just in center focus, but also throughout the background. Who, or what agency(ies), or group(s) own these locos? I can't imagine that one museum could afford to maintain this lot all by themselves... You mention that the Class 58 has been refurbished and repainted for a French company...is the museum in the restoration business as a means of fund-raising? Good concept if not....
Hank, the Barrow Hill Roundhouse owns the roundhouse and the other new buildings on site, and rents out space to companies like Harry Needle railroad Company so they can work on their locomotives. HNRC provide locomotives for spot hire, both main line and shunters. One of their shunters pictured below. The Deltic group rent one large building to restore several Deltic locomotives (pictures to follow). These locos are a huge favourite with railfans (myself included) so it is good that they now have covered accommodation to work on them.
Oops! Forgot the HNRC shunter picture! Class 08 0-6-0. This was the standard shunting engine for many years around the whole system. Several are still at work. [ September 28, 2005, 05:01 PM: Message edited by: Alan ]
It appears that Barrow Hill has developed a very successful business plan. The concept of having a museum sustain itself by leasing shop space, possibly even labor, is extremely creative. I'm surprised that this concept is not more widely used. (Perhaps it is, just that I'm not aware of it.) The effort expended by museums begging for funds from citizens, corporations, and governments would be much better used developing and operating the museum.
The real value in Barrowhill is that it has not been 'sanitised' but still has the feel, look and smell of a working roundhouse. I spoke to Mervyn Allcock, who runs the place (and indeed who saved it from destruction), and he assured me that they have no intention of sanitising it
Alan, thanks for posting those. It would appear that there is much more operational steam in the UK than here in the colonies. Are those coal burners? Love the smell of coal smoke.
I have a question. Why no head lights on Steam Locomotives in the UK? Surely they went out and about after dark.
Yes Russel, they did But as ALL our right-of-way is fenced, with dire penalties for traspassing, the track is deemed to be always clear if the signals say so. The only lights carried were sort of marker lights which showed the type of train. (Express, local passenger, fitted freight, etc.) These days, all diesel and electric trains have bright headlights for better visibility.
I suppose if a big TREE fell on the tracks like happened on Jerry's railroad they could not stop in time anyway. However, these days I guess they want to know ahead of time so they can jump.
A pioneer electric locomotive is resident at Barrow Hill. It is the only class 89 which was used on the east coast main line between London and Edinburgh. The class 91 became the standard loco on this route, and when the 89001 developed a fault, as it has no parts standard with the 91's it was taken out of service. Had a look in the cab, and think I could drive it easily! Very few controls! [ September 28, 2005, 05:02 PM: Message edited by: Alan ]
