35025 Brocklebank Line

As there has been a flurry of news about this locomotive in a more general thread, about locomotives that have not yet steamed, I think it now deserves it's own thread.
This locomotive was saved from Barry Scrap yard and went to the GCR in 1986. The locomotive was dismantled and restoration started. A new smokebox was made, together with a cab. However the GCR asked for the locomotive to be moved around 2005. At this time a large quantity of non ferrous fittings and castings were stolen from storage.
It moved to Sellinge and has had very little work done since it arrived. It is now going into the care of the Southern Locomotive Limited organisation who have said that they will care for the locomotive until such time that they could undertake its return to steam.....but at this stage, it is not guaranteed.
Given the proven ability and capability of the SLL, this is a really positive next stage in the life of this Merchant Navy Pacific. I was one of many who supported the project whilst it was on the GCR and am pleased to continue and support the SLL now.

 

Hopefully a new future for a fantastic engine

 

Fingers crossed. I hope that, one day, we will be able to see all of the remaining ex-BR locos restored. I'm all in favour of well managed new-builds, but they don't possess the history that comes with a heritage loco.

 

time for me to dream.........
at some future time there are a 'gathering' of Bulleid's Merchant Navy engines operated out of SL for daily Bournemouth Belle pullmans during the summer months - the south's version of the Jacobite offering with food and wine replacing mountains and lochs. 35009, 35025, 35011, 35010 and 35022 join 35028 as a collective pool/force. I admit that I do love to dream........

 

Just to help the dream.....

 

thanks Phil.
I was a regular visitor and passer-by at Loughborough into the mid 90s and 35025 is surely one of the sadder stories from Railway Heritage. Let's hope that this can be turned round.

 

They will have to put a turntable at Weymouth like they said they were . And I think it would be worth putting back in a water crane at a few stations along the way the pipes must still be there

 

An interesting move given that SLL elected to get out of the MN game in selling '27. I hope this means a brighter future for '25!

 

and 22

 

For the benefit of those who may be unclear about this cryptic post, I believe the Southern Locomotive Limited organisation was created from some separate locomotive preservation groups and they had, under their umbrella, 35027 Port line and 35022 Holland America Line.
Port Line was restored and run in the 1990's. Then in the mid 2000's Jeremy Hoskins put a bid to buy the two MNs to be part of his growing fleet (Now Icons of Steam). This sale money was used by SLL to help fund the restoration of their other locomotives (2 WCs and 2 BBs plus others).

 

From memory, 35027 was restored at S&C then Swindon Works (as was) before re-steaming at Bluebell Railway? I'm a bit vague on the time-line and detail of SLL taking charge of 27 from these times though.
My only recollections of 35022 post-Woodhams was at Swanage Railway pre-Herston works complex.

 

It later went to Sellinge, where some limited work was done - blasting and repainting, as I recall from my couple of working visits.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

According to the latest news from the SLL, some work has been done to 35025 already whilst it is at Sellindge. They are starting to have regular work parties to remove and renovate parts. Hopefully there will be some new pictures soon.

 

Is this at Sellindge to prepare it for moving? Or are they planning to leave it in situ for now?

 

I believe it will be moved at some time, if they can find a suitable base, but the work being done is more than just preparing for a move.

 

Am I right in remembering that 35025 was the victim of non-ferrous metal theft at the GCR?
I seem to recall that quite a bit of work was done in the cocoon behind the main shed but I'm not sure if this was mainly just cosmetic? Was the chassis lifted and were wheel sets & axle boxes restored do we know?

 

35025 is lucky to be with us, when cutting resumed in 1980, 35025 was said to have been next in line, after 4156 and 92085...

 

I have a vague recollection of visiting Loughborough with my dad when I was fairly young and 35005 being in the shed with 34070 with no front bogie and 35025 being out the back?


Chris

 

Dates might be wrong on these. Both taken behind the main shed at Loughborough.

 

Yes - there was a significant theft of non ferrous parts just before it left the GCR. A small proportion was recovered and one person convicted IIRC.
From SLL source.... ".... It was transferred in 1986 to the Great Central Railway for restoration and over the next 19 years a fair amount of work was carried out. The locomotive was dismantled, wheels dispatched for turning, axleboxes overhauled and the locomotive was rewheeled . All of the brake mechanism was overhauled and reinstated, a new smokebox manufactured and various motion parts purchased along with a 6000 gallon tender tank, which ironically we had sold to the Mid Hants who sold it on to the Association."

However the SLL recognise that all this took place a long time ago and so they will be lifting and checking all axle boxes journals etc when the locomotive is in a secure covered location I believe.