So what will be running in 2018?

Certainly not 2018. I suspect 2020 would be most likely.

Tom

 

She's been very busy that's for sure. Sadly the NVR is a different beast from the days when they could field several of their own locos for the "Eurosteam" galas of many years ago.
If and when the Polish tank returns, that will help but I'm not sure of the situation regarding Swiftsure. IIRC it was on a 5 year hire but left last year for boiler work so not sure if
or when it will return. 73050 is just at the start of an overhaul so that will be quite a while before that reappears in traffic. Hopefully the Danish 0-6-0T will be finished in the meantime.

 

All short term hires. IMO NVR needs something a bit longer term. Nice to see 34081 getting lots of work but makes it difficult to keep on top of cleaning and maintenance if she's always in traffic.

 

Admittedly I know next to nothing about the motive power needs of heritage railways, but most lines of similar length seem to need around 5 steam locomotives to run the summer season services.

 

Exactly. I'm a member of the NVR and it's my nearest heritage line, but I find it difficult to be enthusiastic about it. It's beginning to look like a railway without locos compared to, say, the NNR which I also support and always find it a joy to visit. Not trying to have a go at them, just being frank.

How well the Gresley Society N2 would have fitted in at the NVR!

 

Seems a shame about the NVR. It used to be unique in the UK with its fleet of continental locomotives. They all seem to be in store, under overhaul or have moved away.

 

I think Wansford Station is a beautiful looking building.

 

35005 could be running sometime this year.

 

The original yes, and the new one will be one day when it's weathered a bit more, but why did they build it at right angles to the platform?

 

To add to the original topic :

Strathspey Railway -

Caledonian Railway 812 No. 828
Ivatt 2MT No. 46512 'E.V.Cooper Engineer
with a possible late Autumn appearance from Black 5 No. 5025, progress on the overhaul coming leaps and bounds in recent months with both cylinders attached, and frames wheeled.

Backed up by the regular diesel fleet.

 

Except for special events, the NVR time table is just a one train service throughout the year.

 

Many of the continental locos were owned by individuals who found that owning a loco was one thing but funding an overhaul was another matter entirely. Hence the current state of affairs.

 

It has been said 'twice the number of daily diagrams' is needed, but it is actually a bit more complex than that - arguably, for a single daily diagram, you need 3 locos - 1 in use, 1 on washout and 1 available should a problem arise with the one in use. For maybe 75% of the time, the '1 on washout' can be the spare as a washout takes a lot less time than the interval between washouts, but of course the problem will always arise when the 2nd loco is on washout!

Hence, probably 'the number of diagrams plus at least 1 on washout and 1 spare, ready for use' is a fairer general rule - until you get to more than 1 needing to be on washout at a time! As that is at maybe 4 or definitely 5 daily diagrams or more, not sure many UK lines (if any) have that need - none have the 8+ daily diagrams of the Harz system AFAIK!

Steven

 

I was under the impression that the NVR had good engineering facilities, plus a good length of line and a mainline connection. Would have thought that would attract more locomotive owners.

 

Just about every railway that has started has been established on the principle that "if it is there they will come" wiuth regard to loco owners. If that was right we should see a situation where each railway has x locos where x = y, the number of locos in existence, divided by z, the number of available sites. We don't, and there are many reasons why. Principle ones include the fact that many locos are owned by supporters of a particular railway, whether they are individuals or associated groups (eg on the SVR or Mid-Hants) so there is strong loyalty to a line. And as time goes by we are seeing more and more locos being acquired from individuals/groups by the lines they are running on (eg NYMR with 3672, 926, 45428, 80135, 75029, 76079, 44806, MHR with 45379, 73096, 35005, 75079, 80150, NNR with 90773, 92213, 76084, ELR with 42765, 34092 etc ) which gradually reduces the pool of engines available to move. Of course there have been exceptions and engines do move around, but it there are plenty of new (and not so new!") wave lines that haven't been able to attract a single working steam engine to date and have to rely on hired in engines if they wish to run steam services. So even having good facilities may not be enough - its a crowded market and there are plenty of other locations with good facilities.

 

5025 would be ambitious but if they get a good run at it through winter/ early spring and with everything on site, late 2018 could be possible. Whats the diesel fleet status? 27 and 31 both operational? One of the 26s was close to being operational last I heard.

 

The Ty3 (Polish Kriegslok) was apparently for sale, complete with spare boiler, for £30,000. But, like you say, funding the overhaul was another matter.

 

The law of Sod also applies. Locos never fail in ones. Locomotive failure is an infectious disease. (Not many people know that )

 

In French, this most universal of natural laws is rendered as 'La Loi de l'Emmerdement Maximum' (any native French speaker will clock the dreaded initials LEM). The most contageous form of failure seems to affect leaf springs ..... which is particularly nasty, as it's demonstrably an airborne phase of this most dreaded lurgi.

 

The other problem is that like many lines, the NVR needs more donations coming in: some of the Mk. 1s are beginning to look rather tired internally. One I rode in had huge amounts of rot in the window frame - we're talking holes about 1/2" deep here, another had tables with worn/damaged wooden beading and surfaces that looked liked they'd been sanded through.

However, the fact is that restoring something to run is not the end; it's only the beginning! Then you have running maintenance costs, fuel/coal/water to cater for...

To be honest, I'm not overly fussed about there not being a diversity of locomotives running on any particular day although that probably does bring the crowds in.