M7 No. 245 - a couple of questions

The Great Central, on the other hand...

 

BWR, because they have a prooven record of looking after NRM engines and an M7 would be approapriate for the line, Swanage because having operated an M7 for years would be another good home, should York ever decide to loan it out, they could always do a deal, assuming that the N ends up at Swanage, the N goes to york for display, They get 245 for a spell, or the bluebell, and the USA gets a cosmetical job done and goes to york,

 

Not at all, I'm against any line being shown favoritism in this way, whether it is the Bodmin & Wenford, Mid Hants or Great Central. It's a national collection and surplus items should be distributed nationally. - so pehaps if it was felt desirable to send the M7 anywhere it could go to either the KESR or Spa Valley, neither of which already has a national collection engine. I know they are not ex-LSWR lines, but neither is the Great Central and yet 30777 is based there.

 

Is there any pressing reason why the M7 actually needs to leave York? Looked rather spiffing last time I saw it, coupled next to the LSWR Tri-compo.

Before we know it, there will be a campaign to paint it black. <sigh>

Tom

 

No no. I meant that it does sometimes look as though the NRM is in the business of supplying the GCR with engines. And, as you say, the MHR.

 

It's not going anywhere at present chaps I'm afraid. As for "supplying engines" for other railways, we have active partnerships with all three of those named, and others, who are good borrowers and thus safe pairs of hands for the National Collection to be entrusted to. Steve Davies was also keen on us having critical mass with borrowers, where there was the chance of brand recognition rather than an odd vehicle here and there. Certainly, the MHR gala last year saw 30120, 34051, 850 and 926 all together in one place and in at least one photo. that's good for the MHR and it's good for us. That's not to say that loans of individual artefacts won't happen - it still does in fact - but that we do recognise good stewardship, though we are not a toy box with a remit of providing power. We're a museum, and loans must be of benefit to both parties, not just for us to have something handed back broken at the end of 10 years with the borrower then asking for another one.

As for the reason for 245's withdrawal, I'll check the files, but her motion bar one eccentric strap is all there on said pallet.

 

Has the NRM inherited another Schools?

Not forgetting 777 was also in attendance for the March gala of that year though 34051 wasn't in public view I believe. She was only on public view during the September 12 & October 13 galas.

 

777's link with the GCR is a round-about one. She was originally fostered by the Hull Loco Preservation Group, but when they had to leave Hull Dairycoates depot, they became the 5305LA and moved to Loughborough. It was largely as a result of HLPG/5305LA's excellent care of 777 that they got involved with restoring and running 70013, and hence why Ollie also now calls Loughborough "home". Had Tom Tighe and his pals decided to move to Grosmont, Bury or Keighly (for example) rather than Loughborough, then 777, and probably 70013 too, would now be based there instead.

 

Resuscitating an old thread but was reading looking into the history of M7 - 245.

Has the 245 been in the main hall at the NRM recently? If not is there any plans to display her in a more photo friendly location?

Can anyone confirm if this engine has been in steam since being withdrawn from BR? I believe not and has simply had some rags lit in the smoke box to give the effect of being in steam.

I think this picture is the closest any of us will get to seeing her in steam in the foreseeable future: https://www.flickr.com/photos/deepg...LT-dPMEE2-bxZ82z-rDEgpV-9vxNZH-9vxQrx-aNGxhn/

 

Morning - no, it has always been displayed in Station Hall since going back to York. There are no plans to move her sorry. I did get a shot of her outside when we shunted the Hall for redisplay in June 2011 which I will upload when home later if I remember.

She hasn't steamed since withdrawal and there are no plans to do it in the near or medium term future either.

 

Thanks for the reply, I thought that was the case but large parts of 245 history seem to be missing so wanted to check it was always a static exhibit.

 

Doubt it Tom, an operational 30053 takes care of that.

 

They're not the same though, are they? One long and one short framed version if memory serves me correctly.

 

Yes the NRM version is the short frame and the Swanage loco the long frame version.

 

True, don't see as enough of a disctinction to require a black example mind.

 

30053 has a steam reverser [remnant of push-pull working where the air receiver tank would have been fitted under the extended front framing] whereas 245 has a 'pole' reverser.