7027 Thornbury Castle

Haven't seen it myself, but a friend tells me one of the mags is reporting 7027 has been sold ?.

 

Also been told she has been sold and is going to a location to be overhauled shortly.

 

Article in Railway Mag says that buyer is called Jonathan Jones-Pratt, aged 32. He is already either the owner or co-owner (Not clear from the article which) of 4936. 7027 wil be overhauled at Tyseley and both locos are planned to be operated on the main line, but with some running also planned on the WSR. Good to read this engine has a positive future and best wishes to the new owner.

 

Great to hear of the possibility of another restored Castle, can't have too many

 

Doesn't it have an alright boiler on it already ?
whats missing from it apart from the obvious

 

Quoting the RM Article:- "It possesses a boiler that is reckoned ot be in excellent condition, having been repaired by Swindon Works late in its working life". The article also states that Tyseley has a number of "critical spares" and especially as it left Barry quite early, it's probably not going to need as many new parts as some restorations. The front bogie is missing from the loco at the moment, but thankfully, this is because it (and the tender) didn't move from Crewe to Peak Rail, so at least it's still extant. No doubt we will know more once work begins. Apparently, it will take Clun Castle's place in the works when 7029 is complete.

 

Is there any mention of what braking system might be used ?, I know Bob Meanley isn't a fan of it, but air braking would open up more possibilities for mainline use, the Torbay just doesn't seem right without 6024/5029.

 

Will the opportunity be taken to consider improving 7027 in the ways 5043 and 7029 itself are?
Also its full circle for TC going back to Tyseley for its restoration.

 

Might one of those to be kept at Churston once overhauled too now that their owner has taken a major PDSR shareholding?

 

Unless VT are looking at operating their own Torbay's its very unlikily because if Nunney is availible then that would i imagine be the engine of choice if DBC are the operators, but at the same time, another castle with air brakes or even another hall, may add some flexibility how far is Tysley from Bristol prehaps that may be another option for VT , Plus having a couple of engines that are capable of being operated by another TOC in case West Coast should hit difficaulties again, may be a very sensible option has 6201 been operated by DBC whilst being based at Tysley ?

 

The rumour mill suggests that it will receive at least some of the later improvements made to steaming and draughting- whether this eventuality will entail the fitting of a double chimney is anybody's guess.

 

I doubt it, 7027 is unique in preservation with the 3 row superheater, sort of a halfway house between the standard single and double chimneys.

 

I agree that, putting my Bulleid allegiances aside, having the 'inbetweener' would provide an interesting point of comparison- would it be better than 5029, for example. However, its early days yet, and whilst I understand that quite a bit of kit has already been collected for this locomotive, it's probably no 'shake and bake'.

 

Go on, a Ferrari is an investment surely? (I know, stop calling me Shirley).

BTW I do wish I'd the money to buy 7027; it would look the business (as well as being authentic) at Broadway with a "Cornishman" headboard waiting to head south to Cheltenham Race Course. Still, much stranger and less likely things have already happened in our world of heritage railways.

 

That's making the assumption that 7027 still has the boiler that it went to Barry with. I still have a memory that there was a boiler swap done (or certainly was planned to be done) when 5080 was restored.

 

Not having another account on here means I don't usually post about non DMLL related things but I do find the above interesting, what is the source of that info may I ask???

Regards,

Mike Solloway

 

I've often wondered what was behind the decision to restore the Tyseley Castles in the order they were, excluding Clun Thornbury was the first extracted from Barry (23rd loco to leave in August 1972) followed by 5043 (43rd to leave, August 1973) and finally Defiant (62nd to leave in August 1974). At first glance that would suggest that Thornbury was in the best nick and I always assumed that the idea was to have spares for Clun (5043) and then either 7027 or 5080 would be restored.

I have a vague recollection that there was a reason why 5080 was suddenly elevated to the top of the list?

All the above is based on vague recollections from 20 plus years ago and assumptions?

 

Very good news indeed. And also encouraging to see a younger enthusiast around with deep enough pockets to take on the restoration.