Bulleid Pacifics - Past or Present

Here's my paint mock up of a BR Black Merchant (painted around a Hornby model of 35026). Its a bit rough but gives you an idea what to expect for 35018 but with an early BR crest.

 

Nice! Im getting Riley disease, any colour as long as it black. Henry Ford would be happy!

 

Well when you think, the MN was on paper an mixed traffic design , then they could have been painted black had BR so wished

 

I thought the MN's were only passenger locos (hence the 8P) but the West Country and Battle of Britain's were the mixed traffic locos (which I think is 7P 5FA)

 

Didn't Bulleid convince them that the MN was mixed traffic so it could be built during wartime?

 

yes when designed Bulleid had to tell the management that they were mixed traffic otherwise he might have not been allowed to build them because of wartime restrictions on building new express locos

 

That's always been my understanding too.

 

Oh right makes sense.

 

I was told the same thing when down at the War on the Line event. The people I spoke to seemed very sure that 34016 had been sold to WCRC.
Both loco's are going to need a fair bit of work to get them back up to ML standards. The boiler (firebox) on 34016 is pretty knackered which is why she was withdrawn early and 73096 requires a new rod as this is what stopped her from continuing ML operations as it was declared unsafe. Also the MHR withdrew from ML operations.

 

I hope that if WCRC have bought them that they do return. 73096 I feel is a very missed locomotive on the mainline and 34016 marked the beginning of Stem Dreams and Cathedrals Express so it would be fitting for WCRC to use it on Cathedrals once again.

 

The firebox is not that knackered beyond what could be reasonably expected, it needs work on the crown and syphons. Andy Netherwood said it was more a question of time rather than being particularly expensive or difficult.
When last overhauled at Pridhams it was said on return to Ropley that the extent of work carried out to firebox platework would be good for 2 tickets, obviously this was subjective to the amount of work the boiler would do.

34016 was worked pretty hard in the early years of its mainline career and thus this must have taken a toll on the firebox.

As for 73096, nothing more than the usual 10 year overhaul, at least she now carries a decent set of tyres, so that should make it a fairly straightforward case.

I suspect she will be tackled first and if indeed the rumours about her leaving early after September are true, she could be heading mainline tours as early as next year.

 

Seeing 73096 running on the main line early next year seems to me to be fantasy. What about the issue with her rods and putting OTMR equipment onboard the loco for main line running and you haven’t even consider how long it will take to overhaul 73096 back to main line condition. Just look how long it is taking Jeremy Hoskins to get 34046 Braunton back on to the main line.

 

Not fantasy, unlikely yes. Granted. I did say as early as next year, not early next year. But if anyone can do it West Coast could.

The rods would not take that long to produce and with the track record that West Coast have it could be possible.

Remember Tangmere was turned around in less than 12 months as was 5972 Olton Hall.

 

a lot depends on the actual state of both locos, and more importantly the ammount of work needed,
if the 5 is ok mechanically it could be just boilerwork and a new set of motion, the drivers had new roller bearings fitted at its last overhaul and didnt it have a mechcanical overhaul recently?
fitting otmr shouldnt be any real problem to either loco after all its nothing new these days, Bodmins tender though will need extensive patching because last time it was used it leaked badly

but assuming that its not just idle gossip, at least these 2 engines will be going to a good home and with 35018 assured of a return to steam now, its looking better for these engines

 

I'm confused about the rods problem with 73096. Can someone she some light on it?

 

I heard the rods were from 2 diferent locos and welded together, and are only suitable for running at 25 mph.

 

Although they ran on the main line with them before someone sussed it out.

It says a lot for good welding.


regards
Chris:

 

Very interesting developments with Bulleids at the moment then.

 

No doubt performances like this will give the new owners added incentive to get 73096 out on the ML first:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxL8ii-83Mc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNK9dF_Lu40&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twVL5eJnUMQ

 

if my memory serves me right on the main line 73096 was said to be equal to an WC when it came to its capabilities it certainly surprised a few people , im very surprised that Ian riley didnt snap it up ;-)
after all its perfectly ok to paint an standard 5 black and it would be like a super black 5