CIty Of Truo No Longer Runs

[Railroadbeats21]

Yesterday, March 6, the National Railway Museum in York, England, has decided on putting GWR steam locomotive "City of Truo" onto static display. The locomotive has had some problems during a ten-year boiler ticket. It was decided after some problems arose during the ten years, and doubt of it running came up/

[Overmod]

'City of Truro' is notable, IIRC, as the first locomotive actually measured at over 100mph by a skilled third party. 

How very 1361ish of them.   (I could invoke certain Austrailian boondoggery, too, but won't)

[eagle1030]

As a Thomas the Tank Engine baby, this saddens me greatly.  I'm not terribly surprised though.  For such an old engine that's run for so long, it gets to the point where it's just not fixable.  

[BaltACD]

eagle1030

As a Thomas the Tank Engine baby, this saddens me greatly.  I'm not terribly surprised though.  For such an old engine that's run for so long, it gets to the point where it's just not fixable.  

Anything mechanical is fixable - the crux of the decision is all about the cost.

[John WR]

BaltACD

Anything mechanical is fixable - the crux of the decision is all about the cost.

Thanks Balt.  I was wondering about that.  But it comes down to where there's a will there's a way.  

John

[BaltACD]

John WR

BaltACD

Anything mechanical is fixable - the crux of the decision is all about the cost.

Thanks Balt.  I was wondering about that.  But it comes down to where there's a will there's a way.  

John

If it was made by man one time - man can remake it for a price.

[LNER4472]

But "fix" things enough, and you no longer have the "original" loco.

You've heard the old chestnut about "George Washington's original hatchet"--six heads and twenty-five handles later....

The loco is owned by the National Collection in the custody of the National Railway Museum.  It is a historic artifact, not a piece of equipment being run by a for-profit corporation.

[Overmod]

LNER4472

But "fix" things enough, and you no longer have the "original" loco.

I'd be a little surprised if there is still much material in that locomotive that actually dates back to 1902.

On the other hand, I have never much cared for the old-car restorers who completely remanufacture most of the parts of a classic vehicle (and what do they do with the originals?) and then think they have something other than a modern sculpture with lots of careful handwork (similarity to modern 'rodders', anyone?)

There is no question that if NRM wants to keep the engine out of service, they have every right both to decide so and to do so.  (And I doubt they would be much swayed by forum chat in America...  ;-} )

You know the old saying 'one door opens when another closes'.  City of Truro won't run again soon.  But Strasburg is going to be running a G5s for forty-eight years...

RME

[angusvan]

LNER4472

But "fix" things enough, and you no longer have the "original" loco.

You've heard the old chestnut about "George Washington's original hatchet"--six heads and twenty-five handles later....

The loco is owned by the National Collection in the custody of the National Railway Museum.  It is a historic artifact, not a piece of equipment being run by a for-profit corporation.

Absolutely right! "City of Truro" was originally preserved because of it's 100 mph achievement, but it later became recognized as a rare example of an important stage in locomotive development. Whilst it is certainly true that anything mechanical can be kept going indefinitely if you throw enough money at it, in doing so you are bound to destroy much of what was originally thought worth preserving. Anyway, there is no shortage of serviceable steam locos in the UK and it is better to make use of more "ordinary" examples, rather than a truly historic machine such as "Truro".   

[54light15]

I was on the Mid-Hants Railway real ale train last spring, pulled by the City of Truro- It's a shame it's retired (for now,) but the Brits will find a way as they always do. Yes, there is the George Washington's axe analogy but don't forget, there are only 10% of the original timber in the U.S.S. Constitution yet there it is, afloat in Boston Harbour, still a commissioned U.S.Naval vessel.

[Anonymous]

the crux of the biscuit is the apostraphy. which do want more, to keep it intact or run it into the dirt. money better spent on more available machines!