Pannier 3650

Serious points to you guys for doing the industrial look, will be great once its grubbed up!

 

Wow my gosh! She looks absolutely stunning in that guise! And if that blue is anything to go by, the King will look the dogs too!

Well done on the pannier though, as previous comments have also said, i too am very tempted to come for my first ever visit to Didcot for this! Been meaning to do it for 12 years!

 

Have to agree, it does look fantastic in the final livery and all at Foxfield have applauded your efforts. Very nice to see a bit of 'alternative' history for this loco being recognised. =D>

Now then, about our gala in 2009....... :-k

 

she looks fab well done to the guys that have done it. Can't wait to come up and have a look =P~

 

I bet you've taken some stick for having chosen the industrial livery but I know that so many people applaud you for the choice. It looks great and tells an important part of the Great Western story, which after all is what Didcot is surely about =D> =D> =D>

 

Guy's she looks stunning I realy take my hat off to you for painting her like this =D> =D> =D>

just needs 12 months of dirt on her and she will look the part.

Bellerophon the thinking mans industrial

Member of the real enginemen don't wear greasetops club

" I didn't lose the shovel , the fact it was 30 yards away in a field is besides the point "

 

3650 will undergo steam testing on Tuesday 5th of some work carried out this weekend and if OK, will be the loco in steam for "workers playtime" under 3650 group supervision, Tuesday PM.

If the above proves satisfactory, 3650 will be the "B" turn loco with Didcot's other pannier 3738 on Wednesday 6th.

Hopefully the two days will help clock up some more running in miles and bring us closer to fully entering traffic.

 

Busy week!! We are pleased to have pictures in most of the major "steam" magazines, as well as the local press!! Thanks to all the editors for including them.
58 miles running in during workers play time on Tuesday. On Wednesday we performed what was for Didcot, a marathon shunt to release a boiler on a lorriot wagon buried 17 wagons down on No5 shed road, many of which havn't moved for a number of years. This was followed by our first passenger turns. The "A" turn crew on 3738 were kind enough to allow us to play during their lunch break, after which they joined us for some double headding. A first with Didcot's own panniers. Hopefully next time we will be able to give advance notice, as this was a spur of the moment chance.

Yours truly being at the helm for both of the above pics!! And before anyone says, although the headcode on the RH pic is express passenger, the pic on the left has a red shade and no shade for both front and back lamps!

Although it will probably upset some of our "Industrial liveried" supporters, we have always stated that 3650 would only remain blue for it's running in period. Therefore 3650's last appearence in blue will be for the October Thomas event, after which she will be stopped for re-painting and will re-enter the 2009 season in 1939 GW green with shirt button roundel. However, Phil Neale, who organised the "Laira photo charter" at Didcot earlier this year, is hoping to organise a similar event for 3650. So if you want some pictures of 3650, which is already becoming "colliery grimy", pulling something other than coaches, watch for the charter date (as well as other steamings to October) to appear in the "latest news" section of the www.3650.co.uk site. There are also some other pictures there from this weeks steamings.

 

Well done to all concerned, I will join you for a drive one day when I am not to busy.....

If you come down to Didcot over the bank holiday to see 3650 ( I am not sure if it will be in steam) do visit the 38 mob's bar where a selection of ales will be available, with all proceeds going to 7202 and 3822.
http://www.baldric.plus.com/nnx_bar.htm

 

Washout's completed so 3650 should be in steam all three days of Aug B/H.

I suppose a percentage from the bar to 3650 might not go amiss (advertising royalty??) or maybe a complimentary pint of Maggs Mild. (for ME - not 3650 lol)

What beers have you got??

 

The beers available over the bank holiday will be 2 from West Berkshire, including Maggs Mild, 2 from White Horse, 1 from Loddon, 1 from Butts, and 1 from the Rebellion Brewery (Mild I think). Do come down for a pint, or 2 or 3 or more.... Obviously if you leave it to late some of the beers may have sold out.

Oh and all proceeds go to the Heavy Freight group, for 7202 and 3822.......

 

Hi Guys and Congratulations!

Is 3650 likely to go out on hire to other railways?

 

Mmmm... put a pint or two of Maggs Mild behind the bar for me please. There's nothing like it for laying the dust after disposal!

