SVR Loco Newsy News / discussions

Wow, 3 SVR bashing posts in 1 hour - must be a record!

 

If you want to view it that way - I was clearly mistaken about the mogul being overhauled by anyone other than SVR engineering services, and apologised for misremembering talk of it being worked on off-site to speed up its return to servivce. ...but the response from others does show "SVR engines" being overhauled elsewhere and not by The Company is not an unheard of occurence these days - that's only a reflection on how busy the company's engineering department is.


As for the wheel lathe: I think it's a shame they have the facilities there to turn wheels, but have taken a business decision not to use it. But that decision was taken years ago and is old news. <shrug>

I understood after the usual operator left there was an incident where someone found it difficult to turn a set of wheels all to the same diameter, which resulted in rather more being turned into swarf than there should have been. It was then decided by the company not to use the wheel lathe again and to sub-contract tyre turning elsewhere in future. Clearly that was felt better for the business then ensuring employees are properly trained to use company machinery. The SVR lathe just takes up space and has gathered dust since.

 

Most engines on the SVR are owned by a group independent of the company, either under a family agreement where steaming fees are not payable, the overhaul falling to the SVR; or a commercial agreement where steaming fees are paid and there is no liability for overhauls by the company. The Erlestoke Manor Fund are under a commercial agreement; they chose to take their engines off the SVR to speed up the work. The Hall's boiler only was sent away as a matter of expediency as the boiler shop was full so work on it at the SVR would have been delayed. The bottom end was done at Bridgnorth.

 

A not unknown occurrence in industry before the advent of digital readout , CNC and other cunning devices on machine tools. Ye olden machines used for high value components usually had one, trusted operator and when he left the scrap rate increased or the production rate fell until the replacement learned to deal with the contrariness of the machine.

 

You clearly have a problem re the SVR workshops.

There is no issue in locos or boilers or any other components being overhauled "elsewhere". None of that is arranged in a vexatious way and all is done openly to secure progress in the prevailing circumstances whoever owns the SVR based locomotives in question. Outsourcing is perfectly normal in the real world.
The workshop itself has been much improved in recent times to make it the working environment needed to properly undertake overhaul work.
There are fewer staff employed now and volunteer work is better arranged than it was. A sensible decision has been taken to limit the number of overhauls in progress at any one time. Yes the wheel lathe sees reduced use partly because other providers have specialised in the repair of wheelsets.

The SVR is well placed for steam motive power for the medium term with 813, 4150, 4930, 7714, 7802, 7812, 34027, 42968, 75069, 82045 all available or to come on stream soon. That is an enviable position which is perhaps unmatched elsewhere - and that is before any new overhauls are started.

So what is your problem?

 

The SVR has had a lot of issues in the past few years, some of its own making but the workshop and what it turns out isn’t one of them.

 

I don't believe I ever said there was a problem with work being done elsewhere, indeed in the post you quote I stated that 'home fleet' engines being worked on elsewhere was simply a reflection of the available capacity at B'North. ....no other reason (unless you know of reasons I don't?)

When I understood (wrongly) that the work on the mogul had been undertaken elsewhere in the interests of a speedy return to service, it perhaps seemed a little cheeky to have the "SVR Engineering Services" plate prominently displayed on the early photographs published. If, as it turns out, the overhaul has been undertaken by SVR Engineering Services, then it is perfectly reasonable for it to be displayed on an example of their work. When my mistaken memory was corrected I was quick to apologise multipe times for that mistake.

I don't believe at any point have I questioned the quality of the work undertaken by Engineering Services or made any suggestion about the appropriateness or otherwise of the motive power currently available to the railway - I really don't have an opinion on the matter.

When it comes to the wheel lathe, I do think it is a shame that SVR Engineering Services have the capability to do that work inhouse, but have taken a business decision not to utilise it - it's a business and run as such. If it was decided to cease all engineering services at SVR it wouldn't bother me - the same as I don't have a feeling one way or another about selling the black 5. The company sold off an unused asset that probably brought in rather more than an unused wheel lathe would. It will be interesting to see what gets sold off next.

 

Is it a certain Stanier 2-6-0 in steam I can see on the Bridgnorth webcam?

 

Yep.

 

She did two trips to Hampton Loade today but developed a fault with the regulator on the second return run. Up to that point she had done far better tahn we expected.

 

Just out of curiosity, was there a brief period when the SVR had 2968, 6443 and the pig available for traffic in 2008?

 

No because the pig returned in August 09.

We did have, up until 2007. 2968, 6443, 48773 and 45110.

 

From the latest EMF newsletter, 7812 is expected to run on the SVR between January and May next year including the Winter and Spring Galas. It has been agreed in principle that the loco will then return to the WSR on hire between late May and the end of October.

 

Should add that 7812 will leave the WSR in early November & be in SVR service from late November through the Christmas season into the New Year including the Winter Gala on January 6th & 7th.

Also worth adding that our target for returning 7802 to service on the SVR is mid 2024.

 

2968 has made it to Kiddy this morning and is on display whilst the SMF AGM occurs today.

 

Indeed. Also from the newsletter, 7802's boiler was examined by the boiler insurance inspector this month. A repair plan has been agreed so the boiler can be recertified for a further ten-years, subject to the usual exams and a budgeted retube around 2028. It will probably re-enter service with the 4,000 gallon tender until T2329 is finished.

For completeness, 5164 is at the Warley NEC show in November and will then be stored at Tyseley. The overhaul will start in earnest once 7802 and T2329 are complete (and as reported at the last AGM, a hoped for entry into service in 2028/2029).

 

The Mighty Mogul on her return to Bridgnorth near Bewdley....

 

Welcome back old friend