ROD 2-8-0

[crudshoveller]

Years ago I contributed to a group intending to repatriate one of the Robinson 2-8-0s from NSW. The plan later fell apart. There are lots of stalled locomotive preservation initiatives in UK I know, and there is already a Robinson 2-8-0 in the NRM collection, but surely there is room for another one.
The three engines of this type in Australia - the two Dorrigo ones and the Richmond Vale example - seem to be in slowly deteriorating condition, and no prospect of early restoration.
This notion has been mentioned again within the last several years as I recall, but would a renewed purchase/retrieval/restoration effort for one of these sadly languishing engines be worthwhile considering before the opportunity fades?
I would certainly support it.

[1H was 2E]

My recollection was that the original appeal raised enough to buy two locos. The Locos of the War Dept. book covering the RODs (published about 40 years ago) seemed to confirm this. Presumably it was shipping them back that was the problem.
Sadly, another loco built for war time service (one of the 8Fs sent to TCDD) was brought back from Turkey - and then sent to Israel because, allegedly, no-one in this country was interested.
Another observation is that the costs (at least, the quoted ones) for new builds are less than for repairing an existing loco; e.g. building a new "Patriot" cheaper than the repair work on the "Royal Scot" from Bressingham. (I'm only mentioning LMS locos because that subject for certain LNER ones may be controversial ... ).

[Bryan]

I believe that recently there has been an attempt at imposing a ban on the export of all and any form of historical artifact from Australia.
So much so that in one case a Traction engine was exported back to UK and the owner was forced by legal challenge to send it back.

[crudshoveller]

Well then, there's enough crime about already so let's not add to it!