John Bunch and his Locos

How suited to the 'Jacobite' would 73096 be?

 

Very well, probably, but if Mr. Smith has acquired a share in it I'd have thought it's unlikely to run up there - he's not daft enough to wear out his own locos up there, he lets others do that!

 

Similar to a B1.

 

As 61306, and indeed JB's moguls, have recently shown, there are other people around interested in buying, or more generally "acquiring the use of" locomotives, besides the Laird of Carnforth.

A loco with smaller wheels and perhaps a shorter wheelbase would be better suited to The West Highland line, but if a B1 can do it (another 4-6-0 with 6' 2" driving wheels), then I reckon a Std 5 could too. The regular players on the Mallaig line in recent years have been NELPG, Ian Riley and John Cameron. The only Carnforth-based loco has been 45231, I think, but that's privately owned. Of those, I guess IR might be interested, but probably not the others. But then again, it's still only guesswork and speculation...

 

Not just main line operators - had 61306 been offered generally I think there would have been a lot of interest in it from heritage railways.

 

If 73096 is being sold can't see beyond LSL stable really as most likely.

 

Std 5s were fairly regular on the West Highland. Should be no reason why one couldnt do it now.
The feeling I guess is it will end up at Carnforth. I wouod love to see JH get hold of it but he has alot of other projects going on at the moment and would another loco put too much stretch on the resources of LSL support crew. As with everything in this world. Its a watch this space. Only JB knows what he wants to do with it.

 

Very true, but as they say, time will tell, the 3 mogols are tied up to agreements, so he does not need to worry about those, 34016 is already at Carnforth, so its just a case of sorting out a home for the std 5, as i see it, it will most likily ,if he still owns it, go to one of 2 places, Carnforth, if its going to return to the mainline, or to Swanage if its going to be heritage use only, now does Swanage have any room to store an out of ticket engine for say 3 years until it can be put through shops? and them what is going to make mr Bunch the best return on it? to have it restored to steam and on the mainline, it should be a popular engine on the railtour business, and when its not needed, Swanage is mainline connected , so where to base it if he has an interest in it? easy. Southall, as a very good , go anywhere, haul anything engine and to be availible to replace either 35018, or 34067 if they are having problems, or need to go back to carnforth for attension , and when its not needed, base it at Swanage , which means that Weymouth to bristol tours become possible option also, as well as being able to provide a loco to haul return tours from weymouth to london, without having to use a diesel. i think this is what you will see, 34016,34067,and 73096 being split between swanage and Southall for the summer period when you would get most tours running , engines would then turn round with what ever brought the rail tour in, you could even see scots guardsman , or leader working LE to swanage after banking a tour up to poole

 

Someone nearly finished a new build I didn't know about ?

 

yes thats what carnforth are doing with 34073's boiler

 

I just wonder whether that is really true or an often re-quoted myth. The 'Jacobite' is clearly the most successful steam operation on the national railway network. I also suspect that it is key to the financial survival of WCRCo and thus steam on the national railway network. Could it be that the various locomotive owners, NELPG, John Cameron, Ian Riley etc are more than happy to be involved with the 'Jacobite' and WCRCo are happy to accommodate them. The advantage for WCRCo is that they have their own locomotives in reserve, so 'Jacobite' steam is guaranteed and the punters are not let down and come back for more.

Clearly from what is being said 73096 would be suited to the 'Jacobite' so I would reckon a good chance that it is in the frame for future years.

 

There appear to be two particular costs associated with the Jacobite operations:
1) extra tyre-wear, due to the sharp curves, check-rails, etc.
2) distance from home and repair facilities - most support crew don't live in the area, and if a mechanic or some spare parts need to be sent for, it's a day's journey each way. If the loco needs more attention than can be given from the support coach, it needs a long light-engine move to Carnforth, Bury, Grosmont or where-ever.

Set against that, though, are regular steaming fees, daily operation for 7 days or more at a time and probably a lot of fun and satisfaction, for no more hard work than your average big preservation line. It's probably the nearest we still have to "real" steam operations in this country. It certainly felt like that last September when I and my colleagues were allowed into Fort William depot to witness 2 black fives, the K1 and the K4 being disposed and prepped for their next turns, during the West Highlander tour.

 

What drivel this thread has become.

73096 on the Jacobite? Come on its not even left the MHR and everything being discussed here is fantasy. The locomotive has bigger driving wheels than a black five so immediately isn't suited to hill climbing all day long, day in day out. Black 5s have their tyres shredded on the highland line. A standard 5 although a nice now and again, would not be suitable.

The three mogals have gone to a great home at Swanage and that is some of the best news of the year. Even people who will miss them at the MHR only have a 50 mile trip to see them again at Swanage. Im sure Swanage will hire the locomotives out now and again so who says any of them might make a return visit some day. It is after all Swanage, who control them.

As for 73096, why doesn't everyone just wait and see what happens..

 

May I suggest you refer back to the first post of this thread. This is a discussion forum, and whilst it may be your opinion that the Standard 5 isn't suited to the West Highland, it never seemed to deter the owners of various Black 5s and B1s of very similar dimensions - nor have I had stories of them being unsuited to the line.

The point about 73096 is why has it not moved as yet. It could be in store at Carnforth by now if that is to be its destination, the fact that it hasn't moved yet suggests that it may not be and many of us will be interested to see where it ends up - and in he meantime it does no harm to speculate.

 

Oh its moving alright, its just a question of when................

 

And where to..

 

Not my place to say.

Time will tell.......

 

Not that you know where its going anyway..

Black 5s go over there a lot because there are plenty of them and the owners get to drive! A Standard 5 has bigger wheels so is more suited to high speed running.

 

If 73096 is going to Carnforth why didn't it go with 34016?