Tyseley Single Wheeler.

......

 

It did, though. Much depended on the size of the receiver and the valve opening and duration, which in those days was not high, even in full gear.

 

As I understand it, from down among the detailed description of the fund for the Castle class Defiant on Tyseley's website, the Bloomer is owned by '7029 Clun Castle Ltd'.

A series of articles - at least seven - about this project in the Railway World from 1988 to 1991, by Bob Meanley, Michael Whitehouse and myself, include the information that work began in 1986 with a contribution of £40,000 from Birmingham City. I have heard about other large donations and bequests since then, but have not seen the details.

Perhaps we will learn some definite facts tomorrow. At last!

Harry Jack.

 

I think there's more in that theory than is often credited!
Webb's trainees were often excellent - Aspinall, Ivatt, Gresley, Park, W.Wordsell, R.F.Trevithick, Hughes....

 

Gresley did his best learning at the L&Y....

 

Didn't everyone? But they learned from men who trained at Crewe. Horwich became what Crewe could have been if it hadn't got a bit lost.

 

What was the upshot of the talk on the Bloomer today? I couldn't attend myself sadly but I would rather like to know.

 

I just came to this thread hoping someone might have posted a report. I didn't take notes so I hope someone will post something more definitive, but to be going on with here's what I remember: apologies for any inaccuracies.

Michael Whitehouse described Tyseley's vision for the future: some sort of display/museum/exhibition at Curzon St when HS2 arrives there, and some arrangement for bringing people from the newest intercity railway there to a representation of the oldest (i.e. the London and Birmingham, discounting the Liverpool and Manchester), with a Bloomer running with some imitation early LNWR coaches (on modern underframes) from Moor St to Tyseley. Most of the distance would be on a line formerly (or presently?) used for LE movements, but 250 yards on the main line, for which the Bloomer will need to be main line registered. Finishing the Bloomer as originally designed would cost ~£150k but the existing tender wheels (which are from two original tenders which had been reduced to four wheels each) aren't good enough for NR, nor are the existing loco axles. Making new wheels and axles will add another ~£100k. Then there are the coaches and the electronic gubbins. Grand total still needed, on top of the money already spent over the years, around half a million. But they do seem to want to get it done.

 

A few additions to what I said above.

Michael Whitehouse said that they are at present not asking for money for the Bloomer, though they won't refuse any that is offered. What they are asking for is feedback on their vision.

He pointed out that they have done several "impossible" things over the years, starting with his father's role in overcoming BR's steam ban and continuing with regular operation of the Shakespeare Express (which was initially refused), restoration of the Earl, etc. Building the Bloomer and running it on NR will be just one more.

The concept of bringing tourists from HS2 somehow involves both the Bloomer on the short run from Moor St to Tyseley and the Shakespeare Express to Stratford, but either he didn't explain or I missed how those two would fit together.

 

Thanks. I think the notion of running a shuttle service from Moor Street to Tyseley with the Bloomer and some replica stock is quite an exciting one.

 

Maybe so but the cynic in me says we won't be seeing the Bloomer completed any time soon.

 

Thing is though, if you're going to run a shuttle service as a permanent feature, don't you need at the barest minimum two locomotives , one to be running and one under overhaul?

I suppose, though, any service which could be run by the Bloomer would be easily within the capabilities of one of their main line registered pannier tanks.

 

The concept would give the locomotive an intriguing context and purpose, but that additional 350k does seem to put the whole thing just out of reach, again...
Yet it does sound extremely cheap to bring the Bloomer up to mainline standard, AND create a rake of NR-compatible, replica carriage stock ~ even if the underframes are to hand, ready to run.
The juxtaposition of LNWR and HS2 could be a masterstroke; the cost per yard to traverse NR might rise uncomfortably high ~ much like the cost per yard of HS2 itself...

 

What about the proposed steam centre at Stratford upon Avon? Has that now been shelved? A (quick) search revealed this planning application from 2008:

http://democracy.stratford.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=3217

It's one thing to fund raise for £150K approximately to complete a locomotive that is not that far off from completion but quite another to go for a half-million pound package. Given the current financial uncertainties of Brexit/inflation etc. I'd go for the smaller sum myself and hire the Bloomer out to heritage lines.

 

Two locomotives? Mmmmm..... Wonder how much a mainline certified Crampton would come in at? If for no other reason than it'd certainly give the Vehicle Acceptance wallahs something different to chew on, though perhaps it'd be best to get the single wheeler up and running first!

 

I'm rather surprised by this, is Michael not aware of the 'Midlands Rail Hub'? Running services via new 'Bordesley Chords' into four bays at Moor St must make this all but impractical. It's not confirmed yet but funding for an evaluation study was provided last year and is being championed by the new Mayor.

The changes proposed at Moor St can be seen on page 60 of the Chiltern Route Study.

 

The optimist in me says the idea has legs and could be a great way of getting people to the visitor's centre. The cynic in me questions if the additional cost will kill the Bloomer project once and for all.

I'd like to see more details on it, to be fair. If the whole scheme was available to study online, that would be the best way of providing the best quality feedback we can all muster.

More information required?

 

For once I think we are both singing from the same song sheet.

 

Was there any timeline set out in this latest update from Tyseley? I admit I have hardly delved further than this thread for information about the Bloomer new build. Assuming that with the new plan, and the associated extra funds required to be raised to enable completion to mainline compliant standards, has the build again stretched time-wise? (Not that it appeared to be progressing at any great pace!). Bearing in mind that there must be people in the position of having contributed and been following this project from the get-go with an eye to seeing it completed in their lifetime, they may see this latest news, whilst positive in its vibe, however with the extra complexities required has just put such aspirations again out of reach.

Whilst Tornado is by all accounts a new build success story, and I'm sure their will be others soon enough, I don't think {new build = automatic success} just yet. I think the planets have to align, (or be kicked into alignment!), on such a project for it to come to fruition without struggle. If there was enough public appetite for the Bloomer project it would be further along already. I'm sure a concerted campaign towards funding could see a heritage ready bloomer soon enough, but adding more six figure numbers on top of that???

Whilst the completed Bloomer would undoubtedly be a very elegant machine will that be enough to sell the concept and fill the project coffers like say the Tornado project did?

 

Actually, The Planet new build was a notable success

Tom (here all week, folks...)