6023

News

 

well done those men
"If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs"




The Melter

 

Good news indeed. This bit, in particular caught my eye:
"...10 Didcot type steaming cycles e.g. warmed, steamed and then fully cooled (she may also be used during these cycles if the GC so wish)..."
One of those steaming-cycles wouldn't happen to coincide with the GCR January Gala, would it? Kerching!

 

i would imagine if complete it would happen good for both parties extra income for GCR and more miles for 6023 i assume then it will be off to a few other events for the summer.

 

Look like 6023 the main attraction for the winter Gala at the GCR

 

It would appear so, fingers crossed eh?

http://railways.national-preservation.com/galas-events/38483-great-central-winter-steam-gala.html

 

to change topic to the faintly ridiculous, I was amused to see Santa had given me a small tin of "Scottish" fudge featuring a photo of 6023 in BR blue alongside the shed at Didcot.

 

Is this the one with the engine in low relief, embossed on the lid?

John

 

From SR's FB feed .........

"Happy New Year everyone. We're all back up to speed in the SR office, so here's the first snippet of 2013. A joint statement from the Great Western Society and the Great Central Railway says:

"The repairs to 6023's boiler took another step forward on 4 January, when the new copper plate work and welding passed its NDT test. There is still some further work which needs to be undertaken in the firebox and it is hoped this will be completed in time to undertake a hydraulic test around the middle of January. If this is successful a steam test will quickly follow in time, it is hoped, for 6023 to appear at the Great Central Railway's mid winter gala over the weekend 25/27 January."

 

This just came to mind and obviously to easy to think but will we be seeing any of 6023 on the mainline this year if steamings are successful?
Someone was going to ask this eventually. Sorry it ended up being me.

 

No need to apologise, Mike. I'm sure you are not the only one to be wondering about this.

 

When its ready...!

 

When it's ready.....and as a guess from the latest echo, I reckon a loaded rest run out of tyseley would be on the cards to say Stratford.

The above is a pure assumption. Congratulations to all of the teams working up at Loughborough. I'm relieved now that I didn't cancel my standing order I've had going for a number of years. Sadly I'm working the weekend of the GCR Gala :-(. Can't wait to see her again.

 

I saw a picture of 6019 on facebook last night (on the GWS page) and I'm always struck by how impressive these engines are. In 2011 I took a pretty rubbish shot of 6024 on the Welsh Marches but the sound of engine racing towards me will live forever. Looking forward to 6023.

 

It is just a little difficult to look at the size of the steam calander for this year becuase the 6023 team, they are getting really close. Hopefully we shall the King to get pencilled in for a few trips.

 

Once the loco's ready, I wouldn't worry about a shortage of work for her. For one thing, Didcot don't tend to go for intensive programmes - more like Nunney Castle than Tangmere. Also, there are usually several trips each year that need a replacement loco. Think of Lizzie last year - she dropped a few turns in the summer then picked up a couple of extras before Christmas. Finally, we haven't seen VT's Spring/Summer programme yet, and there's lots of room in the Autumn and Winter schedules. The limiting factors, as always, will be route availabilty (height, width, axle-weight), brake compatibilty (IIRC she's vac with air through-pipe, so not suitable for Steam Dreams nor Torbay Express tours) and support crew commitments.

As for running-in / loaded test turns: Tyseley has already been mentioned, and the trip to Stratford is a favourite for such work. Once "passed out", I imagine her first public trip would be something ending up at Didcot. How about a VT tour like this? ECS behind the green 47 to Didcot early morning, DL-hauled Didcot-Tyseley picking up at Banbury and Solihul, then 6023 Tyseley - Cheltenham - Kemble - Didcot. Not too strenuous for a first run, but a chance to loosen up and maybe give a hint of her hill-climbing prowess. End with a sunset photo-call on the Didcot turntable then return DL-hauled, setting down as outward. If Tyseley fancy sending RAH instead of the 47 then so much the better, but probably not worth the extra expense. How about it Ben? Are you thinking of something similar?

 

Errrm. Not really. Nothing planned or even penciled in as yet.

 

I guess we'll just have to wait and see what the loco OWNERS want to do next?

 

NatPres speculation: All part of the fun!

My speculation for 6023's loaded mainline test run: Swindon to Bath and back with three colletts in tow in blood and custard, part of the secret Didcot vintage train currently being planned. But will Ivo Peters and Maurice Earley be on the platform to take a picture of it?

 

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

If 6 gallons of crimson fetch up in the carriage shed, I'll be booking off sick. I almost lost the will to live on W231 - damned thing seemed to drink the poxy stuff. Never again (probably).

Actually, we do have a sekrit pln, but it involves Windsor Brown .

Pete S.
C&W Dept.,
GWS.