Bulleid Pacifics - Past or Present

Possibly 5 Merchant Navy's in concession? - 35009, 35022, 35027, 35018 and 35028 - It will certinainly be interesting to see how they all share the work? or will there possibly be more mainline tours in the coming years?

 

Aren't you getting a bit ahead of yourself?

Three of these engines are in barry scrapyard condition so will be years away. Ian said that 35009 would be worked on alongside 35027's overhaul which lets face it, neither will be complete in the next year.

And isn't it early days for 35022, i thought she was only being checked over to begin with to assess what would need doing if a restoration does happen.

35028 will be 5 years into her ticket this year, so surely she may be withdrawn or near the end of her ticket by the time any of the others appear?

 

Just cos they're mainline certified doesn't mean they can't run on preserved lines as well as on the main line. Regardless of how much overkill they are there's always room for them at galas and the like. 35009 will be ELR based if still owned by Riley once restored, and if 35018 becomes an ELR loco then both will probably be running on heritage lines when off season and in addition to mainline committments. Also, they won't all be in ticket at the same time, as wonderful a dilemma that would be, so work would probably be shared out without too much conflict.

 

Kieran,

I said possibly? I didn't say definately. 35009 is pretty much complete and sound from what i remember, 35018 is complete and cosmetically sound from what was done at the MHR. As for 35022 (Well this loco obviously needs stripping down to the bare essentials) As for 35027, she has had a good start of an overhaul. As for 35028, These guys do a fine job and possibly, quite possibly will be running again with everything that has been done recently by the time these other merchants are running.

 

35018 has a good tender it was restored to run behind Swange when she first came out, and hasnt done much since

weither 18 will jump ahead of either shaw savil or port line will depend on the work needed, after all she was only 18 months away at the time the work stopped on her, but who knows what state she is in now ,and what is found to need re doing, plus has JB got the funds up front to pay Rileys to do the work which i should imagine will be mostly boiler work , if it is the case that she is more advanced than either of the other two, then who knows ? could we see 35018 go mainline first?

 

well 31806 will be still in certificate in 2014, so i should imagine that she will find a new home easily but of the other 2 ,the N 31874 needs a new firebox , frame repairs and a full overhaul and 31625 will need boilerwork but this loco during its brief mainline career was a very capable performer so there is no reason to think that one day a southern mogol wont make a return to the mainline

 

I think you're confusing your merchants. 35009 is far from complete: frames, wheels boiler and a few other minor items. 35022 has already been stripped down from its time stored at Sellindge and is largely the same as 35009 but even less complete. 35027's overhaul hasn't exactly started. There has only really been dismantling done when it was at Southall. I don't know if the donor boiler (from 35022) has been seen to yet. 35018 has been in the sea air unprotected for nearly 10 years and much of the cosmetic work from the MHR has likely been undone. Recent pictures show her looking in a sorry state

 

I think you'll find there is a lot more of 35009 than what is visible at the present time.

 

A few non ferrous castings and I think some axel boxes? Still missing some fairly big and expensive components though. Tender and motion spring to mind, both of which cost a fair amount each. Why, how much of 35009 actually is there?

 

As far as I am aware the boiler from 35022 (destined for 35027) is currently at Crewe and has had a reasonable amount of work done to it.

 

Actually I am given to understand that 31874 needs a new boiler barrel.

Regards
Chris:

 

Chris, the boiler currently on 31874 originally was off 31625 this is the one with the large patch over one inner side plate , the orginal boiler off 31874 went onto the U class, and this is the one that has tubeplate/ barrel issues if my memory is correct the boiler never sat quite right and at some stage needed work to try to re fix the smoke box to sit true

 

I think your right Martin, however this begs the question. How did the boiler off 31874 that now resides on 31625 get through it initial ticket from 1977, without any problems?

Whatever the reasons, one thing is clear.

JB has some serious decisions to make with two expensive boiler repairs and the chassis of 31874 needing surgery, akin to what was done with Bittern, before it runs again.

 

RE: 35018, an interesting development. I continue to hope 34073 will eventually get similar attention (if I ever win the Lottery, I'd seriously consider purchasing it, and get someone to restore it; it would be a shame to see this loco go for spares for want of a buyer).

 

I think the only person with the resources to fund the overhaul/restoration of 34073 at this time is Jeremy Hosking.

If he were to purchase her, it would give him a representation of all the different types of Bulleid pacific, however i think he would only pay a realistic price and would not be held to ransom with a totally over-inflated asking price, 90% component complete or not!

The labour costs of restoring this wreck are going to be huge.

 

Ah I see.
If that is true Martin then I stand to be corrected.

Regards
Chris:

 

Ah, well. One can but daydream and buy Euromillions!

 

With regards to the boiler from 31625, wasn't this the loco that derailed, possibly on the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton line? I'm sure that I've read that somewhere. The accident was the cause of the boiler not sitting correctly after repair...

 

I think that was 76017.

 

As much as i like merchant navy's there are very few heritage lines who would use them all year round. The idea that they can be used 'off season' is wide of the mark. Remember Southern Locos and Swanage got rid of 35027! Coal is now at £150 - 170 a ton and even with a good fireman still cost a fortune to run. 35006 at Toddington will during 2011 be seeing a lot of final re-assembly taking place and even then will require a lot of fettling. As regards the mainline, i cant see how the work will be there. The people that go on these trips are getting older and older - how many younger enthusiasts with a family can spare £65 at the moment? Too many engines will soon be chasing the work.