> I remember reading an article recently which reminded me of a story
> Ron
> Preston tells about the time he was working at Cardiff and found two
> engines
> number 6042 side by side during the time a number of the (AD)60 class
> were
> in receiving major overhauls.
>
> Just because a locomotive is 'heritage' does not mean that parts from
> other
> locos cannot be swapped to keep one unit operational. Even diesels
> swap
> parts but generally the chassis keeps it's running number for life
> unless
> it's sold and recoded.
>
> With steam locos, no parts were dedicated since the frames could be
> stripped
> back to just bare frames, and even then they could generally be
> swapped
> around. The number of a unit is not important as long as the unit is
> operational and is *representative* of it's class.
>
> Regards,
>
> Craig.
>
I couldn't agree more.
At Pichi Richi we have four WAGR W class, I don't think any of them have
the same tender they were shipped with, and the same goes for boilers,
wheels, whistles...
I think W916 has wheels from W929, and probably the only thing that
hasn't changed is the builders plate.
I dare say the "W"s in use by Hotham Valley Railway are the same.
The boiler on W933 (PRR) was originally on W901 (SteamTown). What
boiler has W901 got on it now?
That really doesn't matter.
Railway preservation must, by its very nature, behave much like the big
railways as far as keeping locomotives (and rollingstock), up to
standard, and fit for the current requirements of the railway. The big
railways overhauled different parts at different times to keep
locomotives earning money, at the front of their trains.
To say "We can't change the boiler (or whatever) because its not
ORIGINAL" is very short sighted (backwards?), and will only lead to the
demise of the railway.
Cheers,
Peter H
-- This is not an opinion of the Pichi Richi Railway, just the personal comments of the author. http://www.prrps.com.au