60007 (4498) Sir Nigel Gresley Overhaul

No, it is not the test run. Diesel hauled with 4498 in light steam.

 

Nigel looking impatient and ready to go on the webcam

 

Not my pic, but on her way back to Crewe

 

Nearly home - 4498 passes Heamies Farm

 

Meet the new boss - same as the old boss ?

A comparison of A4s at Hargrave today and five years ago (9/9/17)

 

It’s lost a bit of pulling power in the last five years. Must be old age catching up

Tom

 

Video from the loaded test, climbing Gresford Bank

 

The regular update has been posted, with details on running in, and any problems etc.., that have since been resolved.

The 'Sir Nigel Gresley' Locomotive Trust Ltd

 

Engineering update, covering test runs, and then members special on line now

The 'Sir Nigel Gresley' Locomotive Trust Ltd

 

Interesting to see how much activity goes on behind the scenes to keep main line steam in good order- and congrats to the support team(s) who give up so much of their time to see steam continue on the main line.

 

Would not usually share an item that came by email, but it has also appeared on social media.

Following the successful tour on the 21st of May Sir Nigel Gresley is now fully certified for mainline operation however, as planned, SNGLT has been assessing the locomotive following running in and the first mainline tour. An intermittent issue whereby steam appeared to be passing the regulator has undergone a detailed assessment and the root cause of the issue has now been traced to the joint between the main steam pipe and the front tubeplate or possibly the tubeplate end of the steam pipe itself. Although this should be relatively easy to remedy the work requires a significant amount of disassembly in the smokebox. The necessary work is already underway however as a result, the locomotive will not be available for further operation until later this summer. We do not expect this to impact the planned visit to the North Yorkshire Moors in September however the repaint into BR Blue has been postponed and timing of this will be reassessed in due course and a decision taken based on the speed of progress with the repair and operational requirements.
The Trust expects Sir Nigel Gresley to be in traffic later in the summer as in every other respect the locomotive has performed superbly during trials and on the inaugural tour. We will advise plans for railtours in due course.

 

A great shame. I would love to go the Moors to see it in September but Carlisle on the 24th September is equally tempting.

 

NYMR has just announced that in addition to SNG featuring at its autumn gala in September, it will be appearing there in its temporary black livery.

 

Good! I must admit I like it a lot although I will be equally happy when it reverts to BR Blue whenever that happens.

 

Me too.

 

Lost its spot in the paint shop queue, so will have to wait until after NYMR gala.

For those interested in the repairs to the main steam pipe :-

The 'Sir Nigel Gresley' Locomotive Trust Ltd

 

I'm hoping that SNG's owners are noticing that the Wartime Black is proving to be a crowd-puller.

 

Really? Are you sure that it is not the loco's return to service after an absence of several years that is the crowd puller, regardless of the livery it is carrying?

Peter

 

Its a streak, and the only one running - even if you turned it out in Platinum/Porterbrook Lilac it would still pull crowds.