34058 - Mid Hants Bound

Re: Sir Frederick Pile - MHR to complete Restoration

The last picture i took of 34058 at the AVR was in October 2009, posted here: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ya69HD8myp6YgPB_EZms2w?feat=directlink

 

I'm pleased to see that 34058 is to be restored to working order sooner than it might have been (no disrespect to all those who have laboured long and hard on "Sir Fred" thus far) and its good to see that another "BofB" loco will be restored to its finery. Whilst "Sir Fred" may not be the natural choice of BofB participant for most people when the Battle is mentioned (unlike "Spitfire", "Biggin Hill" or "Fighter Command" none of which survived), the man himself was, as head of Anti-Aircraft Command, responsible for the protection of the UK's airspace (they didn't call it that then!) from the ground and so was a key figure in the Battle. Many years ago in the 1970s, I would read through the "Barry List" hoping that all these locos would see life again and it would seem, at last, that many of them will. More than I imagined!

 

Has it been bought by the MHR, another owner/group, or has it merely moved from the AVR?

 

i think its just a change of location, im not sure if the MHRPS have an financial stake in the engine or not,i think i read somewhere that it has its own restoration team .

at least with the facilities/ skills on offer it should quicken the restoration, are the owners connected with the LMS society? because they moved their locos to the Avon valley at about the same time that 34058 was bought because i can remember at the time, it was expected that she would be coming to Ropley , but then, the jinty and 4f left and 34058 went to the Avon Valley instead

 

It was still at Bitton (AVR) this morning.

If only there was a similar future for the 4F no.44123. <BJ>

 

Yes i also remember that 34058 was due originally to go to the MHR.

Speaking to a friend who worked at Ropley shortly after the 4F and Jinty left for the AVR. He said that they left due to a disagreement with certain individuals in the loco dept at the time. I do remember that at least a half dozen volunteer members of the then MHR loco department left with the locos.

Whether the 4F remains at Bitton long term we will have to see, it all depends on the Fowler 4F soceity.

It was a shame however that they had to sell the Jinty to the East Lancs, although great to see it now restored and running.

When 34058 comes to the MHR most probably in the early New Year now, it will be interesting to find out if the restoration team that come with the loco have effectively "come home", if they were original MHR members!

 

I'm lead to believe the owner (Mike Felt) and three other members of his team are coming to the MHR.

 

34058 Owner - Mike Vout. A real engineer, lives in Portsmouth. Knocking on a bit, no offence!

 

Ah yes Big Mike... I remember him well... taught me how to weld (he very good teacher, me a very poor student) he in a way fell in with the wrong crowd (the London Midland Soc) if Mike had stayed at the MHR and the LMS team-JB could have played nice the 3F, 4F and 34058 wouild all be steaming at Ropley by now.

Big Mike was/is certainly a real engineer and a man of action, as well as a Hampshire Gentlemen.


Now my only hope is that the Adams T1 boiler moves with them and the MHR join the ranks of the 'new build' groups, the Mid Hants would be a perfect home for the T1!

 

I think that everyone was a bit younger and full of hopes and ideas, at the time the main protaganists were in their 20's. For me it was a real shame that the LMS locos went and our carriages went up in smoke. Still it's good to see 47324 together as this was the first loco I ever worked on.

 

Strange how things work out, i can remember the jinty and 4f from when i started going down to Ropley it looks like things are turning full circle with old members coming back and all that , a T1 would be a very good project for a group to take on, after all ropley has the skilled people to do it , im not sure just how much use it would be though, but low season 3 coach trains would be with in its capabilities i guess and im sure that you could always let us at Rolvendon look after it for you the rest of the time

 

Its always a good idea to cater for the low season trains if a railway can afford it. A T1 0-4-4T would fill a missing link in the evolution of the LSWR 0-4-4Ts, as it was designed the year before the O2. It seems a case of a well-intentioned plan that doesn't seem to have taken off yet.

 

Great news that Sir Fred's move is now finalised, though it's been in the offing for some time.
The survival of the T1 boiler is really interesting though; never heard of that one before.
Nice as it would be to see a reconstructed T1, I wonder whether the boiler would equally be suitable for an A12 Adams Jubilee? These would have once been a very regular sight at Alton as they used to work down the Meon Valley line in particular. Huge and very long-term project either way, but you never know.....

 

Loco still languishing today at Bitton, AVR. <BJ>

 

Does the move of 34058 to Ropley follow any precedent set several years ago with the now working Black 5 (45379) having moved the same way?

I understand (current appearance of the loco not withstanding) that a substantial amount of work has been completed on 34058 and with a large amount of parts ready to put on the loco once undergoing final assembly. Does anyone now what level of work is still required? Assuming a full boiler job, but what needs doing on the bottom end? Tender? Does 34058 have one or has it benefitted from having a set of frames constructed at Bitton (as per other Bulleid locos) to allow a new one to be built?

 

Due to be moved in the "new year period" according to the latest Steam Railway.

 

I seem to remember that Southern locos cast a new set of BFB wheels for the loco and there were pics (from some time ago) showing them with axles and tyres. I think Southern locos may also have supplied a kit for the frames, but axleboxes, spring hangers, springs etc etc along with a new tank would be required.


Keith

 

Pics of the wheelsets are here: http://www.34058.co.uk/Images/Tender Wheel_Dec04_01.jpg

and here: http://www.34058.co.uk/Images/Tender Wheel_Dec04_02.jpg

hope this helps.