MHR Restorations and Overhauls

Talking of liveries (again) i would dearly love to see an unrebuilt Bulleid in BR blue. We don't have a Packet in unrebuilt condition but there are plenty of Light Pacifics and just once i wish an owner would put one in the original BR blue . I don't mean the blue used on 35005, even though it did look good, i mean the unique blue that was used on the packets, which was different to the blue's used on other regions.

I am old enough to remember them in Malachite (yuk), the unique blue (beautiful) and the BR Loco' green (Brunswick is not its correct name ). The latter livery still looks handsome with early or late tender logo'. I used to see the Night Ferry often and there was no better sight on BR than a blue packet with blue coaches; how i wish that could be seen again today on the mainline.

I grew up during the late 40's/early 50's and i saw the experimental green used on Bulleid's as well but quite frankly i thought that was also yuk.

 

Im all for the experimental liveries I wonder which one of the A4 owners is gonna be brave enough to say 'Yup lets go purple'

 

None of them I would have thought - none of the surviving ones received this livery. It would be nice to see them all in matching liveries one day though. I thought it was a shame that the great gathering line up didn't also stipulate LNER garter blue and red wheel sets - would have been something to behold, all six engines matching for livery (if not valances).

As for Bulleids - just one Merchany Navy in original style would be able to (if done carefully) open up a whole load of liveries we've not seen in preservation. Wartime black, Southern Malachite and all variations of that up to British Railways and beyond, Express Blue and the one-off livery, and of course the BR dark green.

The one I'd dearly love to see restored to her original format is British India Line - the only one left I recall which took part in the exchange trials of 1948 and therefore could be legitimately outshopped with a Stanier tender too…!

 

Legitimate surely only if you could also supply a water trough

 

Other locomotives using Stanier tenders seem to get on fine in preservation - why this rule for 35017?

 

Could anyone, if able, give an update on 41312's overhaul, And possibly guesstimate of a return to service (ie next year or 2016)?

Thanks in advanced.

 

not sure if you are asking seriously, but , in case it may be of interest, the troughs were the reason she had a Stanier tender for the exchange

 

Well yes, but why in preservation do you need water troughs if the idea behind it is simply to recreate an interesting period in the locomotive's life in an aesthetic fashion?

 

Ok so i'll edit the post and add a smilie, might help,

 

My apologies, I'm not good at reading internet humour! FWIW I just misunderstood.

 

35018 only participated in the trials on Southern metals, so probably didn't run with a Stanier tender anyway. Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing her as the slightly different pioneer rebuild, but all this is drifting a little far from MHR matters...

 

Yes, getting back on Topic. The question was asked about progress with Ivatt 41312.

AFAIK the boiler is in the final stages of overhaul, a steam test cannot be far off. As I understand it the MHR would like the loco back in service for the early New Year service trains.

However the chassis still hasn't entered Ropley works yet and dispite the MHR saying that very little work needs doing, I would have thought that at least six months work cleaning and repainting the frames plus checking and refurbishing what was required, would be the order of the day.

Anyway we'll see.

 

I saw 34051 today and the loco is having its paint work rubbed down. The last time I saw the tender it was in green undercoat .

 

Just a last point from me - I got British India Line and Belgian Marine (both exchange trial locomotives) mixed up. Given they were 35017 and 35018…! My apologies for the mix up.

 

Thanks!

Chris

 

Saw the top of 34051 today and she was in various shades of green where she has been rubbed down and the tender was in green undercoat.

 

Took the following this weekend at the Diesel Gala

 

She really is coming together nicely.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I will look forward to seeing her/him again- good to see that it is getting some attention!

Chris

 

Is anything happening with 34058?