10A Merchant and Light Pacifics

Has anybody got any news regarding the un-rebuilt Battle of Britain Spamcan no 34073 "249 Squadron" as she was originally purchased as a source of spares for fellow members of her class and she was later moved from the East Lancashire Railway to Carnforth MPD for her rumoured restoration. Nothing has been heard of regarding this engine since she was moved from the ELR in Feb 2014.

Aswell as 34073 nothing much has been heard of regarding Carnforth's 2 other southern Pacific's (Bodmin & British India Line), Bodmin was last seen moving from Southall to Carnforth where she ran a number of hot boxes on route which resulted in problems for a charter as a coach was missing and nothing has been seen of British India Line since her tender was spotted outside the shed from Carnforth station by an eager eyed enthusiast, has anybody got any news regarding these 3 engines.

 

Let's just say that the 5000:1 odds that Leicester were given to win the premiership are about the same as the odds of getting information from Carnforth.

 

It would also be interesting to know how long 34067 will be staying at Carnforth. Its next advertised turn of duty http://www.railwaytouring.net/uk-day-trips/the-royal-wessex-1 is only 10 days away. The line between Fareham and St Denys is a bit tight at one point (Hamble, I think) and if Tangers isn't available, the alternatives must be very limited indeed.

 

Tap room tittle tattle a few weeks ago it was getting a new owner, then it went back north and all quiet since.

 

There's a couple of photos from mid-2014 of 34073 outside Carnforth (or so the caption says; I've never actually been so am taking it on trust). One photo with boiler and one without. What that could mean for it someone with better knowledge than me will have answer.

 

There is a Bulleid boiler visible from passing trains (if you know where to look between the stock), looks to have had a coat of silver paint but been in the same sport for a while, there is also adjacent to it what appears to be a small Stanier? boiler - no idea what that is off?

Tangmere was parked adjacent to the boiler when I passed a few weeks back?

 

Here you go:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3895/14280703770_5d8f54cc9c_b.jpg

http://railwayherald.com/images/ic/750/317218.jpg

 

Is the Bullied the one in the background, they look very similar!

I will try and get a photo of the boilers when I am next passing - possibly tomorrow

 

You'll be going in @Spamcan81's book with comments like that!!

Keith

 

I know but at least I spelt Bulleid correctly !

 

That top picture is a sad sight.

 

Yeah, I don't 47368 will run gain!

 

I think we're reaching a bit of a plateau where everyone has enough (or too many) locos to cope with and a lot of those not restored at this stage, probably won't be (outfits like Carnforth excepted , as they pull surprises out of the bag regularly it seems

 

You can't have it both ways!!