MHR Restorations and Overhauls

I think you need to check the MHR loco roster for July.

 

I stand by what I said. The July dates are planned, but circumstances may result in a variation.
For instance, yesterday was 31806 & Wadebridge according to the roster, but the U was cold all day, and both Nellie & Cheltenham had been out and about in addition to Wadebridge.
I believe the *plan* is to give everyone as much opportunity to see 31806 in steam at the Mid Hants as possible, before she leaves, but you never know.

 

Well, a loco roster is the nearest thing you are going to get to stone. We are all aware that things could change.

 

850 and 34007 out today. Plus 205025 working two round trips.

 

So if 34016 Bodmin has gone to WCRC, the three moguls going to the Swanage Railway any news where 73096 is going yet

 

Nice shot Lee!!

And yes it was me who shouted hello as Wadebridge dropped down the bank on the return working!

The U has been stopped, as it seems she doesn't want to leave the line............... she's been setting fire to the lineside this week up by Wanders........

Heard some interesting things about 73096 too.......... but its not my place to say anything.

 

I was wondering why 31806 has been stopped for. I did notice a few scorched areas around the railway today. Let's hope the weather doesn't put a stop to steam haulage this summer. From memory it was July last year when steam haulage was curtailed because of the hot weather. I know we've had some rain in the past few days but the line side was dry today.

 

time will tell , those that know are keeping very quite about it.

 

What ever happens to 73096. I'm sure will all find out sometime this year. The trouble is those in the know wouldn't say what's happening so the rumour mill is in full flow over what's happening with 73096.

So Dave what is happening with 73096? Please do tell.

 

With all the HLF around 35005 and the 2 Bulleid coaches got me thinking about the old HLF grant which included "The third component, assisted by a grant from the Railway Heritage Trust, involves the rescue of an historic signal box and re-location of it to Medstead. It will provide a hands-on signalling experience for visitors together with space for an exhibition of mechanical telephone equipment." Whatever happened to this part of the project I remember seeing an old signal box at Four Marks whilst on a wagon group tour last year. Was the grant just for the purchase of the box?

 

So the U has been listening to The Prodigy again! (Twisted Firestarter)
On a serious note lets hope we get some rain and not too many lineside fires. At least there are a few diesels resident on the MHR if conditions get very dry.

I wonder what is happening with 73096? Have the MHR made a good offer on her?

Edit: I seem to have a random face at the top of the post.

Sent from my C1905 using Tapatalk

 

Not on here..........

 

Wherever it's going, it won't be running on the MHR for a long time (even if the MHR bought it - have you seen the queue for a space in the works?) so the sooner it's off the railway the sooner there's more room up the headshunt for locos the MHR actually owns.

Nice loco though, so I hope it gets turned around sharpish by wherever it goes to

 

On certain routes where the load is restricted to 11 ( Sherborne and Weymouth spring to mind),this may not be such a problem.

Was 73096 passed for running at 75mph due to it larger diameter driving wheels?

 

And that extra 25 mph limit would make all the difference, if 73096 does return , the engine would be an ideal addition to the Hoskins stable, as he already operates 70000, operationally it would be ideal for southern routes in sussex and kent as well as further afield i dont think it would be short of work, plus if it was purchased by LSL, then if it needed attension , theres no problem to using who ever could provide a wheel drop etc, where as if it returned to the mainline under its current owner, if it for some reason needed attension and ropley was nearest, would it be allowed to enter MHR metals?

 

One might have thought that 73096 would be the loco being given a fast-track overhaul and return to main-line use. After all, she's not been out for service long, she's stronger than her class 5 designation would suggest, and she's good for 75mph, because of her 6' 2" drivers. The fact that this has not (yet) happened, has started a number of rumours, to try to explain the situation. I have no reliable information to add. My only reason for posting is to reinforce the point that everything at the moment is speculation.

I know what I'd like to see - a quick return to the mainline and frequent visits to the MHR in between. Do I think that will happen? Sadly, no.

 

I think that what will happen is that 34016 will be done first and that if he still owns it by then, 73096 will be done after thats running but in the meanwhile she will be stored somewhere most likily carnforth, but if someone were to pay him what he wants for it, ,then its a different story, why do i think this? Bodmin Was the first engine John Bunch purchased,so i think he would want to retain it, or at least a share in it, it depends on if he has the funds already in hand to put Bodmin back on the mainline if not, it may be that 73096 has to go to pay for the work.

 

I suspect that the utility of the std5 for mainline work has been lost on no one least of all its owner John Bunch. Now that the future of the moguls is assured with the deal to lease them to the Swanage, and Bodmin's future is in a new home, no doubt he will focus all his attention on this locomotive.