Repton

Another good thing about Repton is that its return to steam, followed hopefully next year by the S15 and 34101 may bring a few extra visitors to the line from down south, including those Southern fans among us who have posed on this thread. OK in the overall tally of the 300,000+ visitors to the line, we are but a mere drop in the ocean, but given it's 10 years since my last visit, the prospect of three Southern locos (OK, one is technically BR(S) if you want to be pedantic!) working on this splendid line is jut the impetus I need to come again.

Oh, and before our friend Mr Black Hat jumps in, just because I'm waiting for the Southern engines to be working before planning a trip to Yorkshire, this doesn't mean I dislike his beloved NER locos. If the Southern trio is complemented by 65894, 63395 or indeed, both when I Pay a visit, I shall be delighted!

 

That was the S160, 2253.

Steven

 

It's all so long ago you could be right!

Sawdust.

 

I'm not sure that a single run can be taken as particularly telling - it may have been a newly overhauled engine just out of the works. The balance of the evidence seems to be that these engines became very run down very quickly, but I've no direct experience, so it would seem rather stupid to argue the case passionately one way or the other. With regards to some of the other classes mentioned, my opinion, for what it's worth, is that I like the looks of the B16 but don't believe it to have been any more than adequate as a design. NER cabs have always seemed to me to be very poor compared to the flat surfaces found elsewhere. The Q6 was likewise adequate but behind its time, the first 2-8-0s were already out there and were probably smoother riders and kinder to the track, and as for the Q7s, word at the NYMR is that 63601 used to try to shake itself to bits whenever it ran!

 

I remember a scurrilous newsletter doing the rounds of the NYMR at the time which featured a report to the effect that Repton had finally succeeded in pulling itself up the bank and that thoughts were now being given to seeing it could also manage to haul its own tender. It was a changed engine after its sojourn at Loughborough.

 

I don't know for certain (I wasn't involved, am not a steam loco engineer, and it was all a long time ago) but I have a vague idea that the GCR had to sort out the valve timing on Repton, which seems to be something they're rather better at than some railways (no slur on the NYMR, by the way, I've no idea if (a) they'd attempted it, (b) if it's even true). It's a shame really, I had always rather hoped it would be a complete flop at the Moors so we could have it back...

 

My recollection is that it was sent to the GCR because it was too heavy for the NYMR at that time. I see to recall part or all of Levisham straight had to be improved. It was a very frustrating time for those of us who were looking forward to it running on the NYMR, but our reward for waiting came in the form of 60007 and 60532 as well!

 

63601 is the preserved O4.

 

Had a very noisy run behind 30926 on the Moors in 1995.

 

Ageing memory, I meant 901 (63460) of course. If the NRM
are in locomotive giving away mode, please could they give either that or 4771 to the NYMR 4771 is virtually a modernised 4472, so virtually a duplicate in the collection!

 

That's where you are making your mistake - they keep the duplicates, and give away the unique stuff, especially if it hasn't run in decades. So you need to set your sights on the other 901 - the Edward Fletcher one ...

Tom

 

We'd better get NER 1111 and the two H &BR coaches restored in that case, I doubt whether the Fletcher 901 would haul that much more (though I'm sure that if Mr Black Hat thinks it looks good he'll be able to tell me with some confidence that it would be much stronger than that!).

 

I'm no Eastleigh-ite, and my personal preference in 4-4-0s is for the products of Derby, Horwich, St Rollox, Cowlairs and especially Dundalk. But objectively it would be more than churlish not to accept that the Schools was simply the best 4-4-0 ever built in the British Isles; moreover I can't think of a better anywhere else either...
All the more impressive considering the humble way Maunsell went about their design. Although a Belpaire himself, he used the we existing Urie-origin boiler as a starting point, and took on much from his various assistants and from other CMEs.

 

Looks like we will have to relay the Beckhole branch to give them somewhere to run then. Not the Incline bit though.
Easy transport to the pub instead of walking as well.

 

Gets my vote. Don't mind the walk down the hill to get there, it's walking up it that's the pain in the proverbial.

 

The Beck Hole branch has long been my favourite WIBN waste of money project. Completely pointless, but very appealing.

 

Don't or you know who will appear like Mr Benn's proverbial shopkeeper!

Sawdust.

 

According to NYMRDiesel site , Repton goes solo on the 13:30 ex-Grosmont tomorrow, replacing the diesel.

Jon

 

Get on with it, then.