66xx no.6695

6695 might need a tad more than 5' 3" !

 

The S&CR is not the railway it was when 5637 moved away. It is gradually getting longer and, like most other lines reliant on ex-industrials, will probably see a surge in interest once it can offer ex-BR steam.

 

6619 was a popular engine on the NYMR, afaik, and having had experience of it from visits I believe the SVR were keen to get their own copy in the form of 6634. But perhaps, as usually seems to be the case, conditions on the WSR are radically different to anywhere else!

 

I’m not privy to this deal but more often than not if both parties are happy then deals can be extended. It seems to me the S + CR are moving on with this years hire of 5619 and the extension plans so good on them.

regards

Matt

 

I would hesitate to say that 6619 was a popular loco. You either liked it or disliked it. It struggled to maintain time with seven coaches, plodding up the bank to Goathland. It wasn't the best of steamers until the Kylchap blastpipe was fitted, which made a significant improvement. Speaking personally, I was sad to see it leave, even though it was never an engineman's friend, either to fire or drive, exhibiting all the usual GWR hallmarks. Perhaps my affection was because it was the loco that I passed out for driving on.

 

As mentioned over in the 6984 thread:

Full Spinal Tap with Stonehenge moment.

 

5637 moved when the S&CR only had a 1/4 mile of track. The 5637 group had a contract in place with the ESR for several years. The S&CR has long since needed a loco of a 56xx size to haul our trains. The hire of 5619 for nearly two years has proved that. Hopefully we can get the Tkh back in steam ASAP. But 6695 will be more than welcome at the S&CR for the forseable future. Hell - we wanted Owsden Hall to stay, but you know....

 

I have been told that 6619's cylinders are sleeved, hence she isn't quite as powerful as she should be. I don't think it has been decided whether this will be corrected on the next overhaul. After all, it's not a cheap fix!

 

The usual reason for lining cylinders is because they have worn and then been machined out to the limit allowable and lining them brings them back to spec diameter. From memory, I don't think they are lined to less than the specified 18" dia but my memory may be wrong.

 

5637 is due to return to the SCR early next year just before its 10 year ticket expires.

 

I hope 6695 becomes a long term fixture in the SCR loco Roster. It will help provide a second engine when the overhaul of 5619 is due.
As your all well aware, steam locos don't have 100% reliability and having a spare engine is very useful.
Personally I like the 56/66 locos. Very capable and ideally suited to heritage running. Granted not the prettiest loco turned out by Swindon but they get the job done.

 

Given that they have the capability but not the looks, I wonder if you could back-convert one into a Rhymney tank? That or a new-build... the one running Taff tank seems to be popular wherever it goes, and the only other comparable survivor to have run regularly in preservation (32473) has also reputedly been very well-liked by all who've handled her. Clearly, any difficulties in oiling either of those types is forgiven on account of other qualities, including aesthetics...

 

So you want to destroy an historic loco to use its parts for a new build, just because it's not the prettiest?

Words fail me

Keith

 

Have you ever had another 56xx on the Moors to compare? Because when 6619 was allocated to Barry
it was always considered a ‘dud’ and nobody wanted to take it out, unlike 5619 which was something of
a shed pet as was 5643.
It always amazes me that identical loco’s vary so much and even after rebuilding it seems that 6619 has never really
been up to par.

 

Why do the railway need an engine the size of a 56XX (5MT) to pull the trains, as it is far to big for day to day running, as the GWR Service Timetable Appendices 1945 has the 56XX loading of 392 T for your section of line to keep to timetable timing (up to 50 MPH) which is 11 to 12 MK1 coaches (that is all your MK1 passenger coaches) when the 48XX (14XX) (1P) is listed for 280 T so will be able to pull 8 MK1 coaches.

 

What BrightonBaltic actually said was, 'I wonder if you could...' ie. 'might it be technically feasible'. The kind of idle speculation you tend to get in pub conversations and, you know, internet discussion forums. Maybe you could save the outrage for when he's actually bought a derelict loco and is appealing for funds?

 

Because it's what's available. Unless you have a 48xx available for hire?
Most railways are very reluctant to hire any of their loco fleet, usually they want something in return or they only offer a two week hire period.
The big railways seem to hoard locos and leave nothing for the smaller railways.

 

So I've seen - but nothing has been agreed. I believe someone's jumped the gun a little there!

 

This. Basically. Finding a loco that's available to hire that ISN'T an industrial is very hard, unless your checkbook is flexible, from personal experience anyway.