East Lancs Railway

Pure speculation on my part but economics might not be the driving force. It may be be to avoid an impending motive power crisis.

 

I have had similar suggested to me - cannot vouch for the accuracy or otherwise but it has been suggested to me that ‘everything is broken’

 

The hope that in 5 years there'll be an improved motive power situation (13065? 45337? 7229?*) that will allow it to spend longer out of traffic, I assume.


*we can dream.

 

7229? Isn’t that just a case of absolutely massive chufferitus?
In all seriousness wasn’t it stripped down over one weekend in about 1990? I remember the photo feature in Steam Railway at the time as a 6 year old.

 

I seem to remember they put her back together although not in working order obviously.

 

Correct.

 

Well, it could be done - as the ESR have demonstrated now with a couple of ex-Barry rebuilds - but it doesn't look to me, from the outside, as though the capability is there.

 

Isn’t it part owned by a certain Mr Riley or am I very much mistaken?

 

No idea if it is now.
You could always ask the question on here though.

 

But it's not a Black 5, and I suspect any spare capacity he has is taken up by those - and it couldn't run on the main line! (or, probably, anywhere else much, nowadays - wouldn't be surprised if it proved to be a bit of a platform wrecker!)

 

I was told that another factor in the ELR’s motive power issues is Riley’s capacity being almost entirely occupied by 60103 and the 5MTs - but I don’t know if that’s accurate as I don’t know how much input they have in the ELR’s MPD on a day-to-day basis, I presume not much

 

No different to a 5205 class width wise and they have been able to work widely on preserved lines?

Chris

 

Agreed, but they are a bit longer, and that make me wonder if the extra length affects their throw-over on curves?

 

I’m sure Jimc can give chapter and verse on the subject but in my limited understanding of GW locos the differences between 42XX and a 72XX are all at the bunker end so the critical cylinder clearance should be no different.

 

Paid a visit to the ELR at Rawtenstall this afternoon to rid myself of over 350 magazines (no, not those kind, steam only!) which they were chuffed (sorry) to receive.
Whilst there I managed to photograph 47298 on the 'Red Rose' diner and 'Leander' on the service train.

 

Love that last one Alan that’s a cracking photo.

 

Thanks Matt. No idea who the kids were. They just wandered away from their parents to admire the 'Jub' and I got a lucky shot!
Mind you, trying to hold the camera still with one hand and 'Alfie' with the other is not easy believe me!!

 

Well we all know what a diva Alfie can be!
In all seriousness something I’m trying to get the missus to understand with her photography is just let people move naturally rather than have them pose, you can get some crackers when it’s not expected.

 

What’s the purpose of the LMS BGZ/CCT (can’t quite tell which from this angle but I know ELR have a stove van) in the service train rake?