SVR Loco Newsy News / discussions

43106? Noooo Lewis! Raise your sights somewhat...!

46118

 

Would you rather 2857 then? I think that would look awesome too!!!!

Lewis

 

No, you need to hire-in for the "Royal Scot" board! Something LMS class 7 or above! Limited choices....

46118

 

If only I had the power to do so!!!

Lewis

 

Meanwhile on https://twitter.com/svrengineering:
5643 has arrived at Bridgnorth and 43106's new dragbox is getting riveted.

 

I have to say, when I saw that notice, I found it rather odd, since it seems to have done the job well enough in its previous ten years, as did the other pannier tanks. There are a number of reasons for ending up short of water; not taking it at one end or the other; continuous use of the large ejector, (forgetting there is a small ejector); excessive blowing off, (really excessive); leaving an injector water valve open,(forgetting to close it); leaving the lever too far down the rack - hard with 1501, it's so powerful; starting with the water in the bottom nut, so you use a lot just to fill it up, etc, etc. If you are southbound and you think you are going to be short, you can a, top up at Bewdley and b, turn the steam heating off.

It seems to say, effectively, that we can no longer take an 8 coach train 16 miles on 1350 gallons of water. That's a rate of consumption that would keep two "Duchesses" happy!

I'm happy to be corrected...

 

I suppose one other possibility is that one or other loco is in really ropey condition? If the P&V are heavily worn, a loco will use more water. (Not saying that is the case with these two locos, just that it is another possibility).

Tom

 

I would be surprised if it was P&V with 1501, it only came back from overhaul at the end of last summer. Still, the arrival of 5643 should help matters for the time being.

 

Thinking a bit further ahead, and about "home" locomotives rather than hired-in motive power, I wonder if the SVR have considered offering a helping hand to the 4150 Group at Bewdley to expedite completion and entering service of that loco? It would appear to be a relatively "easy" option. The Waterman loco, 6634, which was supposed to be a "quickie" has rather stalled, and the only other loco coming back in the near future will be 43106. Then presumably the Pannier if the firebox work is proceeding; there hasn't been a report on that for a while.

 

From MPD update (end of April) on SVRlive

As for 43106:

.
34027 appears to be looking like sometime next year with the boiler still needing all the stays made, drilled and fitted.

 

I was in the Midlands yesterday for business and found myself free in the afternoon and decided to go for a 'quick' trip from Bridgnorth to Kiddy and back. I got the 14.00hrs from Bridgnorth pulled by 5164 that left at 14.50hrs which then stopped for 20 odd minutes before Highley. We then got to Kidderminster, run round and then returned. The train stopped at Bewdley and waited for ages (probably about an hour). The Class 20 came up from Kiddy went towards Arley and returned with a dead Battle of Britain and its train. Eventually got back to Bridgnorth at 18.45hrs! Anyone know what was up with Sir Keith? Was she responsible for the earlier delay?

Must say the on-train staff were excellent and kept everyone informed and handed out free coffee to all. Well done people for handling a hard situation.

 

I was on the 3/55 on Sunday and was surprised at the problems this engine had in starting from Bridgnorth. It seemed as though she'd stopped on a bad angle, although I thought this was unlikely with a three-cylinder engine. She had to set back - twice - before she got the train away, although seemed happy enough for the rest of the run to Kidder. I don't know if the two issues are related.

 

Hopelly nothing serious. Problem is, here we are again, heading into a busy weekend (and hopefully a busy Summer..) with minimal operational steam motive power.

46118

 

34053 was back in service today.

Lewis

 

Thanks Lewis.

34053 failed with a badly clinckered fire. Two positives: not a locomotive fault as such, and...the SVR still has coal available, even if of "variable" quality.

46118

 

Thanks for that. Always interested in what happened. She did look pretty lifeless when she was dragged into Bewdley. My sneaky quick trip turned into a 4 1/2 hour marathon!

 

Three cylinder locos are at a big disadvantage compared with two cylinder locos when starting. It's only when they are getting steam to all three cylinders that they can produce some tractive effort.

 

Kje7812, I take onboard what you have said, but the point I was trying to make with my earlier post is that the SVR are only solving their issue of a small active service fleet by hiring in, and work on getting others back into steam tends to be interrupted by repairs and maintenance to those that are running. Pannier 7714 being a case in point. It all ends up as being a rather " viscous circle".

My point about large Prairie 4150 was that with help from Bridgnorth works that loco could come on stream to replace 5164 which comes out of service later in the year.

42968 was always said to be a "quickie", largely funded by its owning group, but has now gone into store until maybe 2014.

Frankly Bridgnorth works does not have the capacity to cope with running repairs and ideally two locomotives undergoing a heavy general at the same time.

46118

 

So, how do you explain 7714, 34027 and 75069 being in the works together?

 

But 4150 needs it's boiler seeing to, which I believe is planned to be done at Bridgnorth but will have to fit into the works programme (whatever that exactly may be). Also how ready is 4150? Reading their website, I would say a few years if it was sent to Bridgnorth, meanwhile there are other locos looking in the frame for overhaul. The Hagley Hall website suggests there is a plan to move 4930 to Bridgnorth autumn time and then 42968 is looking like it might move into the works next year.
I can see where you are coming from about capacity at Bridgnorth, but some of the redevelopment work will improve this. Plus as Std tank says it's doing alright at the moment, considering 813 is also taking up room.