6024 King Edward I - Overhaul progress

Well done to all involved. It's great see this engine getting closer to being let loose on the mainline. A warm welcome awaits at Didcot. The rivet counters can then compare to their hearts content!

 

Richard Corser of DB Cargo was quoted in steam railway magazine last month as saying that the King will be regularly operated by DB Cargo when it returns. Interestingly enough UK Railtours who use DB Cargo as their train operating company say that it will be used on their steam tours along with Tornado and Clan Line. The society have said that Bristol will be their operating base for mainline trips.

 

Whilst I'm not too familiar with how Saphos operations work, but I've always been under the impression LSL use DB Cargo crews anyway, and Richard Corser worked for LSL before DB Cargo?

I'd hope 6024 gets a run out for SD, as I've only been behind 6023 at Didcot so far and 6024 is the last of the Kings I haven't seen in preservation.

 

Both LSL and VT have hired in DB crews for routes that their own crews don't cover or if a trip goes beyond allowed hours for one crew member. As LSL and VT pass more drivers, this requirement should reduce, but it does demonstrate a level of cooperation within the industry.

 

Yes and involved the former CME for the King whose day job was at Tyseley. Best to leave it there.

 

Not any issues between 6024 society and Tyseley , Tyseley have actually carried out quite a bit of work to the bogie, driving axleboxes, pistons, valves and motion this overhaul.....

 

Could be good news for the purists if this turns out to be correct.

 

Richard Corser is also a member of the 6024 Preservation society.

 

New update.
Maybe small but not insignificant-drain cock valves:

 

Once the loco is at Crewe it might seem better to finish the overhaul there. The facilities should be rather better than at Minehead, and it is possible for volunteers to work there, as some did recently on SNG.

 

I'm sure they will have considered the options but it is easy to see how if specialist equipment is involved and the paid time for travel and additional accommodation costs are all considered it may be an expensive but none the less most economical option.

 

Depends where the volunteers are based. The move to Crewe for 60007 only really benefitted one volunteer, the rest were generally north east based.

 

Already arrived at Crewe from what I’ve seen on YouTube

 

Will 6024 be renamed KING CHARLES III when it re-enters service?

There's a precedent...

- 6029 KING STEPHEN was renamed when KING EDWARD VIII came to the throne,
- 6028 KING HENRY I was renamed when KING GEORGE VI came to the throne,
- 6027, 6026 and 6025 are no longer with us,
- so next in line is 6024.....

 

Reading between the lines and seeing some rather vague yet telling and passionate comments from others that seem to be involved with the loco, it would seem that this isn't about an "engineering audit" and return to Minehead thereafter , but more like Hosking/LSL is taking control of what is essentially theirs.

I will be very surprised if the loco returns to Minehead and/or ever works with another charter business other than LSL again. I'd be less surprised to see 6024 staying at Crewe with running in taking place at the SVR. Time will tell. Whatever happens, I smell a rat.

 

Now that its at Crewe, it makes sence to once the engineering assessment is done, any problems sorted out, to fit it with the various systems it needs to run on the mainline, and test it somewhere nearer to Crewe and load test it as part of any snagging runs, with the mainline test being done on the return to Crewe.

 

Not sure what those involved in the loco were expecting, the engine is now part of the Hosking family and I suspect there has been not inconsiderable investment in its overhaul - the terms of use for the locomotive will be in whatever agreement was signed at the time. There shouldn't be any rats to smell!
The only surprise would be if work completed in Minehead hasnt already been supervised / signed off at significant stages by LSL.
I personally can not see any sense in it returning to Minehead. It is currently considered too heavy to leave the station limits and can not even access the mainline. Crewe has all the engineering facilities to undertake any work required for the mainline. It is by all accounts the best equipped steam workshop in the UK. It also has all the expertise for certifying locos, given it is also a TOC.
Likewise, I agree a trip to the SVR for shakedown testing would seem likely and has been mutually beneficial for both the SVR and LSL for other recently commissioned locomotives from Crewe. Don't forget it can be tested up to 50mph between Bewdley and Kidderminster, plus there is air braked stock based there.
Regards mainline running, that has been the purpose for 6024 ever since its return in 1989. It has subsequently been modified physically to ensure it fits better. Having experienced the 'caged' 6023 on preserved railways, Kings need to be on the mainline!

 

Pure conjecture.