35018

I agree, the loco identity was always taken from the frame (unless a "new" frame was used in an overhaul to replace a badly damaged one).

 

i guess so but TWO no hopers getting a new lease of life means Im not going to argue.

 

Hardly call 35018 a no hoper! Just the previous owners reluctance to do anything with it, that prevented its restoration, despite the MHR's offer to buy and restore it, when frankly it was obvious he could not afford to pay for the restoration work himself.

 

Agreed, but water under the bridge now. Good luck to I.R. and his crew, if that's where she's headed...

 

whilst he couldnt afford to pay to restore it and wouldnt part with it, it was a no hoper, now its isnt. Its good to see another MN or two being restored, im not sure what work is availble for them but the more marginal projects are bound to become more attractive as we run short of locos to restore.

 

I think the recent loco shortage for mainline tours should mean there'll be work for another couple of class 8 locos, especially as the MNs should be virtually go anywhere locos. As good as the Black 5s are, having a couple of class 8 locos in the Riley International Rescue pool can only be a good thing. There are 18 tours next week that have a class 7 or 8 loco listed in the pool.

 

Also, its useful to have something that can take advantage of the 75MPH maximum where possible. I wish him the best of luck and look forward to touring behind them in the future. I'm also looking forward to selecting which MN I fancy a ride behind now and again!

 

And you'll have a choice of Brunswick Green with 35027, BR Blue with 35009 and BR Black with 35018 with 35028 on the VSOE's

Be great to see plenty of Merchant's in steam and hopefully mainline Merchant double headers.

 

Well, if you're going to do a tour de farce with non-prototypical liveries, when is someone going to suggest LMS Crimson / Hogwarts?

Seriously, great news. On the subject of double-headers were there many (any?) cases in the BR era of double-headed MNs other than on railtours? I can't imagine that there was much all for 16P power...

Tobbes

 

Nah 34027 had that covered back in the early 2000's .

 

Indeed, I wasn't massively impressed with it then. Although it did have the positive impact of getting the contract moved onto something that Warner Bros described as more ancient looking engine... and naturally selected something made in Swindon...! : )

 

hello
for what its worth i saw the tender in goodmans yard wishaw on the 21/5/12 presumably during an overnigh stop over on its way north
regards

 

You obviously don't know or remember much about the politics that went on when 35018 was at Ropley. I can remember a time when volunteers were forbidden from doing any work on it. One of the principle reasons why it was never finished.

 

That wasn't one of the main reasons why the loco wasn't worked on. There were bigger issues than that. Which have all been aired on this forum before. So let's not go down that road again.

 

There seems to be a bit of snatching between a loose coupled freight and its 10 coupled engine, to keep the thread on track, that train of thought has been shunted off to the sidings.

This thread is now clear.

 

That a shame John, just when I thought it was going mainline

Regards
Chris:

 

And i missed it........ Shucks!

 

Upon examination in the sidings, it would appear a spring came unhinged.. Whether it was a wagon or the loco is lost in the ash pit somewhere. Bulleids where never much cop on a freight anyway ;-)

 

much more suited to Ton Up running on the SWML.............

 

35018 appears to have been purchased by David Smith at Carnforth, as usual, WCR are being very secretive, but I note she is pencilled in for main line work, some tours have 34067/35018 as proposed motive power, so one must assume that restoration must be close to completion.