35018 British India Line

Maybe we do but most of her runs are on the Pullman and thus rather an expensive way of getting some MN haulage.

 

drone ftw!

 

If you want quality you have to pay the big bucks for it and thats what Clan line commands like it or not.

 

I imagine that much like 45699, 46115 etc, BIL will go wherever there is work for her, although I would be surprised if she left Carnforth that soon after a restoration from Barry condition, one would expect them to want to keep an eye on her whilst she beds in?

 

I'm sure I read somewhere that the MNLPS want to make her more accessible to people than in the past.

 

As an WCRC machine there will be a few off this site waiting to pounce if she doesn't run fairly well from the get go.

 

That's what MNLPS have announced and there will be a lot of work next year with the 50 years since the end of SR steam and I suspect that 35018 will have a lot of imput too. The big one for me is the July 5th Bounemouth Bell using the Bellmond set.

 

i did make this prediction about it several years ago, and i would bet a certain gentleman with one time ties to it is the operating officer and the same people who were support to Tangmere will be support crew on this, and 73096 when that returns

 

Very briefly going off piste is 73096 still at Southall as I don't think she ever made it back to Carnforth (I think Bodmin did), can WCRC overhaul at Southall or is it just maintenance and has anything else been said regarding a longer term WCRC base darn sarf?

As you were.

 

My understanding is that John Bunch kept ownership of 73096 and that its undergoing overhaul at Southall as its not actually owned by West Coast,He 's most likily renting space there, what i dont know is if any work has been done on site .

 

I actually hope she beds in well and does manage at least one run over the S&C before she moves down Saff, i susppect she will replace Tangmere in the Southern based pool , that was the idea, that British india Line would come down South, Tangmere would go up to Carnforth for overhaul, and eventually the West coast pool down here would be 35018, 34016 34067 and 73096 plus any other visiting engine from the LSL stable but as west coat own, or have an interest in the first 4, they would get the lions share of any WCRC work, given recent developments with LSL , that may be one of the reasons why, they have decided to become their own TOC.

 

Do you think perhaps this is where the strategic reserve's hidden? (Tongue very firmly in cheek!)

 

Possibly, no one ever goes to Carnforth unless they really have to!

 

Did NR have a change of heart about needing the WC rented part of Southall depot back for its own use? Was it not a break point at the end of this year being exercised.
IIRC there was also an improvement notice served on WC for issues at the site. The reports seem to suggest WC had pretty much returned everything it could by rail to Carnforth.

 

That's good to know.

 

I think there's a link on one of @Big Al 's posts on the 35028 overhaul thread.

 

Good news that another big 'un is nearly back from the cold. As for livery, I have stated my preference, but anything is better than a coat of rust. Wonder if the locomotive has been restored with its unique features?

 

Can we argue not about the livery but the name. "British India" sounds somewhat colonial. Not PC enough for today.

 

Quite like it myself. Have to come to terms with our colonial past, don't you know, what?