6024 King Edward I - Overhaul progress

In my books, you can change boilers between locos of the same class!

A bit surprising he didn't make a mod or two to the 5, as per the 8P. With his differently attractive Class 4 moguls doing their thing I'm guessing there wan't much call for a 10 wheel version.

But aren't we glad he didn't? As lovely as the pregrouping locos are, they're getting no younger .... or easier to maintain, prep and dispose.

 

but don't forget his first tender loco - the ubiquitous Crabs (42945-984)

Also note Ivatt 2-6-0s used with little change as Standard 2 2-6-0

 

Are you sure he didn't ? Keith Langston in his book on Stanier Class 5 4-6-0s notes builds between 1945 - 47 (during Ivatt's period of office); 1945 = 44861 - 920 (Crewe) + 44932-943 (Horwich); 1946 = 44921 - 931 / 44967 - 981 (Crewe) + 44944 - 966 / 44982 - 991 (Horwich); 1947 = 44992 - 999 / 44783 - 799 (Horwich) + 44758 - 764 / 44765 - 767 (Crewe) noting that the latter 3 incorporated "experiments" presumably approved by - if not initiated by - Ivatt as CMEwhislt the fitment of Timken roller bearings to 44738 - 767 was a further Ivatt initiative that was both continued with BR builds and was applied to the Duchess 46256/7 which were built for specific comparison with the performance of the Diesel twins 10000 / 1.

 

Yes but that doesnt do anything but contrast the GWR Idiom of Building block ' construction
ie Take a standard wheel size. and a set of frames to suit,
add a set of front frames and a bogie ( standard)
choose a boiler ( from a set of standard boilers)
choose a set of 2 or 4 cylinders with the appropriate saddle diameter
Refrain from any new fangled twaddle or extras.
= a loco
change one component or another to suit
= a loco
etc etc... and therefore is it any wonder they look similar.
the King being the exception as its wheels bogie and boiler size are all iirc a departure

 

I don't deny 5s continued to be built (by the shedload) Fred ... or 8Fs for that matter, but whilst Mr Ivatt's tweaks to the 8P mean the word "modified' gets used, along with his name, Ivatt isn't specifically identified with batch after batch of MT locos built to even revisions of his predecessor's design(s) any more than was Riddles with those last batches between 1948-51. If you're saying they ought to be, I'd cheerfully agree.

Not being too well up on how much during his tenure was inherited as a result of the unfortunately short tenure of Mr Fairburn (or even the tail end of the Stanier regime) I couldn't say .... but would be interested to learn. I've seen criticism of the cost of the final pair of 8Ps as an expensive extravagance, but that's never seemed to sit too well with the thrust of Ivatt's work, which reflected the realities of the time.

 

There are some fine images on Steve Edge’s website, WSR.Org, in the ‘Topical Pictures’ section.

 

A link to the pictures here:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...QjBB6BAgQEAY&usg=AOvVaw2COh2eIZuDMZAL4sNou2D6

Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk

 

Commanality of parts.... Surely this is an idea any company would adopt when operating a large fleet of machines, rail or non rail?

 

And yet...

 

bear in mind - however - that the final pair of Duchesses were designed to have as much of the latest technologies as possible to provide a fair comparison between them and the pair of diesel locomotives which also used the latest technologies; I agree that the cost may have seemed extravagant at the time but one wonders what benefits derived from the trials that were adopted on both future (standard) classes and the existing LMS fleet.

 

From the Daily Telegraph:

 

Where is 6024 expected to undergo running-in trials? My understanding was the line is still not fully able to take a loco of its axle loading (with the exception of 9466), so any idea whether the board will make another exception here, or will 6024 go off somewhere else for its running in?

 

I sure it will be made public when they know.

 

I'm sure it would be made very welcome on the SVR - LSL have sent 46100, 70000 and 60007 for running in and comissioning recently. LSL engineers are already passed to drive on the SVR. (45231 is visiting in autumn too!).
Alternatively, does Norton Fitzwarren to Bishops Lydeard still have a higher axle loading? (if it was allowed to BL as a one off trip).

 

Read about the King in the latest edition of Trackside magazine. The hope is for completion in the Autumn but not clear yet where testing will take place. Having the King back will be a boost for steam in the South West (provided it rains sufficiently!) but I don’t know if it is exclusively to be operated by LSL or not.

 

As they own it, I would've thought the chances are pretty high!

 

To be fair 6024 might be owned by LSL/Saphos but From the last piece I read in the press, it’s due to be operated by 6024’s previous owners for the next 10 years.
Of course that might have changed…

 

I did hear the society wanted to work with others such as Vintage Trains in particular given it’s a GWR loco. Whilst I don’t doubt that the majority of operations will be with LSL I can see it working with others.

 

I agree. That might mean other locos spend less time in the South West but we’ll have to wait and see. I assume the situation would be the same for 5029 after it’s next overhaul whenever that starts. If LSL had both 6024 and 5029 operational they would be based in the South West. This would mean that the other locos would probably do more work for Steam Dreams in London and Saphos in the North West with the consequence being that those other locos such as 46100, 34046 and 70000 would rarely work in the South West.

 

Another option is Pathfinder. I think it may have been in Steam Beano, but an article I read somewhere said that Pathfinder is now under new ownership and plans to increase the number of steam hauled trains it runs. Pathfinder's previous owners seemed to have a good relationship with the 6024 people, so hopefully this will continue, especially as 6024 will make Bristol its main home and Pathfinder remains a Gloucestershire-based company.

It will be particularly interesting to see what effect the new slim-line outside cylinders will make to route availability. I did read that 6024 should henceforth be as gauge friendly as a Merchant Navy. How about a Bristol to Canterbury trip? That would be a most interesting way of putting this claim to the test!

I must say that it's so good to be reading some really positive news about one GWR 4-6-0 in contrast to the distinctly bad news about another.