MHR Restorations and Overhauls

Regardless of whether it is rubbish or not, it makes sense to me.

 

whilst i can understand the difference between the balancing on a 3 cylinder being different to a 2 cylinder loco, i can not see West Coast wanting to tow any engine with the connecting rods fitted, I would have thought normal procedure is to remove conecting rods if being towed dead for any distance, what is the speed limit for towing dead engines on NR? and how often do they have to stop and oil round , examine etc

 

Martin, that was pretty much my point. 34016 can probably be towed dead, connecting rods off, without the hammer blow being too offensive for a given axle. With 73096, removing the connecting rods will make the hammer blow even worse than it already is for a 2-cylinder loco. Yes, you can limit the maximum speed to get the forces down, but then you have the problem of finding paths for a slow movement.

Many a 2-cylinder loco was undoubtedly towed dead with rods off back in steam days. Doesn't mean it's practical now, for a move from Alton to ????.

 

Bodmin was accessible on shed at Ropley yesterday

34016 - Bodmin Ropley Shed by timz2011, on Flickr

 

Nice photo, a shame to see Bodmin in that condition reminds of locomotives lined up at Nine Elms MPD in the sixties awaiting their fate.

 

the biggest shame in all this is the break up of what was a fine collection of Southern locos, partially replaced with non-local motive power. Not the Mid Hants I used to know

 

I think you could argue that the mid hants has replaced them with locos of equal if not better pedigree.

850, 925 & 34007 (45379 not really a southern but did venture south) to be joined in the future by 34105, 35005, 34058, 75079, 80150 & 30499

All in all an excellent southern loco line up….

 

Add that Black 5's worked in the South on Cross Country trains and Railtours. I think that there's at least one picture of a Black 5 on the MHR in BR days.

 

I personally think the Mid Hants have done brilliantly with getting such a good Southern collection on the line. If Didcot is the home of the GWR fleet you could say the Mid Hants is the home of the Southern fleet espically with the oldest Merchant Navy and light pacific on the books not forgetting the Nelson and Cheltenham.

 

The mid hants has the youngest and oldest light pacific! I can't wait for Swanage to come back to see her and Wadebridge double heading!

 

34007 was first steamed back in 2006 so this only gives us about a two year window to see both locos running together. I would think it's going to be a close call if both locos will run together.

 

I never knew about Swanage learn something new every day.

 

Correct Wadebridge's ticket expires in 2016 (believe it is mid year), so they will be tight to both run together but I imagine that if Swanage is planned to replace Wadebridge then she will be back in steam just before Wadebridge goes out of traffic.

 

Will also mean that both in steam together will be a rare event unless 34007 gets a fast turnaround after withdrawal. However, work will probably not be started until well into the second half of 34105's ticket, as the Mid Hants is not exactly short of motive power for the next few years, NRM loco away visits notwithstanding...

 

Probably a stupid question but would we have enough Bulleid tenders to run them together? Wadebridge has CanPacs and depending when it gets the green light for restoration it could be back for around 2016/2017 so would needs its tender

 

in an ideal world Wadebridge and Bodmin would be in Cornwall and Swanage in Dorset

 

There's a tender being constructed for 34007. On the same note but a different class of loco 30499 and 30506 will run together with in the next five to ten years some think to look forward to.

 

I think a bigger MHR dream is to have all 3 types of std 4 in steam at the same time…. (75079, 76017 & 80150). I believe some of the management wish for this to become a reality, although it might not last for long!

 

Well I suppose the biggest thing that will dictate whether or not this will happen is the state of 80150`s boiler, if it is anything like the Llangollen standard tanks boiler was, it could be quite a big job.
However I am sure Andy Netherwood the MHR boilersmith has a fair idea of its general state.
On another note, I believe a few parts standard to both types of class4 are being made at the same time as those for 75079, which should speed up the eventual restoration of 80150.

 

They are if you look on a map, they haven"t moved.....