MHR Restorations and Overhauls

Hasn't happened yet.

As for the lack of updates, I have a feeling things could be rectified tomorrow.........

 

Thanks for all the information, it will be a bit of a blow to lose no 7 (like A4 no 7 last year) but is an even bigger blow to have no working Bulleids, is this the first time ever in MHR history?. Especially with July 2017 on the horizon

 

And again in 2012

 

The MHR site has indeed been updated today on the roster page and also on social media. I just hope we can get there tomorrow and there isn't a blanket of the white stuff when we wake up in the morning

 

This list below may not be entirely correct as I am doing it from memory (which isn't so good these days!) but since 1979 there has been at least one Bulleid Pacific on the MHR loco roster:
1970's: 34016 entered service in October 1979 after restoration from Barry condition.
1980's: 34105 entered service after restoration in the 1980's and was in use alongside 34016.
1990's : 34016 was serviceable at the beginning of the decade (until withdrawal in 1993) alongside 34105. 34072 was also available for use in 1992 during a popular visit to work with 34105.
34105 also ran as 34067 which was a resident at the MHR during the 1990's and also appeared as 34051 and 34041. She was withdrawn in 1997? as 34102.
35005 in BR Blue livery was based briefly on the MHR during the 1990's but only ran until she was failed and withdrawn for overhaul to ML condition by the owner at Tyseley.
2000's: 34016 returned to service after overhaul to ML standard and 35005 was based at Ropley for ML tour duties. 35005 was later bought from Marcus Robertson by the MHR.
34081 visited for a while in 2003? and was used a fair bit on normal services as well as at Gala events.
34027 running as 34045 was based at Ropley in 2004 for use on the line and the ML but was withdrawn from ML use after a crack was found in one of her cylinders.
34007 was moved to the MHR from Bodmin in 2007.
35005 runs as 35008 for End of SR steam event. Later in the decade she is withdrawn for overhaul.
2010's: 34007 has been the home fleet Bulleid.
34046 visited MHR several times for Gala duties and Railtours.
35028 made a brief but memorable visit for a Gala but had already visited for some work to be carried out on the wheel drop at Ropley.
34051 visited for cosmetic restoration.
34016 departed MHR for Carnforth for major overhaul and eventual ML use.
34007 retires March 7th 2016.
34105 returns 201?
35005 returns 2018.

I have probably forgot something so please add anything I have missed or correct anything I have got wrong.

 

I'm sure that with July 2017 being some 16 months away there is still a chance that 34105 could make it in time.

Perhaps the gauntlet should be thrown down to the Ropley lads. 30506 and 34105 outshopped together like they were first time around!

 

Incidentally it's just occurred to me that if both locos do return to steam next year it will be 30 years since their first preservation outshopping. Blimey how time flies.

 

I'm assuming @Duty Druid & @Hampshire Unit will be around the railway tomorow evening to capture 34007's last runs...
Hell, I might even take a tripod with me and investigate the yard when we get back from serving.

 

Nope not I - I shall be tucked up in bed well before you finish pulling pints!

But I will be there about 5am Sunday.

Tomorrow is her last day on Public service trains, so last chance to ride behind her.

Sunday is a different matter.

 

BTW when is she likely to return to traffic?...... as I forget..... [/QUOTE]

Return to traffic is dependant upon an available slot in Ropley boiler shop. More than that I can't really say.

Cheers, Neil

 

Ah, so that's when the charter is happening? The weather is looking pretty crap for tomorrow with rain forecast all day. Hope it's better on Sunday for the charter

 

Apparently so - but given they now appear to be published in one of the Beano's its no secret!

Weather forecast I saw for tomorrow didn't suggest wet all day......

 

After 34007 comes out of service on Sunday she will be split from the tender which is on loan from 35005 and then sheeted down with a heavy duty tarpaulin for storage up on Ropey head shunt.

 

Nice to see 34007 today with a Devon belle headboard. It's going to be sometime before I see 34007 in steam again. With any luck 34007 will be paired with its own high sided tender and painted in malachite green with British Railways on the tender.

Let's hope it isn't that long before 34105 Swanage is back in action. For me I much prefer to see a Unrebuilt light Pacific than a rebuilt light Pacific or a Merchant Navy. A Unrebuilt Bulleid looks so much better.

 

Had a good day yesterday riding behind 34007 on the three coach local set. Even though she was only hauling three carriages she was making some great noises up the bank. The Devon Belle headboard was a great idea. Well done to Ropley MPD for turning her out with that on the front buffer beam.
The soundtrack from 34007 cheered me a up after a pretty crap start to the day when my phone decided to die completely and now won't come back to life And then my camera decided to give up later in the day so I didn't get many pictures I avoided touching 34007 yesterday as I didn't want her to go wrong too!
Highlight of the day was the final run up from Alresford. We had a brilliant departure from Ropley (I hope someone was filming it) with the Driver performing for the Ropley Staff and volunteers who had come out to see 34007 on her last public service. A nice long salute on the whistle as she passed by the Boiler/Carriage works and a powerful departure made sure she went out in style.

 

Final departure from Alresford and an arrival at Ropley
Devon Belle by Arle Images, on Flickr

Ropley Belle by Arle Images, on Flickr

 

A few from last night.

Prep for the evening's Watercress Belle:

Bulleid Light Pacific 34007 Wadebridge by Tim White, on Flickr

92212 backing onto the RAT stock.
Wadebridge still on shed.

Bulleid Light Pacific 34007 Wadebridge - BR Standard 9F 92212 by Tim White, on Flickr

At Rest - 23:30

Bulleid Light Pacific 34007 Wadebridge by Tim White, on Flickr

Further shots on my flickr stream from the evening around Ropley shed.
It would have been nice to have had Wadebridge on the RAT for the last time, but it was nice to see / hear her pass us during the evening.

 

Excellent pictures. So you were the chap who I saw vanishing into the clag she was chucking out as we left Alresford!

 

A taster from this morning............... photting the photters!



And her final revenue earning train this afternoon.

 

And a small gallery from yesterday.

http://daverydingphotography.zenfolio.com/34007_wadebridge_the_finale