Tich Loco. A sad tale. Can anyone help?

[simon1479Participant @simon1479]

Hello to all.

My father’s health has been an issue for many years now due to being diagnosed with MS some 30 years ago. As an avid engineer his pet project was the build of a ‘Tich model locomotive’. Sadly this never reached completion and now my father resides in a specialist care home, so the family have had to clear the house and his workshop out. I would dearly like for this project to go to someone that could and would enjoy the opportunity to complete the build. I have taken photos of everything he made on his myford lathe (including the obvious support of RR ). Due to to the file sizes I would need to share the rest via email.

Is this of any interest to anyone on this forum?

[DiogenesParticipant @diogenes]

Genuinely sorry to hear that; Perhaps before this drops off the list, maybe one of the mods could put ‘Tich’ somewhere in the title to draw the eye of those likely to be interested..

[simon1479Participant @simon1479]

Thank you for the great suggestion. I hope the mods can oblige?

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

… and so it came to be

 

 

[simon1479Participant @simon1479]

Thank you very much.

[simon1479Participant @simon1479]

Some more photos that might help

[simon1479Participant @simon1479]

[simon1479Participant @simon1479]

Hello All

I perhaps naively assumed there would be plenty of interest in this which seems sadly not to be the case. To assist I should offer some additional detail. I have no interest in this project despite it being etched in my childhood memory – watching my dad with his 2 myford lathes, with one eye on his home brew.

I am not looking for any financial redress for the items, I would just like to know that his hobby reached a reality. I should point out that even should that happen next week which obviously it wouldn’t, it would offer no value to my dad as I can only assume with thanks to dementia that he thinks it’s already built.

Really hope some can take this Batton. We also have a couple of myford lathes that need some attention and a loving home.

Thank you.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

I can only offer my sincere sympathy, Simon

My own circumstances would make it futile for me to express any personal interest in the project, but I am astonished to see that none of the modellers have approached you.

MichaelG.

 

[simon1479Participant @simon1479]

Thank you Michael.

I am also surprised by the lack of interest. I could put it into the bin and my father would be none the wiser, nor would he if it was built. I would just feel warmed to know his efforts prior to MS and dementia were not in vain.

 

Thank you

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

This really is very sad ! Where about’s are you in the country ? Noel.

[simon1479Participant @simon1479]

Hi Noel

Aston on Trent

 

Regards

 

Simon

[michael howarth 1Participant @michaelhowarth1]

Hallo Simon. Ihave sent you a PM

Mick

[simon1479Participant @simon1479]

@michael. PM read and replied….thank you.

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

Hello Simon,

I do hope that you have sorted out this sad tale. I shall PM you.

Andrew.

[simon1479Participant @simon1479]

Update

 

I have to say despite all the support of the mods who in turn I thank, my experience has been quite disappointing thus far. Several enquiries with each either resulting in a change of position or more disappointing radio silence.

I have responded to each and every PM offering my email address to avoid confusion. It looks like I will be keeping this to no gain.

Regards

Simon

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

Hello Simon,

You certainly did not reply to my PM. If you did it has gone AWOL.

Best Regards,

Andrew.

[simon1479Participant @simon1479]

Evening Andrew

My apologies if I have indeed not responded – many enquiries received with equally delayed responses making tracking quite difficult.

Should you be interested then all I ask is a small payment which will go to my father’s care. Selfishly, I would like to see what he spent his many hours trying to create – please note the project started many years ago, but the onset of his MS brought this to a stop.

Please feel free to email me directly at [email protected]. For your reference the location of the Tich is DE72 2AX

 

Regards

 

Simon

 

 

[simon1479]

On simon1479 Said:

Evening Andrew

My apologies if I have indeed not responded – many enquiries received with equally delayed responses making tracking quite difficult.

Should you be interested then all I ask is a small payment which will go to my father’s care. Selfishly, I would like to see what he spent his many hours trying to create – please note the project started many years ago, but the onset of his MS brought this to a stop.

Please feel free to email me directly at [email protected]. For your reference the location of the Tich is DE72 2AX

 

Regards

 

Simon

 

 

Andrew

 

I have not received a response from my last post on here to you?

 

Regards

Simon

 

[simon1479Participant @simon1479]

It looks as though this isn’t going to happen and I should now move on. Thank you to M G and S S for their initial support with getting this posted.

 

Regards

 

Simon

 

 

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Whatever is going wrong so you not seeing all messages, if you have no takers here (I expect because most of already have our own projects under way), have you tried dealers like Station Road Steam who will buy part-made engines?

[simon1479Participant @simon1479]

Thank you Nigel

 

I have responded with direct messages and included my email address on each. Do you have a link for the site advised…thank you.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Was, or is, your father in a model-engineering society? If so have you approached it – or indeed any reasonably local ones – for help? My own society has acted in similar ways for our members and their families over the years…

 

I have a bookmark link to Station Road Steam’s web-site but can’t see what its address is. However, this is on their site, so I take it the website will be the variant of this I copied from it:

Email: [email protected]
Tel: 01526 328772

 

Another who advertises buying part-made engines in Model Engineer magazine is “Kevin”… that’s all he says and he gives only two ‘phone numbers: 01507 606772 and 07717 753200.

His ad says he will collect personally, any distance… so I expect his fuel cost will either take a bit more off the price or be put on the re-sale! You won’t expect very much from any dealer anyway, partly I suppose because it is a bit of gamble for them.

Oddly, he says “All Live Steam Engines Wanted” but what does he do with them? He does not advertise selling any, and I have noticed this with some other dealers.

 

Home And Workshop Machinery (homeandworkshop. co .uk and e-mail “sales@” that name) occasionally sell part-built model locomotives but that is not really their forte, and those might be from clearance job-lots they’ve purchased. They are really a tools and machinery stockist covering a bewildering assortment of trades, and based near Sidcup, Kent.

 

There are also a couple of other workshop-buying dealers advertising in ME, but they might not take models.

 

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Don’t be too quick to give in Simon.

The number of members who would want to take on a part-build is quite limited and how ready they are for another project depends on their existing commitments.

Tich is a good beginner engine, and that may limit its instant appeal slightly.  Likely to appeal most to a relative newcomer.  That said they are popular.

Not all members login regularly and it’s easy to miss topics because they scroll off the ‘Latest Posts’ section rather quickly.  Also a few members only look at the Classifieds, is your Tich in the For Sale section?

Be aware also that the forum’s Message system isn’t obvious.   Quite easy to miss that a new message has arrived.

My advice is to put the engine in the For Sale section and keep bumping this thread.

Nigel suggests a dealer, and that might be the quickest answer. ebay is popular too – the advantage is the massive number of people who scan it.

Sorry about the slow response and your dad: must be a very difficult time.

My advice is to persist and try everything.  Sooner or later someone will be delighted to get it.

A bit delicate, so please don’t be upset, but I notice the Tich was initially  offered free at first, ‘I am not looking for any financial redress for the items‘, and  this has become ‘all I ask is a small payment‘.  That switch may explain the sudden loss of interest.  Unfortunately asking for money midstream is a scam tactic, enough in itself to frighten off potential buyers! To avoid misunderstandings decide what you want and stick to it.

Dave

[Clive Brown 1Participant @clivebrown1]

Simon, sorry for the lack of take-up for your father’s Titch. That this forum isn’t really a stronghold for loco builders may be a part explanation. There is a “Tich Builders Group” on Facebook. I know very little about it other than it claims nearly 1000 members. Registering there might result in more interest, but you must decide on what you want in payment.

Good luck.

[Author]

Posts