Two Class 31s to Mangapps Railway Museum

Two ex-Network Rail Class 31s reported as sold to Mangapps. I wonder if this means making one good one from the two?

Where's Flaman when you need him to get the news?

Last update on the Museum's web site was seven months ago :-(

 

Think I might have seen one of those yesterday on a low loader on the A12 slip road of the M25 it had a grey colour scheme, could not catch number as I was doing a rate of knots in the outside lane of the M25 at the time.

 

105 and 233 both sold as requiring wheelset attention but basically capable of performing at that interesting location.

 

Indeed, where is Mr Flaman ? He was (in the eyes of many) a welcome and respected member of this forum but he decided he didn't NEED the contant bickering and verbal abuse. At the time no one could fault the decision he made, he was, IMO, a decent man.
The same happened to Mr Yeti, another decent man, hounded off the forum because of his beliefs and opinions.

 

Word is with the pair is 31105 staying at mangapps due to its tyres being near scrap size.

31233 the owner john jolly has said might be hired out at some point to another railway.

 

Morning all, I'm back again!
I'm quite touched by Victor's words (is he now Father of the House?) I did indeed get a bit fed-up with some of the back-biting on NP, though the last straw was being set-upon by a moderator who let his political slip show. There were other factors- I've been very busy, for various reasons, and have had less time to sit at a computer- that's probably why the Mangapps website has become a bit out of date too.
Anyway, to the subject in hand: we have indeed bought 31 105 & 233. We had been looking at 31s for some time, but anything buyable was very rough. Our preference was for an early one with a bit of East Anglian history, and 31 105 fitted the bill perfectly, being in good running order and with, for a 31, exceptionally good bodywork. The worn wheelsets were a downside, though they are nowhere near scrap and are adequate for running at Mangapps. Another factor to consider was that there is increasing interest from other HRs in hiring locos- our 47 579 is one year into a 3 year loan to the MHR, 03 089, which has visited the EOR this year and 03 399, which has been to the Isle of Wight. Other locos associated with Mangapps have also been on the move- Martin Staniforth's 31 430, which has recently left for the Spa Valley, Stewart Robinson's 33 202 and 03 197, not to mention 80078, which move around so much that their wheels hardly touch the ground!
There are unlikely to be many other opportunities to buy 31s in decent condition, 233 is also in very good condition, including its tyres and there may be future opportunities to find work in preservation for a 31, so we decided to go for both.

 

Nice to see you back John, still meaning to pay you a visit!

 

Go, its well worth a visit, even my missis like it there, she said just the other day we have not been to Mangapps for a while, no love your right it was 16 months ago, cant do this w/end as its the Swanage S&D gala so proberly the W/end after, and as you say its great to have Flaman (Mr Jolly) back.

 

As OP, I'm very pleased to see you back Mr Flaman. Always interested to read what you have to say and enjoy the updates from Mangapps.

Ignore the insecure willy-waving spotters. They're the ones with 'issues', not you.

 

Welcome back! I'm genuinely pleased to see you here!

 

And very welcome you are. It's nice to see you posting.

 

+1

 

Living only an hour away, I decided I had better visit your site recently. I was amazed at how much you've managed to cram into such a compact area.

 

+1

 

And another.

 

You won't be disappointed, I've been twice, once on a photo charter with the J15 F the NNR recreating the Mid Suffolk ( the original Laxfield Station building is at Mangapps) and once on my own. There's is a small relics collection that the NRM would die for.

 

Will class 31 31105 receive new tyres?

 

Good to see you back John!

Did your son & his Mrs enjoy their supper on the Belle hauled by 47 579 & cooked by @Hampshire Unit ?...... I'm led to believe they did.

BTW can we paint 47 579 two tone green with no warning panels please?........

 

No, it doesn't need them, at least not for the kind of use that we intend to put it to. Although the tyres are getting thin, the profiles are good, so it will run quite happily with occasional light use on our line. Of course, if a pair of better bogies were to turn up, we might look seriously at buying them, but that would be a decision for my son. I think that the current ones will see me out!

 

I believe that they enjoyed it very much! It was a perfect ending to a great day- Chelsea Flower Show (Amanda was a professional landscape gardener before they married) followed by a first class dinner, hauled by his own loco on an excellent railway- you can't beat it!

As to the second question, James belongs to the generation to whom a loco is not a proper loco unless it is blue with yellow ends. You ask him, I wouldn't dare