7027 Thornbury Castle

And then there's 4253.

 

As I said in my original post, feel free to disregard that part of my post then.

 

Isn't one of the reasons Tyseley aren't overhauling 4965 the amount of route restrictions that are now involved? Having wide cylinders even higher than a Hall isn't going to help, not just on the mainline but preserved lines too.

 

One question has to be how much influence does a small group, have over the entire organisation, My thought is that this is entirely one person, using their position with in the GWS to use it as his own 12 " to the foot scratch build project, and his position means no one can say hang on, is this a wise move? when we have engines that are more suitable for our own needs, waiting for funding, yet this group using GWS funds are in effect using the organisation for their own projects, which might not be in the best interests of the GWS.

 

That's rather saddening, just as a side note. One of the few GWR locos that I greatly admire, particularly because of its rather exemplary record on the mainline.

 

Agree. I think the recent bulk buying of Pacers will largely go the same way. A few will be properly preserved and restored, Keighley, for example have done a good job on 144011, but I suspect a lot will end up parked and deteriorating

 

Thats incorrect. Having wide cylinders higher than a hall would be better, the problems are in the lower sector gauge, hence why Manors were worse off than a hall and there was no case for 7802 to continue on the mainline.

 

The negativity towards the new 1014 County and it's expected lack of performance, purely due to 225 instead of 250psi working pressure keeps being mentioned by a few people. One important feature of the new build never seems to be mentioned. I'm sure I read that the cylinders are to be bored out to a larger diameter than original, to compensate for the slightly reduced boiler pressure. This will very nearly allow the loco to produce a tractive effort figure only slightly below the 250psi final form original Counties. With the BR era County modifications including the brilliant Sam Ell designed double chimney and blastpipe, 1014 will probably prove itself to be a superb locomotive. A friend of mine was an 85A fireman who occasionally worked on Counties. He said in the original 280psi, single chimney form they couldn't maintain full pressure for long. Later, with the double chimneys they were much better and consistent steamers (and very strong, but a hard ride). I asked him about the effect of reducing the boiler pressure to 225psi. He said the difference wouldn't be noticeable. That came from a man who really did know the class quite well.

 

..And what difference will the 25psi reduction in boiler pressure make hauling three coaches at low speed along level track??.. Maybe on tour around the country hauling continuously 6 up a steeper gradient at max 25 mph you may notice something.
I still don't like the idea of what is happening but the boiler pressure issue is a red herring. I don't see the County ever going mainline.

 

Just to confirm Thornbury is no longer at Quorn, so it's three year sojourn on the GCR is now over.

 

I thought the GWS have said they will not be doing mainline anymore.

 

May I refer you to my previous post about this
https://www.national-preservation.com/posts/2758276/

 

It's a shame when you think, there was so much positivity about this engine at first, but now, its very likily that its going to be just a source of spares

 

As the 4709 project doesn't need the bottom half, where has that gone?

 

The pick'n mix store at Didcot?

 

Too much trouble to send it to Didcot, I would have thought, given the difficulties of road access there. I think Tyseley has been mentioned, if so it has gone full circle!

 

As this whole sorry saga has illustrated, what the GWS hierarchy say and what those acting nominally under the umbrella of the GWS are often entirely different things.

Are you talking about 7027 or 4709.....

One would suspect somewhere quietly out of sight until the upset dies down.

 

Wherever the boiler has gone, the frames have probably gone there too - wasn't the boiler put back on the frames ready for the move?

 

As I mentioned in an earlier post (8th July) it was reported that 7027 is off to Tyseley for storage. I wonder how long it will be residing there as 7027 before anything happens with it in relation to the 4709 "project" or anything else it may be sacrificed for?


"According to a report in the latest Trackside 7027 is off to Tyseley for storage.

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green five, Jul 8, 2023

 

Thank you for the reminder.