55 to be repaired for Bluebell50

It would seem from discussion on the Bluebell chat group that the doyen of the Bluebell fleet, A1X no. 55 Stepney will indeed be overhauled to enable it to operate over the fiftieth anniversary weekend next August.

She won't be recieving the extensive work required for her to be the reliable performer she could be by all accounts, but nevertheless it would be a remarkable thing if we can bring together both 323 and 55 fifty years on.

 

This is more money wasted by the Bluebell Chris, lets have a proper job and be done with it.

Regards

 

I think it is a great idea to have the first 2 bluebell locos running for the 50th celebrations. All loco department members are to be rostered an extra workshop turn each roster which will be dedicated to getting 323 and 55 running next year. Having guaranteed staff each weekend can help the workshop plan the overhaul and make the most of the volunteer’s time.
Plans are coming together for next year which will be a very exciting 12 months, what with the push north to EG and from EG south, the various visitors and events during the year, I for one can't wait.

Regards,

Dave G.

 

Yes great news indeed. I read it on the AGM of the bluebells site, (check out the latest news and its somewhere around the beginning of this week), it just needs a boiler lift, retube and repairs to firebox just to have it doing lightweight duties for Bluebell 50. They reckon it is perfectly feasible to have them both running by August 2010.

Good news for P class fans, 178 is to be done in SECR green livery, like 753 is and 323 is to be done in blue.

 

From what the guys were saying down at SP 55 is getting a set of tubes and some firebox repairs only.

I don't feel it is wasted money, to have probably the most Iconic locomotive on the line in steam for the 50th anniversary is a must.

 

Superb news that we'll get Stepney back in steam for next year even if it's for light duties only. The interesting thing will be is if it will be outshopped in black with the name STEPNEY on the tanksides and no. 55 written on the cabsides to recreated how the loco ran in the very early years' of the Bluebell. Also Hornby are bringing out a limited edition pack of the loco in this livery with a blue Maunsell Brake carriage to celebrate Bluebell 50. Although there's no chance that our Maunsell Brake will be painted blue, Stepney in this livery would tie in nicely with what Hornby have done and would give the public an idea as to what the Bluebell Rly was like 50 years ago.

 

Alternatively, the goodwill and money generated from this might bring about funds to get the proper overhaul which the railway can't really justify at this moment in time? With the supposedly required new cylinder lines, new frames, new wheels, new boiler etc. etc.

 

Steady on, having an Iconic loco in service for a major event can more than make up for the problems doing a quick overhaul may cause. I'm sure the lads and Lasses at Sheffield Park won't be too pleased about your comments either!

 

How is this wasted money? It will be fit for light use and will get an income generated by the use.

What is meant by new Frames, Boiler etc??? This loco isn't shot to bits surely??

 

I hate to sound negative and boring, while seeing Stepney back in service for the 50th is a good idea, it might not be hot if work on that delays the return of other locos. I surspect 178 and 2473 will be in service in time for the 50th, but what about Bluebell and the H?

Willing to be proved wrong though...

 

I think the new everything comment was a rather extreme evaluation of the loco. Yes Stepney is tired, and both Terriers need new cylinder blocks sooner or later. Two sets were cast, but one set has been sold to the Spa Valley for Whitechapel (oops, Sutton). The reality is that the pre-grouping engines are getting very old, and in need of some new major components. Just look at the work being done on the locos, major repairs on the E4's cylinders, the H has her block out of the frames at present, major boiler repairs are very common. The reality is that next year, 14 of the Bluebell's fleet (15 if you include the components of the Dukedog) will be 100 or more, and the Terriers are heading for 140! There can't be many railways where half the fleet is over 100, and I doubt any other railway will possibly run 7 pre-grouping locos next year.
Daniel

 

Lewis Nodes has stated that Stepney will only recieve a minor repair, basically enough boiler work to give it limited steaming ability for a year or so. No mechanical repairs, no repaints. As such, it should be a relatively easy job, and won't tie everything up completely. 323 is part way through overhaul already, and has the best of the remaining P class boilers, so its hoped that both can make it in time. No doubt 263 will continue as normal, as will 178. 2473 is expected to be out very soon.
Daniel

 

It was a little tongue in cheek... ;-)

Well it definitely needs new cylinder lines before it can do anything of real importance in terms of haulage. Everything else will be needed eventually for it to reach it's full potential. It's not quite shot to bits, but it's definitely in poor health.

 

I understand that Stepney once overhauled will not come back out with that Stepney Trait? (Beep-Bop)

 

It'll be great to see the lines Flagship locomotives in steam for the 50th Anniversary. The first SG preserved locomotive and the newest built locomotive along with the Furness N.o 20 this will be a year never to forget.

 

Would it not be possible to get a SR appeal or something along those lines going? If they can do it for Dolgoch, they should be able to do it with Stepney, arguably the standard gauge equivalent!

 

Really, we are getting Gladstone as well? All Joking aside, Stepney isn't the first preserved SG loco, nor is she the first one bought out of BR service. She is however the first mainline loco preserved for use on a preserved railway, and is therefore rather special, especially to the Bluebell.

Daniel

 

Time is the factor here. The SR Dolgoch appeal would only have been launched after considerable consultation with the Talyllyn railway. In addition, the target is some time in 2011, not August 2010. Perhaps if someone was to write out a cheque in the next couple of weeks that would pay for all the considerable amount of work needing to be done to give Stepney a proper overhaul with the work being carried out by contractors and starting immediately, it mught just be feasible, but apart from that, it's too late in the day for starting any appeal that would have any chance of resulting in a "fully fit" Stepney by next August.

 

I'll go with that then.

 

Yes, thats probably quite true. I hope the powers-that-be use Stepneys return to good effect and are planning to do a bit of extra fundraising in order to get her fully repaired once 2010 is up. (Start with something modest like the old 'pennies in the chimmney'? I must've given a fair few quid in coppers to that during the 90's!) With 'Fenchurch' coming out of traffic in 2011 it'd be a shame to have both Terriers sidelined.