SVR Loco Newsy News / discussions

My understanding as well on Taw Valley

Severn Valley Railway Locomotive and Carriage Engineering Services on SR 4-6-2 Battle of Britain 34053 ‘Sir Keith Park’ and 0-6-2ST 441 ‘Barber’ (2ft Gauge)

Patrick

 

A fascinating collection of videos have been posted on SVR live of SKP's arrival, answering the nagging question of how the heck do you unload a large pacific in the tiny confines of Bridgnorth loco yard?! Some nice use of the Pig on shunting duties as well! 34053 Arrives

 

According to http://www.svr-engineering.co.uk/news/news.html they caused mayhem backing the low loader down the hill from High Town.

 

According to Severn Valley Railway Locomotive and Carriage Engineering Services they caused mayhem backing the low loader down the hill from High Town.

 

1501 - Pannier Tank, GWR-design – On 28 May her boiler was returned to her frames and her new bunker was offered up to test its fit pending riveting (SVRA forum)

The boiler had a successful steam examination with the Insurance company on 25 May. This was out of the frames and 210psi the test pressure. With this test being successful the boiler was lowered into the frames on 28 May, with much progress expected to be made over the next few weeks. In these views can be seen the new bunker assembly on the chassis, this was transported to the Boilershop for riveting http://www.svr-engineering.co.uk/news/news.html

Patrick

 

It has all gone quiet with 34053 since its well-publicised arrival at Bridgnorth last month. Obviously, there are various jobs to do before the engine can enterservice (or even have a test run) Can anyone provide an update, please?

 

Not much, there are some comments on the SVRA forum but nothing concrete, or untoward

Meanwhile 5164 missed her last leg today because of a broken spring. 4566 was being made ready for use on Sunday but (weight issues) means she will be used on the LMS set, which will involve engine swaps.

Patrick

 

42968 failed with broken spring today. 5164 and 42968 now both need springs replacing - hopefully will be done before weekend

https://twitter.com/#!/bhstn

Patrick

 

Is that a phone ringing in Bob Meanley's office at TYS?

..."Got a Pannier spare please Bob"...?

 

They've got one for sale, haven't they? I'm surprised the SVR haven't bought it - useful locofor them and with their spare boiler they could perhaps try to keep 2out of 3 running at any one time.

 

Don't think the SVR is flush with cash at the moment. Lots of money being spent on infrastructure in the last few winters.

 

Bridgnorth is busy with non-SVR contract work and keeping the current small SVR active fleet...well.."active".

Returning to "Panniers" for a moment, I do recall reading somewhere that the new firebox pressings for the spare boiler that is going onto 7714 are now to hand at Bridgnorth, but there is considerable work still to do.

 

I think I'm correct in saying that 7760 is a kit of parts awaiting overhaul. Any purchaser would eventually get a fully overhauled loco with a fresh boiler ticket. Forgot what the asking price is.

 

Severn Valley Railway - Latest News lists 27 locos (incl. 2 hires and excl. 2 new builds) on the railway. It's serviceable locos that's more of an issue, SVR motive power has been in "squeaky bum" mode for a while now

An @bhstn tweet today says all Bridgnorth services are steam hauled and one yesterday hoped 5164 would be fixed for today. I infer it was.

Hopefully 34053 will be active soon, 2857's reported as awaiting new stays and 1501's boiler's tested and back in the frames which would give 8 locos. I hope 34027 will be back in time to take over from 42968 when it or its ticket expires.

Patrick

 

As Patrick says, it's not lack of locos on the line but lack of working loco's on the line! The work we have had to do on 2857 is unfortunate. We did not invisage having to remove the boiler from our loco less than 12 months into it's ticket, but this is what has happened, it is certainly what is necessary and we'll get on and do it. When we're finished the valley will have back a 28 as near to perfect as you can get it for (fingers crossed) 10ish years. 1501 is coming together at a good pace, it now looks rather impressive inside Bridgo shed, and Sir Keith will hopefully be handed over to us in the very near future. If (and knowing steam locos it's a big if) 42968 consents to not throw it's toys out of the pram we shall have an operational fleet of 8 locos in the very near future.

7714's (or some other poor pannier's) boiler is not an awful way off. I believe there is still work to be done to the doorplate amongst other bits and bobs, but the loco is still largely in one piece. It had considerable mechanical work done to it before it's previous withdrawal and so is believed to be relatively sound. Hopefully we will see a pannier back at work in the valley in 2013, but it won't be 7760.

 

An out of ticket Pannier isn't going to be much use to the SVR in the current situiation, something 'ready to roll' like Sir Keith Park is whats needed to help relieve the pressure.

I get the impression that Steam Works throughout the UK currently are struggling to cope with the demand for operational Loco's, the likes of Bridgnorth, Bury & Sheffield Park seem to be working their knackers off, but the requirement still seems to be for more than can be outshopped.

 

The dependency on contract work is also a factor. In the past when faced with loco shortages the SVR has suspended contract overhaul work at BH in order to serve itself first. However, the income that side of the business now brings in (more so than it did at the last suspension) is now seen as vital for the railway. That added to the increased competitiveness of the contract overhaul market means that a temporary cease of contract work is not favoured by SVR management.

 

To speed turnarounds a spare boiler is helpful, if there is an extra boiler and a another of frames there's a better chance of keeping two of the class going, that would be my logic. I think it is called standardisation.

 

Contract engineering income in 2011 was £450k, up £142k on the previous year. Presumably this also includes other areas such as Bewdley C&W and is sales, not profit. However, SVR gross profit was £59k, so I can see why the railway does not want to turn off the tap

Am I right in thinking these are the current non-SVR contracts?

Furness Railway 150 'Cumbria' - Hunslet Austerity works no 3794
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 Well Tank locomotive1995 'Caledonia'
Hawthorn Leslie 2859 (Tanfield Railway No2)
Sharp Stewart 4085 'Dunrobin'
441 - Thomas Green Works ‘Barber’ 2ft Gauge 0-6-2ST

Patrick

 

It's 5764's boiler, I believe. The ex-3650 boiler's on 5764.

Patrick