Sir Keith Park

I bet you subsequently started fleEIng (heck I'm good)! Anyway, despite this being a highly enjoyable aside, back to SKP...

 

Send the boiler to Sheffield Park and fit it to 34059's frames? Make one working Bulleid out of two broken ones!

 

Save the transport costs, just swap the boiler onto Taw Valley's chassis...

 

The overhaul of Taw valley is said to be at an advanced stage so we may end up with Spam x2. I have not seen the damage to SKP myself but the verbal third(fourth, fith etc) hand info I have heard is that it is repairable but some new components will need to be made. The obvious one is the front cylinder cover. I have no reason to assume the boiler needs to come out . You dont need the boiler out for a V&P EXAM. SKP remains listed as an operational locomotive.

 

Yeah, but that would get in the way of this entertaining game of "fantasy workshop manager"...

More seriously, I'd estimate it would take at least six months to strip down SKP, lift the boiler, add it to another loco and then build that loco back up to working condition - even if the mechanical overhaul on that other loco was complete. And that is without thinking about the disruption to the planned overhaul programme of the workshop. Or without thinking about ownership issues, and whether, specifically, SLL wanted their boiler used in another loco.

In the circumstances, unless the damage is completely catastrophic (and there is no evidence to suggest that is the case) then surely the quickest way to get a loco back in traffic - of benefit to the SVR, and providing hire fees again to SLL - is to let the workshop just get on with it. And just bite the bullet that, sadly, unscheduled failures invariably have a knock-on effect on the planned restoration programme.

We are involved in a hobby that, perversely, insists on trying to run a regular service using obsolete and antique assets. Unplanned failures, sadly, come with the territory.

Tom

 

I think we do see signs that Bridgnorth is getting to grips with locomotive overhaul. Perhaps money from the share issue has been the catalyst to reorganising the works with extra space, and showing some confidence by taking in two large engines for overhaul (75069 and 4930) and with 42968 to follow shortly--after Taw Valley vacates?

Before, it has tended to be just one large engine at a time in for a heavy general.

However, uuless 4936 is going to stay, the active fleet for 2014 might just be a little tight in the peak Summer season, at least until some of the returnees arrive back, 7714 and 7802?

46118

 

SKP has gone through at least one cylinder cover already since it's been in traffic (right hand side I think?) - it seems determined to work it's way through SLL's supply of spares!
As for the loco situation, I think the late cancellation of 4936's planned return to Tyseley earlier this month shows that the consideration that we could be light early season, with 4566 in for its repaint and the three service locos due out in the near future likely to be delayed by skp's failure, has been made.

 

Oh, so that's why it's named 'Keith'.

Richard

 

Erm, Taw Valley is not a Spam (Can). It ceased to be that when it was detuned to Jarvis' principles.

 

now the cold weather has arrived they could always turn SKP in to a steam heating plant which will keep the carriages/public nice and warm and then the works can get back to turning out a couple of proper engines. seems like a win win plan to me
cheers
colin green
(runs for cover)

 

What have the Rolling Stones got to do with things? Oh sorry, missed the punctuation...

Tom

 

34027 had the can opener taken to it

 

I'm sure they don't actually teach it anymore because something like only 25% of words actually conform to it.
English lessons aside, it's a shame that it happened but things happen and at least it is being fixed and not sidelined.

 

Not as detuned as SKP is at the moment!

 

I have always taken it that the nickname can be applied to the rebuilds - rebuilt Spam. The Bluebell refered to Spam when they had a lineup of a mixture of air smoothed and rebuilts so it must be right

Thrupp (as per Harry Seagoon)

dave

 

Richard

 

Your'e the first person I've come across who thinks the soubriquet "Spam Can" applies to the original and rebuilt versions.