Question re SWT's 3417

Jolly good, the way things are going it'll be providing the service trains come Easter ](*,)

 

Which service trains did you have in mind, Chris?

 

All of them if we're not careful 8-[

 

It won't come to that! No more than any other line! If it does the ED will be on hand!!

 

The Portsmouth Direct I hope, get rid of the 450s?

 

Could be tricky to work the whole road with a four-car and an ED but I'm game!

 

I may even come out of retirement... Thats both shifts covered/ have to work Sundays and RDs though!
:lol:

 

8-[

Can I join in??!? I'll do the Coupling and uncoupling..... =P~

 

You're on - I drive, you do the banging and clanging and twoofnine can make the tea...

 

I think seniority comes into the equation on this one keelar001? 8-[

 

Oy I am chief tea boy, have been for 50 years so are you after my job. \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/

CW

 

None of you lot are going anywhere with it unless me or Bucky give it a Fitness To Run. We get to play first!!

 

This unit, will come out in pristine condition, Im 100% positive on that.

And im sure keelar will agree with me on this one, we cannot permit your personnel anywhere near it with hammers, or screwdrivers? [-o<

 

Ah - these Fleet wallahs forget that they only have a job because us drivers throw the odd duff one back to the yard for them to tinker with!

I beg to report to the masses, by the way, that 3417 was placed in the sunshine for several days last week and run up and down the roads at Eastleigh works. All is well with the old girl, a little cold and damp but nothing that isn't normal for 400-series stock when of the juice for a while. Heat and light was left on her for 48 hours to drive out the damp, and she is looking fine.

Much tipping of bowlers and respectful nods in the direction of The Bluebell and Knights Rail Services for giving her a new home.

 

Time to practise your push pull skills Steve......

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/bfw09.htm

 

You cant beat the old Auto Brake

 

So Wimbledon Park's pet unit will be making it a hat-trick.

Who would have thought that after the last festival?

 

That's a relief - have so far missed the opportunity to ding the bell, hopefully this time is third time lucky! 8-[

Will be even more interested to see if a newly restored 73 pilots her in from Eastleigh....

 

Anything other than a 33, or 73, then you will have to get the green flag out! =P~

 

Seeing as she hasn't been mentioned in a while, please find herein an update from the World of 3417.

We - the Wimbledon Park Massive (or certainly extra-large, anyway) - were hugely pleased with the reaction to the old girl at the Eastleigh 100 event. As those of you who attended could see, the Bluebell Railway are taking ownership seriously - witness the new "Owned by The Bluebell Railway" plates on the inner ends of the driving trailers. The chaps who I met on the Saturday were a credit to the Bluebell; another nail in the "steam-only" argument, methinks.
And of course Mr Knights continues to provide a roof and a juice supply when required; top chap!

Wimbledon hasn't forgotten the old girl; for the benefit of the people who asked, yes we are still keeping an eye on her and we have a list of jobs to do - trim, windows, guttering, motors, speedos. It's like looking after a loco plus all the fun of looking after a carriage at the same time. Sadly we all have day jobs and Real Lives to attend too but as long as she carries the WD stickers then she's ours and we'll be looking after her properly!!

Seeing 1497, 1881 and 3417 sharing siding space again brought a nostalgic smile to my face; seeing 3417 get her own wee snap into the coverage provided by the Railway Magazine made me smile even more. Sadly we couldn't do Swanage this year - there was too much paperwork and too much work to do to allow her to run and not enough bodies available to carry out the work. Maybe next year...? I gather that the Swanage might still have a 33/1 about.

BR Blue Bagpipe and BR Blue VEP in push-pull mode, anyone?