Bulleid Pacifics - Past or Present

So, out of 11 saved MNs , one (35029) is in a museum- sectioned. Five have steamed, Three are now being actively restored (009, 011 and 025) and two are not being worked on(yet?).

 

Looking at Light Pacific’s. Only three to be restored and to steam again for the first time. 34010/58/73. Excluding 34051 at York.

 

Sounds about right to me, certainly it's incredible to me, having half of them in steam at one time or another for the sort few considered it possible or practical to do so. For me though the real stand out has to be 35018 British India Line, as that one I feel kinda came out of nowhere.

Once upon a time it was supposedly at an advanced stage in it's initial first attempt at restoring it, but then matters suddenly went downhill and it appeared to have been left to rust and be forgotten... that is until David Smith bought it and those mechanical wizards at Carnforth got their hands on it. Cue a few years later and now fully restored, it's turned into quite a stalwart of the class it has to be said. Right up there with 35028 Clan Line.

Yes that's a remarkable achievement in itself I'd say, certainly considering how many of them their are. Even better is the fact where there might be question marks over the remaining Merchant Navies getting restored, the remaining Light Bulleids' futures seem brighter to me.

34058 while not being restored as yet is owned by the Mid-Hants Railway now, and seemed intent on restoring it at some point in the future.

34010 is actively being restored by Southern Locomotives Limited, though understandably progress has been slowed by having to work on the other Bulleids they got in their care.

That just leaves 34073 who's future is rather more unclear, though one can only hope it will be restored fully at some stage.

 

I’m losing the plot. That was at the MHR bash alongside 34081. Saw it enough times over the two weekends.

 

As I recall 35010 received the old tender tank used by 34007 when it was withdrawn, a few years ago as a new one was made for eventual use on the behind 35005 and I think I remember seeing somewhere that it's planned to go in for restoration (or at least undercover), when one or both the Black 5's are complete at the Colne Valley.

As for poor 35022, I have no idea when work will start on her, last I remember was it possibly be going in after 35027 was complete, but given no work has been done for a few years on 35027 and with other Hosking loco's awaiting overhauls, there's no telling when work will start again on her and eventually on 35022.

 

I am hoping that someone can tell me that the condition is just superficial but for me, 35027 has to be one of steam preservation's poor examples of how a locomotive that was fully restored but now looks not much better than many that haven't been restored to working order at all since withdrawal from service and towing to Woodham's.

 

How about 76017? And look at it now again!

Richard.

 

43106 is another, how much was added to its last overhaul due to it being outside at Arley and Highley for 20 or so years? Officially that loco’s never been in a scrapyard.

 

Thanks Richard & Matt - I'm afraid I was away from the UK HR scene for an extended period 1995 - 2015 so I don't recall seeing either 76017 nor 43106 in disassembled condition.
More recently, the only other engine I've seen broken right down into component parts and outside, has been 44767 at MRC - even minus cylinders.

I also recognise the significant capabilities of HR workshops compared to early days but I still think it's depressing to see 35027 as it is currently.

 

I think that 35027 is at Crewe, is it sat outside or tucked away inside? Surely if there was no plan to progress in the near future it would have been moved to Margate for long term dry storage?

 

If you have access to Amazon Prime, there's a documentary on there entitled "A Day in The Life of a Bulleid Pacific". Tangmere is the star.

 

Frames and boiler are outside https://flic.kr/p/2gbiBWs along with the frames of 35022 https://flic.kr/p/2gbLXWW So there's a boiler and two locomotives worth of wheels somewhere else on site at Crewe. Where was she dismantled? She moved from Swanage to Southall but I seem to remember she (and 22) moved to Ian Riley's at the ELR and then to Crewe. I wonder at what point plans changed and she slipped down the queue?

Edit - To answer my own question, she was dismantled at Southall https://flic.kr/p/b5wqzR

 

I can never seem to find any of the documentaries that used to be on prime? Search comes up with nothing. Only popular movies and things are shown?

 

We searched for Bulleid and found it quite easily. Its nothing ground breaking - but I still enjoyed it.

 

Nothing now on my app. Used to be loads of railway stuff on it. Now I get nothing but films and more popular stuff.

 

See if this link works https://amazon.co.uk/Day-Life-Bulle...Bulleid&qid=1609109054&s=instant-video&sr=1-1

 

It’s been several years since 34016 Bodmin arrived at Carnforth. Is this going to be the year we see it return to the main line.

 

Who knows? I wouldn’t bet against it running as 34073 on a test run though, maybe in some sort shade of Stroudley improved yellow perhaps?

 

34067 Tangmere is under overhaul see post 162 poist https://www.national-preservation.c...10-20-16-17-12-20.1418179/page-9#post-2619401

 

Something to reflect on; of all the Bulleid Pacifics that have been saved, only three, 34023,34051 and 35028 were acquired direct from BR. 34051 is, of course, part of the National collection. The other two were funded the hard way by dedicated society members on trains, at exhibitions and at the lineside. Towards the end of steam almost every steam hauled train seemed to have someone on board shaking a collecting tin for Clan Line. I’ve no idea how much of my loose change went into it.
For the rest we owe a great debt of gratitude to Dia Woodham, who I heard always felt he was cheated with the Bulleids as no one told him they had steel fire boxes!