GWSR loco updates.

Services have now finished until santas start on the 30th November. These are diagrammed for prairie 5542, 28xx 2807 and 8f 8274. 7903 is now down as standby with a decision on wether it will appear at the post Christmas mixed traffic event still to be made. Both 2807 and 7903 will be leaving for Tyseley in the new year, the 28 to receive attention to axle boxes and horn guides whilst the hall will be having its 10 yearly overhaul starting. On the restoration front, 4270 has had its tanks and cab fitted and bolted down. It's now a question of refitting all the pipe work and final finishing. 35006 has taken on a more imposing appearance with the drilling and fitting of the smoke deflectors. The cab backhead is now very close to completion whilst both outside sets of valve gear are now fitted with the middle left to do. The new big end bearings need machining allowing the con rods to then go on. Work is required on the braking system on the new tender and this is basically the last major job still needed. As per normal- we are not making any predictions! Gw Manor 7820 looks to be making excellent progress at tyseley and I'm Hearing that it's booked into the new paint shop at winchcombe in January. Put the gwsr gala may 24th - 26th 2014 into your diaries!

 

Great to see 4270 and 35006 approaching their respective debuts. Also its interesting to see 4270 fitted with the earlier taller safety valve bonnet, ideal for an inside steam pipe 42xx in GWR livery. Having been involved in the early days with 4277's rescue from Barry, I've always had a soft spot for these hefty, purposeful looking tanks.

I recall 35006 arriving at Toddington in 1983, without a tender of course. The wait has been long but what a sight this will be running from Cheltenham to Toddington and Broadway. I recall 35005 visiting on the GWSR a few years ago and it was a wonderful sight to behold.

Toddington was once home to both Manors 7821 and 7828 but neither ran in service there, so it will be most refreshing to see 7820 on GWSR metals. Much to look forward to in 2014 methinks.

 

Thank you for those pictures, Andy. 35006 is really looking good, as is 4270. Interesting that like 2874, this engine has kept the original inside steam pipes. I didn't realise that any of the 42xx tanks were left in this condition, but I see that 4277 is the same, although 4247 and 4253 were both rebuilt.

Although Foremarke Hall will be missed, 35006, 4270 and 7820 will certainly compensate. I'll be looking forward to paying a few visits in 2014.

 

Well done to those working on both locos. I like the tall safety valve bonnet on 4270 .

 

what about 44027 (is that right - I'm rubbish with numbers) how's that progressing? last I heard there were about 18 months worth of work left to do...
And when is 2874 arriving for her restoration to begin, once 35006 is finished to make room?
Questions questions!

I look forward to seeing dinmore manor in our new paintshop at winchcombe, I'll be walking past it every Saturday to go to tea!

 

Hopefully, with the boiler having been tackled by Riley's and the bottom half by Tyseley, once Dinmore Manor is put back together, it ought to be a most reliable engine - just a re-paint and then off it will go!

 

Nothing like the commentator's curse!

 

Will be making my first ever visit to the GWSR in May next year. Already got the accommodation booked for the entire weekend. Really looking forward to it, and to seeing 35006 and 4270 in action.

 

Hopefully, I'd like to think both will be ready by then, almost certainly 35006 and probably 4270, I think the former is closer to completion than the latter though. is 5542 staying with us next year? If so, that gives us 8274, 2807, 35006 (almost certainly for most of the season), 5542, 7820, and possibly 4270 for some of the season. that is some line up, 5-6 locos, plus on the restoration front, 4270 perhaps to finish off, 44027 another 18 months (?) 2874 new project, that one in the headshunt I've forgotten the number of that might get a look in once some of the other projects are finished, and 44901 (when is work starting on that, or has it already?). plus of course 7903's overhaul which hopefully will pass swiftly.

that makes ~5 operational locos for next year, plus somewhere between 3-5 restorations going on. I think that puts us in rude good health for the foreseeable future loco wise, Can't wait for the gala! I will go this year, no disappearing off to Scotland like last time for me. (even if it was for the jacobite!)

Now all we need is ~£1 million pounds, another rake of coaches and we're at broadway

 

However, having that number of locos available does mean that the number of days each one runs (and earns a steaming fee) will be reduced. Some owners may feel the need to move locos to lines which can guarantee a higher level of income to fund the next overhaul.

 

true - I don't know how the contracts for each group and their loco on GWSR metals stand, would be interested to find out. 7820 is here on a ten year agreement (apart from agreed times when it can visit other railways for instance a gala) but no idea about the rest. 2807 nearly went to the GCR not to long ago so presumably they can up sticks and leave should they wish, but no ideas at all about the rest.

 

2807 did visit the GCR as part of the Benefit Gala event in April 2011 to raise funds for the repair of the GWSR embankments. It "nearly" went again as it was shortlisted to attend another gala event at the GCR but in the end was not required. There was no question of a permanent move. 2807 will be going to Tyseley at the beginning of 2014 all being well, for specialist maintenance work prior to returning to Toddington by April. TLC is required even if a loco is working well!

Cotswold Steam Preservation is the owning group for 2807 and has an operating agreement with the GWSR. I'm not aware of the detail (although I am a CSP shareholder and a GWSR shareholder like many other people) but I guess the 2807 operating agreement is pretty much the same as most of the other locos at the GWSR and at other heritage lines for that matter.

 

If 4270 and 35006 can be finished in time and 5542 stays on for 2014, there would be a good gala line-up for next May without even bringing in a visiting engine, as the two newly-restored engines will have some novelty value, as will 7820, being new to the GWSR.

I hope not!

 

Will you be leaving off the cab shutters to match?

 

I would suggest not discussing loco contracts on a public forum whether you know the details or not (I imagine you don't). The last thing we need are locos and groups leaving because something has been blabbed on here.

 

Fair enough, and I don't, apart from the Dinmore manor one as they released it to the railway press

 

Indeed, which was why I was careful in the wording of my post in response to flyingscotsman123. Contractual agreements are between officials of railway companies and locomotive/rolling stock groups and/or individuals and all details are not necessarily for the public domain. SteveG is correct in his advice and no doubt flyingscotsman123 is learning fast, given that there were false assumptions regarding 2807 in his earlier post. There are worse false assumptions to make, like Iraq having WMD deliverable in less than 1 hour back in 2003, but agreements between railway parties may be commercial in confidence and it means just that.

 

I don't know what possessed me to say what I did about 2807, thinking about it logically it makes no sense...
never mind, nice to have people here to set me straight when y head's a bit fuzzy

 

Any updates on (4)4027? Last update I can find is DEC-2013, and I didn't make it to the "Back to Black" Gala so didn't see what was to view there.
http://www.gwsr.com/enthusiasts/departments/4f-restoration-project/december-2013.aspx

 

Apparently it's not far off, only about a year, which surprised me as I don't think its boiler is even finished, yet alone on yet. I agree would be nice to have an update though, P&O's are still going, and of course, is as usual nearly ready