70000 'Britannia'

The latest "Steam Railway " Magazine has a photograph of the now reassembled boiler/firebox, with a comment that the extensive firebox repairs are now complete, so this locomotive progresses.The same magazine has an article about Pete Waterman's operation at Crewe, noting that a scheme has been devised to train up to twenty apprentices. Pictures show Government high-ups visiting the works.Clearly Pete is serious about maintaining steam locomotive engineering skills for the future.46118

 

Good move by Pete, such skills will be highly sought after 15/20 years down the line, be interesting to see how 70000 differs in performance to 70013.

 

There was a post on Pete Waterman's blog along the lines of Britannia being ready around March next year. Cannae find it now...!

I hope the extensive firebox repairs will make 70000 perform a bit better, and that the valves are set using the Bill Harvey method to give it a fighting chance to equal 70013's performance.

Regards,

Dan

 

Incidentally, anyone wanting to see comments about how the "Britannias" fared in servce, particularly on the GE, should perhaps try chapter 13 of D W Harvey's book: "Bill Harvey's 60 Years in Steam" ( David & Charles, 1986). Here you will find information about the firebox problems that came to light in service, along with issues such as frame fractures, burst superheaters, driving wheels working loose on their axles, etc.

46118

 

A very exciting prospect though. 2 Brits and (hopefully) 2 Royal Scots will be on the mainline next year.

 

70000's boiler passed its steam test today (boiler out of the frames.)
Now for the big assembly job.

 

Does anyone know if she's to remain air braked?

 

Exciting times.

 

What is the 'Bill Harvey' method and how does it differ from the method employed by BR?

Regards

 

Britannia has never had a main line approved air braking system. The sytem it had whilst at the NVR was not of a type which would currently be acceptable for use on NR and was removed prior to it leaving the NVR as it was their property.
When it goes back onto NR it will not be air braked, but it will be fitted with a through air pipe. The long term view is that it will be fitted with air brakes at some time in the future.

 

Brilliant news

 

Yes, and this means 35027 should be next in line for treatment. I hope both will be used over the Northern Fells, and its been a while since Shap and Ribblehead has resounded to Bulleid 'chatter'. Very exciting times...

 

I would love to see 35027 up Shap one day, not the easiest place to get to, living in Kent and all

 

merchant navy over shap one word awesome! show these pansy LMS/LNER engines how its really done. they'll barely need it in second valve. i've heard about crews with bulleid's over shap who needed to reign them in as the power they were producing was so good!

 

It's even harder to get there from West Wales, but it really is worth it, even if it was behind a certain Stanier Pacific ("where do you put the key", indeed! (William Stanier, FRS on first seeing a Bulleid Q1 class).)

 

t'was 2008...

To quote chapters from the steam bible...

Sat 31-MayTHE TYNE VALLEY STEAM SPECIAL [Times]
Skegness-Carlisle
48151 34067: Hellifield-Settle-Carlisle
[Rescheduled from 12-Apr]


I remember the days of City of Wells however..

 

I admire your enthusiasm but reining a loco in over Shap? I presume you're joking.

 

Do tell us which pub you heard this fascinating bit of information, then we can organise a suitable Bulleid and get this crew to show us how it's done.
Don't forget your target is to have over 600 tonnes behind and top the summit at over 35mph from a standing start at Carnforth.

 

Any chance anyone could expand on whats a NR acceptable air braking system and what isn't ?, always assumed it was just one "that worked".