70013

I think that is what is actually happening.....I suspect the NRM want an offer of expertise plus financial clout, so a "joint" 5305/GCR bid for the overhaul would tick the right boxes for the NRM. But it will all come out with confidentiality/commercial/caveats in due course. As long as we get to keep 70013 steaming into the future....

 

That would have been my first option - with notice on some of the changes needed to ensure that the paperwork and planning that was needed to be done, as obviously there has been a change in operations between previous agreements and the museums current working.

 

There is over half a page in the latest Steam Railway about this work..........
Presumably the NRM will admit something is happening when they get their "paperwork..."

 

There has been a shunt in the Loughborough shed and more work is being done on 70013. I believe the boiler will be lifted in a couple of months time.

 

In the booklet given out at the GCR AGM it states that....
"Agreement reached with the NRM to restore 70013 "Oliver Cromwell" at the GCR and to remain here for 10 years - privately funded."
It also states that there is a similar agreement to restore the 04 - 63601.

 

The cab, boiler, bogie and trailing trucks are all off the chassis, as are the valves, pistons and most of the motion. This would seem to be a fast track overhaul!

 

So if it is to run at the great Central for its next stint does this then sadly preclude use on the mainline given it is fitted for this

 

Under the care of the GCR, but for Mainline use as well from what I have seen mentioned.

 

The NRM Agreement specifically says it must be mainline registered, it’s just based on the GC, no different than last time

 

Indeed..... and how many main line trips did it do in the last five years of its last ticket? Main line registered is not the same as main line based. Main line running is not what the GC is about.

Just my fears

Peter James

 

Personally I'm just happy it will be running, whether on a heritage line or main line.

 

I think it did s fair number over its 10 years, probably similar to say, the Duchess or even 46115 and it certainly did the rounds on preserved railways. I know it’s not the same as being exclusively mainline like the Carnforth allocation

 

.....Whilst the GC is not ( Yet!) connected to the Main Line, it most certainly is Main Line running - despite being a Heritage line with a Light Railway Operation. It was of course instigated at a time when there were to be no steam locomotives operating on the main line ever again. Fortunately that policy has changed over the years but the GC has remained true to its policy.

 

Agreed. It was very busy initially but this tailed off to very rarely during its latter years in service. It was also managed by the Humberside Loco Preservation Group then and not by the GCR who have never managed a main line loco on the network to my knowledge. My expectation of seeing 70013 on the main line anytime in the next decade is not very high but I'll be more than happy to be proved wrong about this.

Sorry to sound so pessimistic about this - not like me, I know

Peter

 

Although it was conceived as a main line, it enjoys only rare exemptions under special conditions from the 25 mph limit so really it hardly qualifies.

 

But if it was signed on loan to one of the operators to do a few trips a year, a bit like 45596 (or indeed 61264!) that's a possible model isn't it? Except right at the top of the market, I feel some version of that is the future for the independents.

 

"Agreed. It was very busy initially but this tailed off to very rarely during its latter years in service"
I'm pretty sure that the original agreement between the NRM and 5305LA / GCR was that 70013 would spend xx months a year on mainline duties or other heritage lines, but also xx months a year at Loughborough as its base for home running and maintenance.

Having followed 70013's progress over recent years it did indeed do plenty of main line trips in its first five years, but the second half of its ticket seemed to be beset by boiler and firebox problems, re-wheeling etc which also curtailed it's activity at Loughborough. I think at one point it went two and a half years out of action completely and was behind a shed at Crewe for some time?

Looking forward, it's great to see that it's future APPEARS to be secure, but it would be good to see some official confirmation from NRM / GCR. There has been six months worth of 'waiting for paperwork' and 'subject to agreements being signed' etc. Understandably there is probably plenty of legal red-tape to get through, probably much of it confidential, before any official announcement can be made - but confirmation of the way forward would be very welcome.

 

I think you will find 70013 had a light overhaul towards the end of its ticket, this kept it off the mainline for around 12 - 18 months. After the repairs were completed, it returned to the mainline and ran several charters, including a run to Norwich. It's mainline ticket then expired, but it had a short boiler extension to the end of 2018 that allowed continued operation on the Gcr.
The work completed in the light overhaul should hopefully make the heavy overhaul now a bit more straightforward.
The GCR may not manage mainline locos directly, but I believe they have a number of personnel involved in mainline operations outside of the railway. The 5305 loco group have run their black 5 and Sir Lamiel, as well as Cromwell on the mainline.

 

Update: https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2019/0...r-steam-locomotive-70013-oliver-cromwell.html

So an agreement to restore 70013 over a two year period at Loughborough, but a separate agreement yet to be sorted on what happens after that?

 

Most of the small tubes are now out of the boiler and some more work is to be done before it goes to Tyseley for a new copper tubeplate and tubes to be fitted. I believe that, after a hydraulic test, it will be returned to the GCR. The bottom end is said to be in good condition so it is indeed planned/hoped to be a relatively quick overhaul and return to service.