N7 No. 69621

From posts on facebook it appears 69621 has finally been withdrawn for overhaul. A locomotive I have seen for many years, was even the first locomotive I remember seeing as a kid at the EARM during Santa specials I will definitely miss seeing her out and about.

Yesterday I had infact uploaded a gallery with 40 shots of her before I found out she had been withdrawn, it can be found by clicking this link:

http://khardy.zenfolio.com/p178677721 (Does anyone remember the early 90's Colchester open days which featured her?)

Does anyone know what the future holds for 69621? She's always been said to be too big for the EARM on a regular basis but it would be nice to think this handsome tank has a future steaming rather than being static.

Cheers,

 

Perhaps the NNR might be tempted to take it under their wing again, very appropriate for the line and would be just the right size of engine for them. Though they're probably busy as it is with other projects to sort out.

The MNR instead then maybe, they have said they want more steam operations there.

 

Another rather fitting place for her would be the Epping Ongar line being an ex-GER line. She would look good running through Essex with their Suburbans once restored!

 

Mid Norfolk or Epping would be ideal, is it just me or do smaller engines have a bit more Chraracter? As I say this would be an ideal engine for these 2 lines both not to far away from its base. Lets hope someone reads this and thinks 'Hmmm....'

 

I gotn the impression from a post in another thread that the CVR might have been hinting about overhauling it....

 

Negotiations are ongoing regarding both the loco's short term / long term future. All I can say is watch this space.

 

N7 69621 is out tomorrow on CVR services following the failure of TKh 2944. Should repairs not be completed in-time she will also work Wednesday's services, before operating her final weekend of public services.

http://www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk/news/69621farewell

 

Beast!

 

A potential visitor for one final ride behind the N7?

 

N7 warming fire is going in as I speak ahead of her final weekend.

Look forward to having some of you visit us for this. She will be performing 5x Return Trips along the CVR, first departure from Cheddleton at 10:32.

 

I can remember riding behind this engine on the North Woolwich-Stratford line, sitting in a quad-art set, as a spotty young trainspotter in the late 1950s! So if she could get to the NNR for/after restoration and run with their quad-art set, I'd love to get there.

 

Unfortuntley no! Rather ironic I have a free weekend in GE Territory this weekend. I seem to keep missing this rather chunky tank. It will happen though

 

You'll have a long wait. 69621 not being restored immediately, and unsure how long she will remain on display at EARM.

 

One day...

 

A fine loco that I was fortunate enough to see at the NNR in 2009.A few photos can be seen here
http://stephenleek.smugmug.com/Railwayphotos-1/NNR-QuadArt-week-2009/i-JV6dJgc/A

 

Its a rather nice beastie. It will be mine... One day!

 

What about their GER N7 tank? What's happening with that?

 

The n7 belongs to the East Anglian Railway museum, and is in storage there I believe.

 

Ah. I just remember seeing photos of it running at the NNR with the Quad-Arts. Any hope of it being overhauled?

 

It last ran at the Churnet valley. From what I understood it was very tired. There was talk about building a replica or something, however that's quite unrealistic. As with many locos in preservation, it may be that it has turned its last wheel in anger.