Bulleid Pacifics - Past or Present

It would be nice, and even if it nothing were to happen for a while (he's got quite the overhaul queue what with an A2, A4, King and two MNs) at least it would be safe undercover at Margate.

I do wonder though if we rely a bit much on the theoretical bounty of Jeremy Hosking. His Crewe operation is impressive (the open day last year was fascinating, he has a lot going on) but he's acquiring heritage diesels and electrics at a fantastic rate and he must be approaching the capacity of both his facilities and his finances.

 

As noted in the most recent SR, he also has a fair bit coming out of ticket over the next couple of years.

 

Is there much that can be swapped between original and rebuilt?

 

Probably more pertinent to ask "Is there much of what survives that can be swapped between original and rebuilt?" You need new boiler cladding, but I don't suppose much of that survives on 34073!

There's quite a lot of similarity between the two, despite the cosmetic differences. The really significant differences are the inside cylinder, crank axle, motion, reverser. Everything else - including the frames, boiler, boiler fittings, outside cylinders, wheels, bogie, pony truck, tender frame and axles etc. is shared between the two designs.

Tom

 

afaik 34073 doesn't have a tender. I think in the main we're talking sharing of components such as the boiler between original build 34067 & 34073 although I don't know what condition these two boilers and/or fireboxes are in. Similarly, not sure what plans may exist for 34016 and whether there are intentions to share components from the other two? I would imagine getting 48151 overhauled would be priority over any Bulleids although I am happy to be proven wrong.

 

We are wondering if anyone just happens to have a copy of the report into the Crank Axle failure on 35020 Bibby Line at Crewkerne in 1953. We know it is in the National Archive at Kew ref - AN 43/7 but unfortunately they are closed UFN - at least the end of June.

 

An ex Somerset and Dorset fireman recently explained to me that Spamcans were known as Flat Tops to S&D crews and rebuilds were known as Modifieds.

As an ex S&D trainspotter from Midsomer Norton I have to admit that I've never heard of this before. Has anyone else? <BJ>

 

I’d never heard of the term Spamcan until the preservation era. They we’re always flat tops to this northern lad.

 

duplicate post

 

I've heard both the terms Spamcan and Flat Top used in the pre preservation era.

 

My father was a young spotter in the early 50s and travelled on occasional holiday to Folkstone from Enfield behind Bulleids and 'Spamcan' was the term he knew. 'Flat Tops' is not a term I or he could recall coming across before.

 

Likewise, I recall both terms being used in "the old days".

Peter

 

Would there be any connection between the nickname 'Spam Can' and that for diesels 'Paraffin Can'?
Pat

 

I think the name is older and refers to the similarity in shape to the tins of meat (supplied to US troops stationed in Britain during the build up to D-Day) that were ubiquitous around the time of construction

Tom

 

Gas turbine locomotive GT3 was known as a paraffin can in that when it passed by it would smell like a paraffin heater, but that was in the early 60s.

 

Encore to "Kerosene Castle"? Never sure wether that referred to one of the Metrovick, Bown Boveri gas turbines as ordered by the GWR or both of them.

Nice smell, like the aprons of air ports or once upon a time but now apparently unavailable "Tractor Vaporising Oil" - TVO.

 

I agree with Tom. My dad was a young spotter during and after WW2. He and his friends called them Spamcans more-or-less from the time they first appeared.

 

The shape's more reminiscent of corned beef than spam, though. Although "corned beef can" just ain't as snappy a nickname.

 

I do remember reading an account by an ex Southern Region fireman who said (at least in his neck of the woods) Spamcam, when it was used, generally referred to Q1s more than it did Bulleids. I'll have to dig it out some day and have another read through

 

The Flat Top has come off the Spamcan. <BJ>

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/20997/origin-spam-food-spam-email