70000 'Britannia'

Re: 70000 "Britannia" at Crewe

At least a realistic timescale has been provided to fix problems encountered and to fit that air pump early whilst its still out of trafic. The three months will fly and look forward to it out and about in 2011.

 

Re: 70000 "Britannia" at Crewe

I notice from vids and photos of the test runs that 70000 now has handrails on the smoke deflectors.

These were removed from many if not all Britannias in BR days following an accident at Milton in 1955 involving 70026 when they were adjuged to have been a contributory factor to the cause due to restricting the driver's view.

When originally restored at the SVR and later at the NVR the deflectors were as withdrawn i.e. without handrails but on looking at pics of its last mainline stint, they seem to have re-appeared around 1996.

Does anyone know the history behind this and presumabley they are no longer considered a potential visibility problem on the modern railway?

 

Re: 70000 "Britannia" at Crewe

The handrails were indeed removed following that accident. All signals on the Western Region were sighted for right hand driven locos whereas the Brits were, of course, left hand drive.

Meic

 

Re: 70000 "Britannia" at Crewe

One wonders why the mod was not carried out on the WR allocated 9Fs as well.

 

Re: 70000 "Britannia" at Crewe

Hmmmmmm, generally speaking yes but not really. The GWR/WR have a reputation for having placed signals all over the place with little signs of consistency.

 

Re: 70000 "Britannia" at Crewe

When the smoke deflectors fitted on 70000 became life expired during its first main line stint in the 1990s they were replaced with the handrail type. Obviously this has been kept after the latest overhaul. I think the change took place in 1995 or 1996.

Regards,

Dan

 

Re: 70000 "Britannia" at Crewe

Many thanks for that info Dan.

 

Re: 70000 "Britannia" at Crewe

The smoke deflector handrail issue on the Britannias is quite interesting. I wonder if there were complaints concerning a similar visibility problem on the rebuilt Bulleids, particularly as they were/are of a similar design?

 

Re: 70000 "Britannia" at Crewe

I don't have the relevant report to hand but I can assure you that that was the reason for the modification. When the Brits were moved away from the WR, it was always easy to spot them by the cut outs in the deflectors.

Meic

 

Re: 70000 "Britannia" at Crewe

I don't disagree with you at all but I bet there were plenty of signals on the WR that were on the left-hand side. I'm just questioning your generalisation about WR signals all being on the right-hand side, it's not really the case.

 

Re: 70000 "Britannia" at Crewe

any updates on her from lnwr. was wondering if it Will make the gala as wsr.

 

Re: 70000 "Britannia" at Crewe

Its inaugural tour is listed on UK Steam ( updated today) as the THE CATHEDRALS EXPRESS Oxford-London-Canterbury on the 7th April.

 

Re: 70000 "Britannia" at Crewe

I hear its being officially unveiled tomorrow. Been at Crewe all weekend and apparently there Will be photos taken tomorrow

 

Re: 70000 "Britannia" at Crewe

I believe its test run is booked, Crewe - Chester - Shrewsbury then all being well, onwards to WSR

 

Re: 70000 "Britannia" at Crewe

Any idea when this will be?

Cheers,
Lewis

 

Re: 70000 "Britannia" at Crewe

In steam today , as is The Great Marquess.

 

Re: 70000 "Britannia" at Crewe

70000 is indeed in steam today. Pic:

http://tim-fenton.fotopic.net/p69162263.html

and as can be seen, just one piece of cladding to put on.

I don't think 61994 was in steam though.


--
Tim
http://tim-fenton.fotopic.net/
http://zelo-street.blogspot.com/
@zelo_street on Twitter

 

Re: 70000 "Britannia" at Crewe

At first I couldn't tell if the steam was coming from 61994 or another boiler hidden behind it, so I went for a closer look and it definitely was 61994 in steam.

 

Re: 70000 "Britannia" at Crewe

More nice pics over on Pete's Blog

http://pete.railnuts.com/category/whats-happening/

 

Re: 70000 "Britannia" at Crewe

Boy thats a big air pump.. is it a polish one ?