I'm sure 3650 will be available for hire in due course, although it won't be this year as we will finish the season in blue and then stop for the repaint into GW livery. 2009 will probably see us comitted to Didcot. Lets face it, Didcot deserves "first dibs" on 3650, and there's probably going to be a few DRC "firsts" with Didcot, having two resident panniers.
After that who knows. It would be nice to stretch our legs a little and earn some revenue for 3650 and DRC.
However, with the recent abrupt demise of a certain other ex GWR loco, 3650 will either venture forth with it's own crews, or as a minium, it's owner or his representative. I can't for the life of me understand why someone would spend all that money, or in our case time, only to have the loco returned broken, without having someone responsible keeping an eye on it!! Mike, you have my sympathies. [/end rant]

 

Does anyone know how far off 5322 is from entering service???
A steam day with 3650 and 5322 would be excellent!

 

You could try PMing "Kerosene Castle" who is a regular on here when he's not at Didcot working on 5322. It looks like it's getting to the final layers of varnish, but KC will probably know when it's due to steam.

As for 3650 and 5322 steaming on the same day... I've no doubt it will happen, but when I know dates, I'll post it here.
3650 is steaming all three days over the Aug B/H with yours truly driving Sat & Mon. Come and say hi, and don't forget to sample the wares from the "Black Python".

 

Eh up!

At the moment we haven't set any solid dates for steaming the 53. There was a plan to try and have it out on trial around about now, but in the end we decided that rather than rush it out in a near complete state, we would get it properly finished first - therefore giving the paint a chance to harden. In fact there's been a fair bit of hassle with the paint & varnish (and photographers!!), which has set things back somewhat, but it's pretty much on the home straight now.

We're planning on having a bit of a 'do' later in the year, of which I'll reveal more of, as and when we sort it out! In the meantime there's an increasingly dirty pannier to look forward to... (not 3738 - we gave that a 'once over' just the other day!)

 

I'll be visiting Didcot tomorrow (25/08) to see 3650 and wondered if the engine would be in steam and on which line (Branch or main).

When is the best time to come to get some pictures of it around the depot?

I was thinking 0900?

Also does anyone know the other engines on in steam tomorrow?

The other pannier and 3822? Will Firefly being in steam.

Many Thanks

CF.

 

Called in yesterday, Saturday, the gates opened at 10.30, 3650 was on the 'branch line', 3822 on the'main line', Fire Fly was also working.

Engine board in the main shed showed the same allocation for Sunday and Monday, please note I'm just a visitor with no official connection with Didcot.

 

3650 Steam Dates

I'm keeping www.3650.co.uk as up to date as I can for 3650's steamings, but a summery is:-

Sunday 24th August - "B" turn, operating Didcot's branch line.
Monday 25th August - "B" turn, operating Didcot's branch line (Yours truly driving - come and say hi).

Saturday 30th August - "A" turn, main demonstration line (Should be driving again if I can swap B for A turn - come and say hi).
Sunday 31st August - "A" turn, main demonstration line (Should be driving again if I can swap B for A turn - come and say hi).

Saturday 27th September - "A" turn, main demonstration line, then from 18:00 - 22:00 photo charter.
Sunday 28th September - "A" turn, main demonstration line.

Saturday 25th October - not sure which turn yet.
Sunday 26th October - not sure which turn yet.

Wednesday 29th October - not sure which turn yet, last day operating in blue livery.

Although we will try to run as shown, dates may be subject to alteration at short notice if unforseen circumstances occur.

Best time to catch 3650 around the yard is unfortunately before the gates open to the public, however, if 3650 is operating on the main demonstration line, she will return to shed for lunchtime (water etc). Your other option is to hang around after operations have finished and catch 3650 going for disposal and back on shed. There is some occational shunting, pre opening and "put away", but this is avoided on the bigger events such as Thomas for obvious reasons.

3822 is "A" turn for the Aug B/H and firefly is also operating. www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/ is the best place to check, although with the exception of the broad gauge, they don't usually advertise which locos are operating. Steam engines can be a bit un-predictable sometimes (3738's brick arch collapsed yesterday while they were working on it) and as the railway centres website is contracted out, keeping it up to date with late changes is difficult. Maybe they ought to get permission to use this forum, I'm sure they'd attract more enthusiasts if they knew which locos were working.

 

So in summery 3650 will be on the Branch and 3822 on the mainline.

So 3738 is under repair.

Many Thanks.

I might see you tomorrow!.

3650 looking the business mate, excellent work!.

Marc - 37422 Cardiff Canton