6024

Just noticed an image of 6024 at Minehead "in store...awaiting heavy overhaul ". Had a quick look at the 6024 website and there is no mention of this as such, although the loco did receive a one-year extension of its "mainline" ticket in March 2011.
Can anyone confirm that 6024 is now awaiting overhaul, or is just off the mainline?

Thanks

Edit: Further trawl of the unofficial WSR website does in fact confirm withdrawl for overhaul, but does anyone know if plans are afoot for this to happen any time soon, given the change of ownership?

 

We're starting this weekend. However, I may have ceremonially took out the first bolt last Sunday... :smash:

 

Thats good news! Do I infer therefore that the overhaul is to take place on the West Somerset, or are parts likely to be worked on away from the WSR?

I assume with the new ownership funds are in place.

 

I've heard the boilers coming to Bury for work by Ians lot. The rest will probably be divided between places!
Good luck with the overhaul lads! heres for a 2014 finish then?
Matt

 

"We're starting this weekend. However, I may have ceremonially taken out the first bolt last Sunday" said Crimson Pirate .............so there are only 9,999 to go - no pressure then!

 

Good luck with the overhull lads hope to see some of you later in the year;

all the best
jane x

 

Will it be done at Minehead or Williton ?.

 

David Randles wrote to the unofficial WSR forum:

"6024 King Edward I will be overhauled by the 6024 Preservation Society, using facilities kindly provided by the WSR plc at Minehead. The boiler will be overhauled by Ian Riley at Bury Lancs, and the tender will be overhauled by the Society at the Bristol Barton Hill depot of DB Schenker (LNWR). The support coach overhaul will be contracted to another organisation. The overhaul starts in earnest at the beginning of May and is likely to take 2 years minimum."

I hope David doesn't mind me repeating his message here on NP.

Steve

 

6024 restoration gets into full swing. <BJ>

Lifting of boiler from Great Western Railway express locomotive number 6024 “King Edward I” « West Somerset Railway

 

Most interesting that, suprised Barton Hill has the necessary equipment to do the job there.

 

Perhaps the soc. are bringing their own - just using BH as covered accommodation?

 

Anyone else clock the story in Steam Railway this week that 6024 is being considered for for fitment with new thinner cylinders to make it more gauge friendly ?.

I have mixed feelings about the idea, I can see why it would be desirable, to make it more useable and allegedly the difference visually would be next to invisible so only the rivet counters among us would know, but part of me is also thinking 6024 is slowly becoming less of a preserved GWR King as a result of having more modifications to be able to run Mainline than pretty much any other engine now, also the gauging issues would be much less problematic if NR started fining contractors who don't do renewal jobs properly and made them do the job to specification rather than just good enough for normal traffic as seem to be the way now.

Also would new specification cylinders have an effect on the Loco's performance ?.

 

I think it says the "new" cylinders will have the same internal dimensions, but thinner walls. Reducing the overall width by 3".

 

If we want to see mainline steam survive we have to accept changes to the locos. Westinghouse pumps, etc. etc. Different locos fulfil different roles. Thinner cylinders wouldn't bother me unduly, when the current ones are life expired.

 

presumably you can gain a bit if you're prepared to go put new liners/cyclinders on every overhaul rather than bore out larger. But I can't help thinking if things are that marginal for a King then what on earth is the situation like for Halls and other GWR 2Cyl locos?

 

Very iffy. Rood Ashton is more or less dedicated to one (ex-GW) route, Pitchford has been taken off the mainline, I'm not sure whether Kinlet is off permanentlybut its forays have been few and far between for a while now. Sir Lamiel finds itself in a similar situation, mainly due another poster has said elsewhere to the overhang of the loco beyond the lead driving wheels, so its kinetic envelope at the front on a curve is very wide. It is frequently subbed due to gauging issues.

 

Curiously Halls seem to have a larger route availibility on ex LMS routes now than ex GWR ones, I think the height of the widest part (compared to platforms) comes into it too to a certain extent if that make sense, a King may be out of gauge, but a Hall may fit because the widest part is at a different height on each type, 4936 gets less use regardless as a privately owned loco, but makes up for this with preserved line visits that 4965 doesn't.

I think Manors were the type suffering the most from gauging as the cylinders width and height was just right to flag up many many issues, ultimately it's that which forced 7802 off the mainline by making fitting of TPWS/OTMR uneconomical for an ever decreasing number of tours.

 

Can anyone clarify if the originals are life expired or is this simply a decision based on route availability?

Thanks

Chris

 

Mainly a gauging issue, but states the existing cylinders are showing signs of wear. No final decision has been made yet though, probably within the next 6 months. Increased revenue from the extra route availability is being weighed up against the cost of conversion.

 

It will be interesting to see how the route availability will be increased if these modifications are made. Even with lower cab, chimney and slimmer cylinder covers, I can;t see 6024 being let loose in Kent or Fort William, but bearing in mind that quite a few people who travel behind main line steam particularly in the summer months want a steam loco and are not necessarily bothered about which engine is pulling them, as long as it chuffs, it should enable 6024 to pick up more work.