Bulleid Pacifics - Past or Present

Only one way to find out FIGHT!!!!!

 

With the same load, over the same route, in similar conditions, a Merchant Navy will have a significant advantage over a Light Pacific, because of its higher tractive effort and greater axle-weight.

There have been many debates over the relative merits of rebuilt and original Light Pacifics, and no simple conclusion. It will be interesting to hear the views of the loco crews that get to work on both Tangmere and Braunton in the coming months and years.

 

I remember reading somewhere that when an unrebuilt was fitted with a diesl ejector its performance was equal to that of a MN , As City Of Wells ran with one , it would be a good test if Tangmere could run some steam trials later next year fitted with this devise to see if the output is as great as stated , when wells ran so fitted, were any comparisen notes kept, as back then clan line and wells would have worked over the same routes on the CME

 

Martin, obviously you meant an Giesl ejector. For the uninitiated, see HERE

 

It seems Steam Dreams has plans for a Cornish Riviera style trip for 3 days in September next year. Its part of an ACE recreation with 30777 taking it from Waterloo to Westbury where 34067 and 34046 are due to double head to Newquay (if agreed with FGW) but a stop is planned at Bodmin Parkway for passenger to travel behind 30120 (for those who wish to do it.). Day 2 is an off day with vists to Bodmin and Wenford. Day 3 is due to depart from Par and have the 2 Bulleids tackle the Devon Banks then 34067 is taken off at Exeter and 34046 then takes the train to Okehampton and then gets dragged back to Exeter with a diesel on the back and then heads to Yeovil where 34067 rejoins in place of 34046 to take it back to Waterloo.

Blimey that took a while to write. But nonetheless it sounds a fantastic trip.

 

It wasn't that long ago when 34016 Bodmin & 34027 Taw Valley were on the main line. So there should already be a good comparison between a unrebuilt and a rebuilt in modern main line preservation. One thing that would be interesting to know. Would a rebuilt consume more coal and water compared to a unbuilt on the main line?

 

It might have been, but it's a lopsided argument because you're not then comparing like with like. Presumably a giesl ejector on a Merchant Navy would reopen the gap. At the end of the day it is down to physics - the bigger firebox of the MN allows more coal to be burnt and more steam to be made. As there wasn't much fdifference in the steam cycles thereafter on the unrebuilt engines, I believe, it stands to reason that the larger engine would outperform the smaller one. If it doesn't, other factors may come into play such as the steam cycle being optimised around the output of the WC and being unable to cope with the extra steam made by the MN - has anyone ever suggested that this may have been the case?

 

Yes, seriously tempted. I have emailed Steam Dreams for more info, and have looked to see local hotel prices at that time of year- it may be a must-do for me!

 

But the MN was designed first??

 

Probably not, as that was one advantage claimed for rebuilding them. The rebuilt lightweights are more economical.

 

If I had the money I would do it too. Sounds like a great trip. I looked SD website which doesn't have it yet. They did say that as there was this and the Cathedrals Explorer there would be no Coronation until 2012.

 

One of my spy's from the Weymouth area tells me that 35018 is now up for sale.

 

A largely complete MN for sale? Interesting.

 

I heard this earlier this year from a reliable source prehaps one of the big railways will snap it up?

 

Didn't someone in the MHR Restorations thread say that there were still parts of 35018 at Ropley but they were being moved away.

 

How I wish I could win the euromillions jackpot and buy 35018 now it's up for sale, but I guess I'm not the only one that thinks that

 

That was me Dan.

Motion parts made in China are stored in one of the vans though it was being collated together this very week.

Perhaps a buyer has been found?

Regards
Chris

 

I hope whoever restores it will retain some of the more unique aspects of the locomotive. The brake ejector pipe running along the left-hand side of the boiler (I think this it what it is) was different to the rest of the class in that it was curved around the nameplate, rather than the curve being located at the smokebox end. Have a look at photos of 35018 in service, and you'll know what I mean. As it was the prototype rebuild, it would be good to restore it to 1956 condition with the early crest. At this rate, that would leave only 35022 with a bleak future...

 

Thanks. From the last pictures I saw of 35018 it's going to need a huge amount of money to restore it as it looked in bad shape.

 

the sad thing is that, 35018 was only about 18 months away from steaming but lets hope who ever buys it has the funds to restore it as the period in open store at portland will have un done a lot of the work that was done i assume that Richard heather has finally accepted that he does not have the funds to restore her, pity he didnt accept the MHR offer, if he had we would now be seeing a restored 35018 out there working