K&ESR Yank Tank - LMR No.300

I'm all for this whilst this loco didn't work at Liss it's always nice to see something a bit different. Anyhows, we all know what a little Blue 0-6-0 can do to encourage today's youngsters into railways!

 

Just a quick Question, is it intended that the locomotive stays in LMR colours permanently? or is a return to 'Ashford' colours on the cards in, say 5 years time?

 

Someone is bound to say why not paint it up like the thomas character plonk a face on it and hire it out ,Especially if it pays to get another engine into traffic.

 

Bound to be. I have fond memories of the K&ESR in the 70s when company policy was that nothing could be painted in original colours. Everything had to be in K&ESR livery.

 

You mean!

Personally, I like the LMR livery even if it isn't authentic. Always remember 196 "Errol Lonsdale" and the two ex Greek WD's based at the MHR, 2-10-0 601 "Sturdee" and 2-8-0 701 "Franklin D Roosevelt". The livery looked great on them and does now on 70.

 

Yes it did, but then both the S160 and the WD were rebuilt with the Greek modifications removed, My remark was actually slightly tongue in cheak but 65 was never a popular engine in KESR service operationally, because of the small bunker, that in part was why it went on loan when 6619 was purchased, i would not be surprised if later, once another larger engines came back into service 70 also falls out of favour with the crews ,

 

Will No.25 also have an LMR identity?

 

Both Yanks are now fitted with an Armstrong blast pipe AFAIK. The coal consumption was reduced when 65's was fitted and she would steam against the injector on Tenterden bank for most Fireman.

 

Nice job KESR. Good to see this engine back in steam and wearing an attractive historic livery.

If you really want to upset the purists then put it into 1968 Worth Valley livery and send it up to Haworth for the 50th anniversary celebrations!

 

I think the LMR livery is a breath of fresh air, a little OTT maybe, but novel and this yank looks very fine wearing it.
Anyway-it's their puffer, so it's their choice. Thank heavens its not BR Black

 

Those were the days. We were happy to have steam no matter what the colour and the stock it was hauling.

 

65 was popular with crews once the Armstrong blast pipe was fitted. One crew from another railway described it as our "Turbo Yank"!

 

Wainwright And The Undercover Mission?
"Once upon a time, there was a little green tank locomotive which MI5 asked to wear a disguise, so it could undertake a top secret mission..."

 

So why once 6619 arrived, did it go on loan? as a 5 rated engine, wouldnt something smaller like Charwelton been better? after the Armstrong blastpipe had been fitted, was 65 able to do 4 round trips without needing to top up with coal? see thats the problem, at some point you will be needing to turn out engines that can operate from Tenterden to Robertsbridge, and if you have to timetable in lay over time to re coal it will impact on the time table unless you come up with something really ingenious at Robertsbridge to enable you to top up coal whist part of the running round As i see it, only 1638, 577, 4253 and 6619 will have the bunker large enough to actually be of use , without a re coaling facitity, the only American engine that i think would be of use to the KESR in the future, would be an S160, and lets face it, one of those on Tenterden bank would be very interesting , 3278 may be looking for a new home , now you could paint that in longmoor blue with my blessing

 

(By 577 I presume you mean 376). 30065 may be a more powerful Yank now, but the increased power probably means higher coal and water consumption if used at full power over long distances. More useful on short lines, such as the present KESR, and the lines on which it was hired out while 6619 was working out the last 18months of its ticket.
Once extended then I agree that coal capacity will probably be insufficient,even now the Yank often needs a one Kalmar bucket top-up for the third trip. More importantly the ride quality of the USA is poor compared to 6619.
One of the main reasons for buying 6619 was its suitability for the longer runs. The existing fleet has of course to be maintained suitable for the current operations in the meantime.

I believe 6619 now has a designated place in the five year plan for overhauls.

 

Oh dear. Martin, the Yank went on loan because the line that wanted to borrow it wanted a loco capable of hauling their A set. Charwelton wasn't. No, the Yank couldn't do 4 trips on one bunker, but as the A set turn is only 3 trips, I don't see an issue with that. Yes, it needs a re-coal to do a 3 trip day, but the buckets often do as well. You seem to have forgotten 5668 in your list of suitable engines. No-one is suggesting that each loco will have to be able to manage 4 round trips in a day to Robertsbridge. Some allowances will have to be made when an engine with a short coal capacity is running. I am pretty certain that Seagull and co will already have the planning in hand, and will let us know the plan when they are ready.

 

Where did 65 go on loan?

Also, I would be surprised if once extended to Robertsbridge (resulting in a round trip being 27 miles one) a loco would do 4 return trips - I can't think of another preserved railway with that kind of length where an individual loco would do more than 3 trips in a day. Which wouldn't stop the need for re-coaling if the Yank needs re-coaling on a 3 trip day on the present line, but it would reduce the risk of it happening on larger locos, and hopefully the Yank would only need one top up rather than two!

 

She went up to Embsay.

 

#21 is looking very fetching in its new livery - congrats to the KESR! #25 'Northiam' must be very close to re-entering service as well!