SVR Loco Newsy News / discussions

std tank is quite right. We had to replace some broken springs (that may well have been damaged in transit or during loading/unloading) and then make some adjustments to the weights on each axle. Other than that the 9F ran pretty flawlessly. Fingers crossed SKP does the same.

 

Great news about 34053! I' m a "Southern" man recently exiled to darkest Gloucestershire, and now only just over an hour from the SVR, so will be very much hoping to pay a visit or two. Any chance of putting "SKP" on a "Severn Valley Limited" dining train one Saturday evening in July? I'm thinking of treating my wife for our wedding anniversary and having a Bulleid up front would be the icing on the cake.(well, for me, that is!)

 

Regardless of how much or how little was needed to be done the point I was trying make was how long it was on hire at the SVR being messed with before it earned a penny pulling trains. In fairness once it was right it proved to be a good one.
It wasn't the first time an engine went to the SVR and needed work before it entered service. I just hope SKP doesn't follow suit.

 

The 9F was on the railway for approx 3 weeks before it hauled a service train, but it wasn't costing us money by it not being in service. The hire agreement was on the condition that the railway paid a fee for each steaming, and the cost of the new springs etc was paid by the owner. It wasn't ideal it not being in service no, it was frustrating for all of us, but there wasn't much we could do about it.

I understand your concerns over SKP and I agree that it is a gamble taking on a newly restored loco that is yet to turn a wheel in preservation, but its a calculated risk. Lets face it, there is a risk of failure with a steam loco no matter what stage of operation it is in. Okay, we might not have the loco in service until July, but its not the case, as with the 9F last year, that we then lose it in September. The statement from SLL states a long term arrangement. 6 months to me is not long term. Neither party has stated an end date for the loan, so it may well be that we have this loco for a number of years, essentially as a resident. Purely speculation! But if that's the case, I would rather have a loco starting it's "10 year" cycle than one coming to the end of it.

 

SKP will be straight out of Herston and therefore will have exactly zero miles on the clock. As the SVR website says, there will be a period of testing and running in before the loco can enter service. There are bound to be things that show up during this period and will need to be sorted. As delivery is expected around the end of April, this should give plenty of time to "debug" the loco before the main summer season starts, unless anything serious is found.

Given that SKP was a parts donor for Braunton, and looking at the "before" pictures on the SLL website, I think that SLL have done a great job in restoring SKP in the time that they have.

 

[
I understand your concerns over SKP and I agree that it is a gamble taking on a newly restored loco that is yet to turn a wheel in preservation, but its a calculated risk. Lets face it, there is a risk of failure with a steam loco no matter what stage of operation it is in. Okay, we might not have the loco in service until July, but its not the case, as with the 9F last year, that we then lose it in September. The statement from SLL states a long term arrangement. 6 months to me is not long term. Neither party has stated an end date for the loan, so it may well be that we have this loco for a number of years, essentially as a resident. Purely speculation! But if that's the case, I would rather have a loco starting it's "10 year" cycle than one coming to the end of it.[/QUOTE]
I hope it is a longer hirer than 6 months and can lead to a long term link up with SLL to provide locos for the SVR in the same way they do for Swanage.

 

Its a new locomotive; it will require running-in, bits and pieces will need tweaking, but its no more of a risk than you get with members of the home fleet when they are fresh from overhaul. I'm hoping this could be the start of a fruitful relationship, too. After all, SLL has one left to restore from scrapyard condition at some point in the future, and it will be interesting to see how things shape-up regarding having locomotives operating away from Swanage. My own opinion, by the way, and no reflection on official policy of SLL.

 

Or perhaps 257 squadron

 

I think 34072 has and always will be the Swanage Railway's pick of the SLL fleet alongside the Std. 4MTs, as it was their first resident Bulleid, and the fact that it earned a reputation as a solid performer for nearly 13 years means that it is fondly remembered amongst many volunteers on that line. I'm sure there will be opportunities to see her on her travels occasionally, but don't quote me on that. Once again, this statement does not reflect official policy, but is mere personal speculation.

 

I'd say that sentiment was true 5 years ago.
34072 has been out of traffic for an awful long time now and I would personally say that 34028 and 34070 are now held in just as high esteem.

It is also not the flagship anymore, the flagship title is just one bounded around too often. It was an important locomotive at the time, not at the moment. In fact I would say the most important locomotive the Swanage Railway have, and hence the flagship is M7 No.53.

With 34028 and 34070 we have one of each and who's to say what will be happening to 34028 in the near future. Would the Swanage Railway want 34072 back if 34028 was in for a quick turn around? I don't know the answer to that question.

The standard 4 tanks are vital and as nice as 34072 would be, 80078 would be better.

 

I agree that 80078 is the engine we all want to see overhauled asap, but as and when 257 Squadron returns to traffic I'm sure the majority would prefer to do a swap with 34070. This is just my opinion but I think the ideal Bulleid pair for 71B are 34028 and 34072; there are still a good many of our volunteers/members who have great affection for '72, lets just hope she will be as good on her second ticket as she was on her first!

 

I think either would be great to have on the SVR i enjoyed my trip on 34070 last time it was at the valley for the gala.
I am looking forward to seeing SKP hopefully on saturday in may to combine the trip with some diesel milage as well.

 

Well, I didn't see that coming! I think this could be the start of a fruitful partenership between Southern locos ltd and the SVR judging by the wording on their statement. If SKP were to become a long term resident it could be a shrewd bit of business by the SVR as they are gaining a loco at the start of it's ticket. Taw Valley has always been a popular and useful loco for the SVR and there is no reason why SKP shouldn't be the same. There has always been the argument that larger locos burn more coal which may well be true, but I believe you save elsewhere as they are worked much more easily than a tank engine. I think 34072 was in such good nick Swanage had something like 14 years out of the boiler ticket, which also demonstrates the quality of the restoration those guys do.
Is she the most suitable choice for a hire? I thought a loco like a 28xx would be best and probably more economical. Don't forget we run 10 coach trains in the summer so we do need larger locos. However, if you need to splash the cash then do it long term and no doubt a namer will bring in the punters. A light pacific is also much more suited to our line. If we are saying she isn't suitable then we are also wasting our time restoring Taw Valley which I haven't seen anyone saying. The NYMR, Mid Hants, GCR and of course Swanage have all run light pacifics regularly in service where they been popular and reliable machines.

 

1501 - Pannier Tank, GWR-design - The boiler of 1501 successfully passed its hydraulic test with Allianz insurance on 22nd February 2012. It has now been moved out of the Boilershop in preparation for the first fire and subsequent steam testing. It is hoped that work will now progress swiftly on the mechanical side now the ‘heavy’ maintenance of 2857 and 4566 has been completed (SVR Engineering).

Patrick

 

Its not just the restoration. It is also the day to day maintenance, handling by the crews and the attitude of the railway that should take the credit for how good '72 was

 

257 Squadron had a good start in preservation because it was very well restored by AS & FM!

 

Good news! I'm looking forward to seeing 1501 go back together now. The end is in sight! I think there's still some work to be done of the bunker platework, but here's hoping for a quick "meccano style" reassembly. Mid season return to traffic looks very possible right now.

 

Yes, a very different team.................

 

Yes. That Frank and Allan don't work for Southern Locos any more!