More Hall action on main line in the future?

With 4965's spectacular Welsh Marches tour on Saturday and today's notice of 4936 being on the CE's to Kingswear are we going to be seeing more GWR halls on the mainline in the future? A welcome development if that is true.

 

There was a thread about Halls https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/halls-unloved-unsung.183390/ a while back (which I started) asking why they did not seem as popular as other classes. Quite a few people said that they just didn't find them very appealing engines. I have to say that anyone who has enjoyed a run behind 4965 probably won't feel that way. You have to accept that 4965 isn't 5043 or 6024 and adjust your expectations accordingly - no dashing along at 75mph (or a bit more!), but at the end of the day, 4965 is a reliable loco that does what is asked of it and will give you a fine run time after time within the limitations of its 60mph maximum. If 4936 will perform to the same standards as its classmate, I do not think the passengers on the two Kingswear trips are going to be disappointed.

 

Route availability must be a factor. Clearances tend to become reduced as track is renewed and Halls are already tight across much of the network, so it's quite possible that the options open to them, even in former GWR territory, are much more restricted nowadays.

 

5972 was unloved by the crews at 10A by all accounts.

 

That is, of course, another factor. VT has had plenty of experience in knowing which routes 4965 can take, but, as you point out, track or platform renewals can spoil a previously Hall-friendly route. Also, VT tends to stick to a number of routes easily accessible from the West Midlands. Hopefully Westbury-Kingswear won't cause 4936 any problems, but a lot of route checking may well be required if 4936 finds itself boldly going where no Hall has gone before - at least, not for a few years.

 

LMS preference?

 

That's undoubtedly true. LMS bias or not, 5972 wasn't perhaps a good example of its class. Had Dr Bob and co worked their magic the story would have been different.

 

If there is indeed more work for Halls on the mainline this is only a good thing for 6880 and its mainline charters. Great to hear that Kinlet is doing some mainline trips! Just seen that she is going to KWVR via the mainline, any chance of a railtour while she is up here?

 

Hope Kinlet does get to KWVR. They intended bringing 5029 in by rail last year I think only for some last minute hitch with gauging to scupper it.

 

It would be great if a modified hall could get involved. I really hope these trips go off without a hitch. What has 4636's mainline record been prior to her last overhaul?

 

Not really. 6880 is smaller wheeled - same size as a 78xx. The fact Erlestoke boys have decided the effort is worth it with 7802 gives the hint at how gauge friendly they are.

 

I don't think Kinlet has failed when on the mainline since overall.....I've had a few runs behind her in the past and on the MHR, most recent, paired with Rood Aston to Newport and back, lively run it was to.

 

There was a whisper 6990 may go mainline sometime ago

 

6960?

That would be a dream for me. The Overhaul of 6960 wasn't completed but a few years ago. If Icons put their mind to it I think that it should happen.

 

No 6990 Witherslack Hall based at GCR.

 

Whoopie!

 

It was only a brief mention in Steam Railway mag so I wouldn't get too excited just yet.

 

There's absolutely no way that either 6990 (owned by the David Clarke Railway Trust and overhauled for use on the GCR is going to be released by the GCR for use on the main line. They have already lost too many locos that way in the past and would hardly shoot themselves in the foot by letting 6990 go as well.

Regarding 6960: Icons of Steam have enough class 7 / 8 locos in the overhaul programme already without diverting their efforts onto a class 5 loco with all their limitations, not least route availability as already mentioned above, for this particular class 5 loco.

 

Fair enough you obviously know a bit more than me but all I've said is there was whisper it MAY go out on the Mainline I didnt say it's 100% fact that it WILL happen.