48624

How is that S160 at ELR out of interest?

 

Back at the Churnet Valley after a failure.

 

What sort of failure would that be?

 

I believe that a crack developed in the backhead between the firehole and the foundation ring.

 

I believe it is now repaired

As I had my first footplate turn on the Yank last Sunday

I throughly enjoyed the day and look forward to another go

But she dont half bounce compared to 99

 

Bit of News on 8624 !
Steam heating PRV needs a part re-making to make it work properly, then besides basic maintenance the next main thing is washing her out ! Stunning Loco in need of some Proper Running, Seriously second valve has never been touched !

Simon H.

 

Anybody fancy an 8F shaking the foundations of their neighbours ? Cos I for one am ready to see 8624 stretch her rods ! on freight/passenger or anything ! she really feels like a caged beast ready to let rip !!!!

 

Here,here.

 

Indeed,Stanier gave her a second valve for a reason!

 

And 28 years were not spent restoring her,just for it to be a museum piece.

 

But how will Peak Rail cope without a standby kettle?-oh yes as they have they have the previous few years.

 

They have relied upon the same loco for 5 years solid now...it's been doing every weekend,and midweek running non-stop for that period,except for the odd fortnight out for a diesel weekend etc.

 

Indeed Chris, Royal Pioneer has been doing sterling service for them, I would hope that they could now give her a rest or start running 2 passenger services on a weekend to maybe make people realise that Peak rail can be more than a 1 (same old) engine railway, With (perish the thought) some proper promotion to encourage the precious customers to visit us in bigger and better numbers............
Sorry just dozed off and had the most bizarre dream !!!!

Ah well one can only Dream.

 

Would be nice to see her stretch her legs a bit but doesn't her non standard livery put off other railways from hiring her?

 

It doesn't seem to - I think both the GCR and E. Lancs have made approaches (but then again, as mentioned in another thread the GCR try it with anything, seeminglly).

 

Well it might upset a few dedicated rivet counters but to Mr & Mrs Jo Public it would just be a nice big red engine.

Meic

 

And that kind of irresponsible attitude to the consumer is why the engine cannot be regarded as "restored" - albeit overhauled, and why it is equally, not capable of being regarded as in museum condition.

Respect engenders respect

 

Irresponsible attitude to the consumer? There are plenty of people willing to pay to travel behind GW locos painted in BR black. How many, I wonder, ask for their money back?

I suppose that any locomotive that carries a paint job that it never carried in the past cannot be regarded as 'restored' but in the days when they belonged to their original companies they would emerge from overhaul in any colour that the management saw fit to decree. And why not? He who pays the piper etc. There are many locos out there that have carried various liveries but there will always be someone who prefers 'Maunsell Green' over 'Malachite' or 'BR Blue'. Who is to say that, if times had been different, the LMS might not have turned out some 8Fs in red for passenger working over the Central Wales line for example?

Locomotives are designed to do a job of work and remaining in museum condition is not, usually, an option.

Anyway a round of applause, from me anyway, to the team that brought this loco back from the dead. Well done lads and it looks fine just as it is.

Meic

 

The fact is that Joe P will always prefer a big red (or green etc) engine over yet another black one. Just ask my wife.

Stick a name on it too and you'll pull even more folk in - you know, the ones who actually spend the money as opposed to the ones who just point cameras at it.

How about the first of the "House" class, seeing as the GWR never plundered that particular seam?

Now let's think, what suitable candidates are there in the locality? And of course there'd be loads of extra PR when the Duke of Devonshire himself revealed the "Chatsworth House" plates !

 

Well for the cricket fan there is 'House That'

Just a bit down the road there is 'Ware House'

OK, I'll go back to the red wine..