SVR General Discussion

Indeed. All received wisdom but I think that in addition to the new IOMR boilers there are the frames of IOMR 12, there is boiler work continuing on IOMR Nos 4 and 16 and 1995 Caledonia. Not sure if I've double counted the boilers though. As of July 2022 an order for the new boiler of MW 2047 Warwickshire was anticipated to be placed at Bridgnorth 'later in the year'. 813 is to have a new casting fitted and (as mentioned above) 34027 to have an intermediate overhaul during 2024 with a new boiler ticket - I think both those will involve contract work. Some of the work being undertaken on 4150 and 82045 is revenue earning contract work too.

On the carriage front there's a couple too.

As things stand and if things go to plan (always big caveats) it looks like the SVR would have 813, 7714, 4150, 4930, 7802, 7812, 13268, 34027, 75069 and 82045. The EMF is preparing for 5164 with a hoped for completion date in the late 2020s. With 813, 7714 and 75069 coming out of traffic in the later 2020s there's still potentially 8 in service with quite long tickets, and they've been running at 6-8 in the last couple of years. All this could of course change.

 

So no Bulleid for the whole 2024 season?
Defo visiting your railway then!

 

With the 1 steam and 1 diesel timetable there might be consideration for owning groups to look for hire work elsewhere in a bid to get some money in their coffers.

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"34027 will be needed to haul public services through till autumn 2023, at which point we’ll withdraw it from traffic for an intermediate overhaul, which is likely to see the locomotive out of traffic for a year or so."

 

Where was that quote from? It flies in the face of recent statements.

 

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2022/1...ry-for-steam-locomotive-34027-taw-valley.html

 

Over 3 months ago now so well out of date.

 

It's getting the temporary black livery at the moment. As far as I'm aware it's still the position that it will have an intermediate, and that is not trumped by the more recent pronouncements.

 

It’s an important loco as the only one able to work any airbraked train that comes in off the big railway such as the Belmond Pullman a few years back

 

My answer there is overhaul Gordon........

 

If they put their minds to it, the overhaul should be done by Easter.

Alternatively, they could rob the air brake equipment off Gordon and stick on the side of Hagley Hall. It would look nice with Westinghouse pump.

........I'll get my coat

 

I believe Gordon’s also worked the Pullmans (the ex Manchester ones) about 30 years ago.

 

I don’t think the cash strapped railway will be doing that any time soon

 

That seems to be a rather feeble argument - how often to air-braked trains visit? If they do, perhaps they could be diesel-worked instead!

 

If the railway want to make more money they need to make themselves a destination for mainline specials, 300 people arriving at Bridgnorth will add a fair bit of secondary spend. It’s not very attractive if all what was once the UKs premier steam railway can offer is haulage by an oil box.

 

If there is the best part of 1 steam locomotive out per operational day except galas then would there be a desperate need to overhaul something anyway? Otherwise wouldn't the railway have too much home fleet locomotives without them doing much?

 

Did the SVR ever advertise itself among tour operators as a destination for rail tours? LSL seem to get everywhere so it could be a regular destination and a fairly attractive one for both the enthusiast and normal passenger. I’m fairly certain that the Pullmans have been to Bridgnorth since 1993.

 

Surely cheaper in the short term to hire something from LSL if an air braked steam loco is needed in the temporary absence of 34027.

Talking of LSL wasnt JH interested in 80079 a while ago - is there a deal to be done there? Lease it to LSL for overhaul and air brake fitting and their use but have call on its services when its mutually convenient?