South Coast Steam and S160 3278

Given that its now been 4 or 5 days since the last report of the S160 being loaded up and ready to leave, and i would assume the tender should have been touching down somewhere by now, can any say where she has gone to? likily candidates ? wont be carnforth, least i doubt it, not much use unless its going out on the big railway, swanage? maybe, but then would they want it, when what they have is ok, unless its a short term hire once restored to replace 34028 next year, till 34072 returns, i know where it wont be heading, back down the A31.

 

Not heard anything from Cheddleton !!

 

Nene Valley Railway have had a S160 arrive last week, there on hire for around a year I believe, but I don't think it's that one.

Nick

 

That's 6046. She'll be with us until Jan/Feb when she'll be swapped over with 5197

 

this is now getting very strange, has FDR actually left portland? because its seemed to have disapeared without trace if it has, is it somewhere hidden away, in box tunnel maybe? along with 10 granges, 6 night owls, and the real 60008 and 60010 the engines being returned are plywood replicas.

 

Not sure where you've got your info from there. 6046 / 5197 are more than happy hauling 4/5 coaches along the CVR, and are reasonably economical at doing so. Plus they are ideal for our Cauldon services, as they have more than enough power for our 1in45 bank. The reasons they have gone out on hire are down to owner's choice, but at a guess is more likely to do with the fact CVR only operates 3 days a week in the high season compared to 7 days a week at the railways they've been hired too. Nothing to do with them being too powerful.

 

I didn't see it leave, but the tender passed me, going out of Portland on a low loader. This made me go round to South Coast Steam to investigate. FDR was on another Low loader in the yard. But I didn't stay around long enough to see it move. See picture below.


The guys were hanging around, waiting for something. If they were unloading FDR, they would be beavering away, as it was 3-4pm when I took the photograph.

 

Maybe it's waiting "orders" as soon as the Russians invade Ukraine the Americans will transport it across europe ?
Since the Iron Curtain fell there's only 2 S160s left in Poland.

 

still no sightings of the tender then? it can't have gone to a preservered railway site then, most likily another large industrial site somewhere, i cant believe that someone somewhere didnt see either low loader en route, a large 2-8-0 tends to catch the attension of passing motorists

 

Maybe it was just being manoeuvred within the site to enable work?

 

In which case, I would have expected the move to be done first, then the same trailer used to move the tender rather than send 2 rigs down (ALE's head office is in Stafford).

That said, perhaps the actual move was delayed until after the Easter break?

Steven

 

Good points Steven. The only certainty is that all will be revealed in the fullness of time. Maybe to the private premises of 2253s new owner?

 

Moved by Malaysian Airways, perhaps?

 

Not sure went wrong earlier posting from i-pad - sorry

Should be going up Tophill tomorrow to get some diesel so will have a look and see if it's gone/still there.

 

Brilliant, look forward to hearing from you.

regards,

Mookie

 

Naughty!

 

Just got back (13:45). Seems to have gone.

 

Thanks for looking. I thought I was going mad.

 

As far as I am aware USATC S160 3278 is now located on the former MoD site at Long Marston, Warwickshire. This now the domain of St. Modwen Properties. A number of railway groups / cottage industries rent premises / storage space at this site. Perhaps if someone who has knowledge of who is who and doing what at the site can enlighten us as to why the S160 has moved there and what the plans are for it.

 

Congratulations to Peter Hall, clearly a member of the Intelligence Corps in a previous life! A formal announcement about the S160, including a return to steam date and public appearance schedule for 2015 will be made on Friday 6 June on board the Steaming To Victory D-Day special train from Moor Street. In the meantime could I very gently point out to all concerned that Long Marston is a private site, ad-hoc visitors are not at all welcome, security remains pretty much as it was in MoD days, and attempts to "bunk the shed" can end a little emotionally. So please don't try. And thank you all for your interest.

Neil