SVR Loco Newsy News / discussions

If she sticks around for the Autumn Gala then that's a three day rover sold!

 

From what I've been told as a shareholder, she'll be around for a reasonably long time, so enjoy!

 

It is apparently sticking around until the end of 2012 "including a staring role in our Autumn Steam Gala". Money please!

 

Is that likely to be on the SVR or the Swanage, I wonder? With the amount of support there was for the Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign, it's likely to be covered fairly well in the media.

 

Sold me a couple of days on SVR....wasn't expecting that when I opened the link.

 

This is a great choice i will be making sure i take in a trip when she arrives and hopefully we can look forward to a southern themed gala soon.
I dont know if Taw Valley will be finished for the end of the season as it would be good to have them both running at the same time.

 

You chaps have just confirmed my suspicion that Bulleids always seem to be a draw at galas... Anyway, I shall definitely be there to see it at some point.

 

Taw's progress is all dependent on how soon we get the boiler back from Pridham's (or south devon engineering or whatever it's called now!). It's reached the point where there isn't an awful lot of work that can be done to the frames etc, until the boiler is back and fitted in. I'm hopeful for a later half of the year return.

I'd say this Autumn's gala is looking like having a southern feel to it already...the T9 plus the possibility of two LP's? Pretty strong southern vibes there!

Cheers,
Andy

 

However, for the mundane task of hauling the SVR's peak season trains, 34053, like the 9F hired last year, will use rather more coal than a medium powered engine. Yes, it will be an attraction for enthusiasts, but for the bulk of the SVR's custom, "ordinary" passengers, it will be just another steam locomotive.

 

Given that there are 26 locos based on the SVR, I think it's a scandal to have to be hiring a loco in every year just to maintain services (spoken as an SVR Shareholder)

 

The same could be said of the 28xx as being overkill for the SVR, but I'm sure there are ways of running them economically. In any event, it'll provide useful experience for those wishing to re-acquaint themselves with operating a Bulleid prior to 34027's return.

 

A very expensive way for the railway of providing that "useful experience"

 

There's an update on the SLL website: Southern Locomotives Ltd | Latest News

There are also some new photos on the 2012 Restoration Gallery: https://picasaweb.google.com/116839141471298057728/Restoration2012#

In answer to an earlier posting, any re-commissioning events will be at the SVR, though no details have yet been agreed.

 

I would disagree to a limited extent regarding ordinary visitors being bothered as to the locomotive they are pulled by - whilst I agree that as long as it's steam you're onto a winner, the option of a 'Namer' definitely has some pulling power with the public - witness the naming of locomotives on the PDSR. So Sir Keith Park as something BIG, SHINY and NAMED, will probably prove quite a popular visitor with the general public too.

Michaelh, the issue with locomotives being hired into the SVR is one that the management are well aware of and is being dealt with currently with a big redevelopment of the MPD. I don't know when the situation will be such that a loco does not need to be hired in, but once the railway is out of the current situation I do not think that it will be allowed to lapse back into it.

 

I dont have access to the firebox size data, but I would have thought the 28xx can be run more economically than either a 9F or a Bulleid pacific.

 

The statement says with a view to a long term arrangement does this mean over a year as the loco is not required at swanage.
Does this mean a long term arrangement between the SVR and the SLL sure you always get a better rate for taking out a longer hire agreement.

 

There's an 11 sq.ft difference, but a 28xx is still a lot of locomotive for hauling 2-300 tons on a stop-start basis. This has been stated before, but unfortunately a significant number of the locomotives rescued from Barry (if not the majority) are powerful tender types not necessarily intended for use on the routes that have been preserved.

 

ey! Less of the 28 bashing you lot!

I'm sure SKP, just like the 9F last year, will be looked after very well with our footplate crews. We found last summer, as we had done previously with 34027, that large fireboxed locos can be run efficiently on the valley. 92212 was a reliable and popular performer and SKP, with nameplates and all, will I'm sure prove to be a popular addition to the line for crews and passengers of all types. I know I am personally looking forward to working on it (him?). The wording of a "long term agreement" excites me greatly. Personally, I would love to have SKP on the line for the longer term, the idea of two LP's working together in the valley is worth savouring IMHO.

 

Wasn't the 9F last year needing quite a lot of work before it could run on the SVR? Is SKP going to be any better? Or, has even more workshop staff time to be wasted on repairing someone else's engine?

 

No. 92212 required work on the springs and getting the weights right. Nothing else.