Bulleid Pacifics - Past or Present

I passed my firing exam on 34072, a few days before she was finally withdrawn.

There is no doubt that she was tired by then, making a fair few un-Bulleid-like noises, rattles and bangs (and evidencing a fair few issues up the front end!), but she still went well enough. And the only way I can describe her steaming, was that she steamed like a Bulleid!

 

Yes, I have . 13th August 1964 was the last time. A Waterloo-Southampton run, or to Waterloo from Southamton from the mileage.

 

It's almost a shame I came along exactly 20 years too late to experience the last days of Southern Steam in 1967. Would have enjoyed powering down the LSWR mainline on a daily journey with a Bulleid Pacific up front, gliding past Battledown on the way to the West Country, spotting several others in the opposite direction. Dreadful shame. That's progress for you! I don't blame 34072 for being tired, having 13 years on boiler certificate extensions is enough for anyone. The only time I was behind 34072 was on the Swanage (where else these days?) in 2002. Had a couple of steam leaks, but certainly had the usual "clanking" of the unrebuilts. It was my first ride behind an unrebuilt (but not my first Bulleid: that was 34101 on the NYMR, but that's another story).

 

I envy you Bryan. Sometime in the late 60s dear old Mum tidied up my bedroom when I was away at Uni. I never saw my notebooks again. I wasn't a proper timer like you and your gang but I noted dates and locos etc. Now I have a confused melange of memories that can never be sorted out. Very glad to have them!

Cheers

 

A picture from www.wsr.org.uk © Alan Grieve

Now that's a nice sight, be even better when she's got her blinkers on

 

34070 is due to be moved from Herston Works to Norden on 1st September. Please don't anyone expect it to be running at the Swanage Railway steam gala 10 days later!

 

Managed to get a round trip behind her on the Moors followed by two round trips - one on the footplate - with 34081 some ten years later. Was nice to hear a Spamcan working really hard up that 1 in 49.

 

I've fired & driven '72 on numerous occasions at Swanage and would say that she was probably the best Bulleid I have worked on, certainly stronger than 34028/81/105. Having said that I did have a couple of trips on 34092 on the Worth Valley (before the Giesl was fitted) and she was certainly a 'good-un'. 35027 was good too (took 9 bogies Swanage to Norden with her during the 2002 Steam Gala, walked them out of Swanage with hardly a trace of a slip) but a light pacific is more suited to the work we do on heritage lines and I prefer an unrebuilt. Yes 34072 is still my favourite and I hope we will have her back in steam some day, it will be interesting to see how 34070 compares.

 

City of Wells I would love to have a go on now i'm older! My Dad has driven and fired her while on the mainline and in preservation and what a beauty! Looking back I think the 'Giesel' works - Can anyone think of putting this plan on any other Un-converteds?

 

Did 34070 manage to make its 1 September outing?

 

Can anyone confirm that 34039 Boscastle has been sold?
:-k :-k :-k :-k

 

No!.

 

I take that you can't confrim it Chris
Ps Hope to see you this coming weekend Chris

 

Oh yes my boy, there should be 9 of us waving at the happy people this weekend.

Chris W.

 

I've fired & driven '72 on numerous occasions at Swanage and would say that she was probably the best Bulleid I have worked on, certainly stronger than 34028/81/105. Having said that I did have a couple of trips on 34092 on the Worth Valley (before the Giesl was fitted) and she was certainly a 'good-un'. 35027 was good too (took 9 bogies Swanage to Norden with her during the 2002 Steam Gala, walked them out of Swanage with hardly a trace of a slip) but a light pacific is more suited to the work we do on heritage lines and I prefer an unrebuilt. Yes 34072 is still my favourite and I hope we will have her back in steam some day, it will be interesting to see how 34070 compares.[/quote]

Interesting. I think that 105 was always the dog of the fleet, which was why Bournemouth used to send up the S&D as often as possible. 34007 steams well, and goes well, but 34016 is better, and almost as good as 35005. When they were both mainline there was not a lot to choose between them. About 8 years ago now 005 took 9 x Mk1 unassisted up Alton bank and we breasted the summit with valves simmering, both injectors on, 3/4 of a glass and at a very "respectable" speed. 34016 did the same, but with very slightly less in reserve a couple of years later.

 

The first sneak peek at Brunton as she gets ready for it's first proper public display in BR Green.

A picture from www.wsr.org.uk © Keith Speller

 

I see they are working on the TIA triangles. Nice to finally see the locomotive number on the side. Judging by the bumpf regarding the WSR gala, Braunton is going to receive a coat of arms (as built, it never received one). Was this a decision from the outset, or a more recent idea? Wasn't Blackmore Vale another one that was similarly retro-fitted with a crest?

 

Correct. 21C123/34023 never carried a crest in SR/BR service.

 

The Crest that Braunton will be getting is shown at the top of this page: http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/asg.html