35011 "GSN" to be restored

i think the most likeily outcome would be that there would be a pool of engines based at either southall or stewarts lane, that would be able to fill the motive power needs of vsoe another mn would be a good fall back, the steam crews would know the engines, spares would be easier, maintainace could be easier if you can schedule wash outs knowing that there is another loco that has the same clearance as 35028 and if it was painted br blue, it actually suits the engines better than standard br green

 

Since this thread has turned into a wider discussion about various unrestored MN's, an interesteing article has appeared in Steam Railway listing all the loco work going on at Pete Waterman's LNWR Crewe works. The author isn't a regular contributor. Perhaps an employee?

Anyway, one of the projects mentioned was the boiler and firebox of 35022 Holland-America line. This was quite a surprise. The boiler from 35022 was in better condition than the 35027's, and I seem to recall that 35022's boiler was to be used in the overhaul to main-line standards of 35027. The rest of 35027 is at Southall, and will be tackled by the same team who have been restoring Royal Scot. Is it simply a case of the boiler work on 35027 (i.e. 35022's boiler) being subcontracted out to Crewe?

 

Correct John as we understand it

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it due to wastage on 35027's firebox that the swap has taken place?

 

You are correct - They are tackling 35027's firebox as I understand it!

 

So is there a possibility that the wasted firebox from 35027, which I believe was reported to be 'beyond economical repair' be replaced in due course (so as to ensure that 35022 has a chance of steaming again)?

 

Looks like it! Possibly someone on here will know more in-depth than we do as far as these Loco's go?

 

so what exactly is the status of all the Merchant navies now? there is never an news of 35018, 35025 or 35027

 

No news same as before on these ole girls..... I'm sure they'll happen before time - Just look at the likes of 34059 (Sir Archibald Sinclair) Shes doing fantastically!

 

Does anyone have an update on what is to happen with 35011? Any updates as to work being done etc....

Thanks in advance.

 

I can go one better. I can give you a pictorial update!

 

Thanks for the pic - I guess I was hoping better than that...

 

I regret to say that there was no APPARENT progress on Brocklebank Line, either. I hadn't seen her for nearly a year, and in that time, not much seems to have happened. However, I do know that their fund-raising stall was at Northiam on the KESR for the Last Train's Gone gala, so I hope they raised plenty to be going on with.

 

Are we now getting to a point in time when a small group of people trying to restore a loco such has Brocklebank Line with no big investor in the group may find it impossible to raise enough cash to complete a Barry restoration? Due to the increasing costs of raw materials and specialist labor to cover boiler work? Could this be one reason why there has been no progress on Brocklebank Line?

 

I think it is fairly safe to say that we have reached this critical point. I've noticed that apart from a couple of cases such as the 8F at Peak Rail and 35006 which is to enter service in the near future (46100 and 70013 had significant outside help), there have been very few ex-Barry/BR restorations emerging complete from owning groups of single locomotives recently. The last I remember is 34007 on the Bodmin and Wenford. Could this be indicating a 'merge or die' situation? As I said on a previous post, it is better to restore one locomotive, get it operational as soon as possible, then start thinking about getting another one, than to accumulate several locomotives and suddenly realise resources are stretched too thin. However, if the Brocklebank Line Association decided to merge with GSN's owning group, then the beginnings of a small fleet of Merchant Navy class locomotives could be in the making. As Brocklebank Line is closer to completion than GSN, maybe this would be the first completed restoration of such a group? It would certainly concentrate resources into a central restoration fund, and when 35025 is complete, work could progress on 35011. Just a thought!

 

I guess there are just a couple too many MNs preserved....the larger the engine , the fewer of each class are viable I imagine. This applies to a few classes but in particular the MNs unfortunately. However in 20 or 30 years time, those effectively stored unrestored wont be in any worse condition than they are now (in terms of the expense of restoring them) so I think they should be kept intact and not used for spares (as have two S15s apprently to keep one loco running.(according to SR and I dont know the full facts...)

 

This is one of those times where I really wish I'd win the lottery. In a fit of madness, if I had the money (and a bit more on top to tide myself over), I would gladly pay for the restoration of one. One can but dream (and buy lotto tickets)!

 

I'd join you on that one!! And with the Euro Millions lottery you could afford a good couple of them and have money to enjoy for the rest of you're life. But as you say one can hope!! But i wonder what the outcome will be for those that haven't been restored since the late 60's? Will they be running in years to come or will they become donor engines?

And what is happening with Ian Riley's Bulleid 35009? Is this going to be overhauled soon?

 

I think this has been posted a couple of times on the forum, but the idea is if she isn't sold by the time 44871 is complete the team will then restore her.

 

I've seen from the update recently that 44871 has come on leaps and bounds - Looks like alot of boiler work was needed - If that is near to completion then how long before 44871 is due to be steaming and then how long before 35009 is going to be overhauled? Time span etc....