Bulleid Pacifics - Past or Present

That's what I've been politely trying to suggest............. ie 34007 is due out of maintenance sometime in the new year (I believe) and it would be nice if she carried the name & number of a lost class mate associated with the BoB............. hey ho we shall see, though something tells me when the media starts ramping things up, there maybe a groundswell................. so Rly's with a Bulleid are going to miss a trick if the don't "join in"..........

 

If its only for a few weeks I can't see what the problem is. I mean theres only going to be one Battle of Britain 75th Anniversary isn't there?

 

Exactly!

Given, what's happened at the Tower with the poppies, commemoration is at the forefront of the public psyche......... to not do something to not honour "the few", I feel that preserved lines would be missing a trick...... though I would go so far as to say, run the loco's for as long as possible for the year, and those on static display, for the year........ Rly's with runners can tap into the "market" & hopefully attract Joe Public.....

 

Im certainly with you on this, though Id say try and tie in somthing with September 15th? Maybe involving the BBMF?

 

34007 could change identity for War on the line in June next year. She has changed before; she ran as a BoB a couple of years ago IIRC but unfortunately she failed on the Saturday of the event.

 

Didn't Swanage run as Tangmere a few years ago?

 

Try synchronising that across the lines "involved"!........... and I know we're being "watched" by the powers that be...... so how about it folks. decide between yourselves which loco will carry which ID, and take it from there..........

Shouldn't happen this time round.......

 

As an aside could Photo Charters be arranged should any Bulleid's be renamed. I wouldn't mind a line doing a BoB event with locos renamed or BoB's brought in as guests. (I believe Swanage have something planned though)

 

34053.... As itself! Hurricane and Fighter Command seem popular Spitfire seems out and speaking for myself I wouldn't be too keen on seeing 34109 reappear. Im sure someone will end up dissapointed that their favorite hasn't re-appeared though!

 

You can rest assured that 34053 will carry the name Sir Keith Park, 34070 will be Manston, and (hopefully) 34072 will be 257 Squadron.

There's an update on 72's overhaul here: http://www.southern-locomotives.co.uk/News/news.html

 

I had a look through my pictures and was rather worried to find that it was back in 2010 when 34007 ran as 34086 and 34061 (crikey where has the time gone!). She carried three numbers at the same time: 34007 on the smokebox, 34086 on the RH side and 34061 on the LH side. Here are three of my pictures of her as 34086:

 

Sorry if not keeping up, but passed Crewe today - which is the Bulleid (in bits) in the yard?

 

Braunton.

 

Likewise 34081 will be running as 92 Squadron.

 

If 34046 is renamed and numbered as 34052, then there is the opportunity to 'reunite' it with 34051 and 34053. It would be interesting to know whether the naming of 34109 was controversial at the time, or whether this is a more recent development as a result of hindsight.

 

To rename 257 Squadron (or any other extant BoB) however temporary is a slap in the face to the honour of Bob Stanford Tuck, Pete Brothers, Ronnie Fokes, Capon, Maffett,Smith, Schwind or the hundred of other young men that served in the RAF and specifically 257 Squadron.

The Squadron was also based for the larger part of 1943 just 10 miles down the road from Wareham at RAF Warmwell.

However, a temporary renaming of a west country is a different matter.

 

There is no question of 257 Squadron running under any other name. The question is when its overhaul will be complete. There's every reason to hope it will participate next year.

 

I think in the name of balance and fairness it's only right that one of the locos should carry these plates... (from the SSL website...)

 

That is Brill!! Could we present a replica to Angela Merkel next time she visits No10?!

 

I doubt 34059 will be in one piece, much less running, in 2015. Latest estimate is 2016, dependent on the rate of boiler work at Crewe.

Tom