34067 Main LIne Ticket

Sure there was a thread on this once, but can't find it!

Anyway, I'll ask the question again.

Does anyone have definite information on when 34067's ML ticket expires?

We now have the situation of UK Steam.info showing it booked as far ahead as 11 July 2010, (a mouth watering London-Exeter return.)

Yet the same site still shows the only info on it's ML ticket that has been available for ages. Expires Dec 2009.

(NOT a criticism of UK steam.info, that site can only show available info).

It would be nice to know when making plans for 2010. Worst case for me would be for it to work a couple of trips in Jan/Feb and then go off ticket.

 

Have a look here

http://railways.national-preservation.com/showthread.php?t=21532&page=5

 

Bedtime reading:-

http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/RSP6-locoblrs.pdf

 

Thanks for that. It does explain some of the procedures. But not the specific situation re Tangmere as of today and the next few months. Except perhaps to hint that some of those procedures have been followed already, as has been speculated about here from time to time over the last year or so.

 

Talking to the support crew of Tangmere at Faversham in September (Spitfire Tour) they were saying that the boiler had recently been retested and had another 5 years on it.

Apparently Bulleids don't need an out of frames boiler lift for a re certification as all the stays are above foot board level, not sure how true that is though.

 

It is indeed true that Bulleid boilers don't have to come off frames for external exam.
Grate out
Remove firebox cladding.

 

Might do that trip to Exeter, just leaves me with the Waterloo-Weymouth run and I consider the south done for the time being. Also, how can you doubt Bulleid's genius in creating a boiler that can be assessed without a lift?!?

 

Well, he only copied Gresley in this respect.......

 

Well, he only copied Gresley in this respect....... Wide firebox, and all.

 

Hence GWR- "Gresley Was Right"... I'm beginning to have second thoughts about Bulleid if he stayed with the LNER to become CME. Considering he used a fair bit of Gresley design principles on his locomotives, I don't think he would have thrown the toys out of the pram in the same way that Edward Thompson did with "Great Northern", and would have probably continued the development of the basic Gresley design into something more modern. Whether the LNER would have had the money for Bulleid's ideas in the same way the Southern did is a moot point, as it was verging on bankruptcy. Anyway, looking forward to some more trips behind 34067 next year, if time and money permits.

 

That seems to be the nearest we have got to anyone "close" to this locomotive over the last year or so! Brilliant news it it is accurate.

I wonder if that will be Waterloo-Exeter direct next year, or "another" route!

 

Being that it is a Sunday there is a path down the SWML, Tornado did it in September, return was via Bath, Westbury, Sailsbury and up the main line.

I'm not normally allowed out on a Sunday, special notice has to be given to SWMBO but I might just ask for this one.

 

Tangmere took the direct route in July to Exeter, then light engine plus support coach to Yeovil junction for servicing and turning. Diesel return from Exeter to Yeovil Junction.
Tangmere then took the train back to Waterloo. This is usually the case with Steam Dreams trips to Exeter, except for Tornado this year, Lord Nelson 2007, and where their have been gauging issues e.g 6233 in 2008.

 

From December 2009 there is an hourly service between Waterloo and Exeter made possible with the new loop at Axminster. The Yeovil-Chard section is now the constraining section with only a 15 minute window during the day between consecutive up and down trains. Steam hauled trains normally require approximately 25 minutes through this section.

John.

 

There'll come a time when they will have to re-double most of the route if capacity issues continue to increase. Should never have been singled in the first place, or one line should have been mothballed.

 

Is it me or is 34067 somewhat off beat these days??

 

Tangmere has a sort of "ringing" sound when under steam. Quit melodic but probably not right either!

 

Also noticed it has a bit of motion "clank". Probably just general wear & tear.

 

Some very clear clanking in my video of her last month:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBpxcyf7ENE

 

Unrebuilt Bulleids were well-known for their 'clanking'. It's quite atmospheric from a distance, as long as it isn't an indicator of an underlying problem. I'm sure its just the sound of a well-used locomotive that's well and truly bedded-in...