2025 Returnees and Withdrawals

Yep you are correct in that’s how “DC” got to the NVR - which is currently also under overhaul and depending on funding should be well on its way back together by the end of the year

 

7202 at Didcot a possibility according to a post on Facebook.

 

Can't wait to see one of these big tanks steam - biggest question is where would provide a decent test for one? Paignton, Grosmont maybe? Blaenavon would be authentic.
Or atop the windcutters at Loughborough?
Either way, something definitely to look forward to.

 

Medstead bank out of Alton on the MHR comes to mind.

 

While not wishing to sound skeptical, I'd do some validity checking on that Facebook post.
And don't even think of running locations until you have looked at the minimum curve radius - I doubt it could even get off shed at Blaenavon - although it would be a fantastic visitor.

 

Does a 72xx have a rigid wheelbase any longer than a 51xx? I seem to recall that the rearmost coupled axle has some side play, and that 4709 is getting the same arrangement. Or am I confused?

 

The 72xx class was made up of conversions from 52xx and 42xx locos by extending the bunkers , hence the rear pony truck. All three classes had additional movement on the trailing driving axle, the 28/38xx didn't but the wheelbase is shorter. In fact the 52xx and 42xx are happier on curves than the 57xx panniers as these have quite a long coupled wheelbase. Nevertheless the 72xx had a reputation for being "curve shy" and were prohibited from some sidings. The conversions allowed them to be used on longer runs as there was a major downturn in the South Wales coal traffic in the 1930's. Some 52's went straight into store from the works and were then converted to 72's. It will be interesting to see if 7202 likes curves but with regard to performance it won't be any different to a 52xx. This has to be one of the longest rebuilds in preservation history.

 

I don't know if that's true - Given that they're basically a 42xx or 5205 with a bunker extension and a pony truck on the end (with pony trucks not being part of the driving wheel fixed wheelbase), I would imagine it has the same fixed wheelbase of the 42s and 52s, which (according to a Facebook Post by the DRC about the 42xx from last December) was 13 feet - although the coupled wheelbase was 20ft, the coupling rod had spherical joints and the trailing coupled axle had sliding axle boxes to allow a shorter fixed wheelbase. As a pony truck wouldn't affect the fixed wheelbase - I would imagine the fixed wheelbase remains the same as on the 42s. And since 4270 has visited Blaenavon in the last few years, I would guess there's a good chance that whatever arrangements worked for a 42 up there would also work for a 72

 

The windcutters would look lovely, but hardly a test of any kind.

 

Probably not much of a test, but the GCR is the only place that a substantial freight train could be put behind it.

 

It depends on what you mean by substantial. I thought the 325tons tare put behind the Q leaving Alton was fairly substantial.

Finding another 100tons should be possible if felt necessary.

 

The curve-shyness may be in the throw of the trailing truck? If you assume that the GWR kept to their usual principles of standardisation and put a Large Prairie style radial truck under there it all sounds fine. But if you're relying on the side-play of the trailing axle to get the fixed wheelbase around curves, then the trailing truck needs even more throw than you'd think from the greater coupled wheelbase of the 2-8-2, since the effective centre of the fixed wheelbase is biased forwards, and radial trucks aren't great for that.

I don't actually know this, somebody with more knowledge of the class may tell me I'm wrong, but it looks like it could be the case.

 

I'm pretty sure the Great Central put together a freight train of 60 or 70 wagons not so long ago as a send off for their 9F, happy to be corrected but I'm not sure any other railway can put together a freight train of that length? Would also look a bit ridiculous on anything other than a double track mainline!

 

Cauldon...

 

Hope to have S160 3278 FDR in service for the second half of the year, she is slowly coming together but the team keep getting distracted with other jobs that keep popping up.

 

Ref the "GWR principles of standardization", I was surprised during a wander round Didcot shed by the variety of rear truck types on GWR tank locos:

- 14xx 0-4-2T has a rear truck with outside axle-boxes fixed in the main frame (I think with limited side-play?), whereas inside axle-boxes are used on other loco class rear trucks.
- 45xx "Small Prairie" 2-6-2T has pony trucks front and rear.
- 51xx etc "Large Prairie" 2-6-2T has pony truck at front and radial truck at rear, with main frames inset at rear to permit radial truck sideways movement.
- 56xx 0-6-2T has rear radial truck and inset main frame, same arrangement as the 51xx.
- 72xx 2-8-2T has front pony truck and rear radial truck, the latter supported by a frame extension.

 

Need another event at Merehead Quarry, imagine one of those 72xx on their wagons. The video from a few years ago of the two 9Fs moving a 1700T train is quite something.