Where have ex-GWR Locomotives gone in 2016?

I cannot imagine that 4709 would get a ticket for over 60mph as the class was limited to that back in the day. OTOH I wasn't aware there had been anything other than uninformed speculation about what working pressure the County's boiler will be set at. While we're at uninformed speculation though, presumably there'll be an element of suck it and see about the steaming capabilities of newly cut down GW locomotives.

 

Rather, it has been informed speculation about what working pressure the County's boiler will be set at, because of the use of (part of) an 8f firebox that was designed for 225 psi.

 

But one 'cut down' ex-GWR loco has completed a mainline season ticket without suffering steaming problems beyond the usual issues of poor coal and the occasional firing 'cock-up'.

 

And another is being given revised draughting because of trouble. Hopefully the other two obvious candidates won't run into issues, but I 'd not bet money either way.

 

Well it is the 50th anniversary of the Gas Works Railway closing the S & D, so a belated comeuppance on their parochial locomotive designs not fitting the countries standard loading gauge.

 

RIP The Slow & Dirty, taking a week to Bournemouth via the many reversals and loco's coming off and on

 

Much as the S&D was a lovely line & steam worked to the end it was hardly a modern fast north to south through route with its reversals, gradients and single line sections. There is no such thing as standard countrywide loading gauge.

 

Given the reports of some tours of late maybe the best place to hear, see and ride behind ex GWR locos would be on the many Heritage lines that use them.

 

Yet the duplicated torturous line from Weymouth to Bristol with its many single line sections was kept, Oh, that was a western region line. Funny that.

 

Get over it, the Midland region did a hatchet job on the Paddington - Snow Hill - Birkenhead route that Chiltern has since proved was a huge error, so this tugging at heart strings by S&D/Southern followers as if the Western was the only region guilty of "killing the old opposition" does get a little tiresome, all regions did it.

 

Yes I was speeding officer, but other drivers were doing it so it wasn't my fault

Dave