34016 Bodmin

I think - though I disagree where the MNLPS is concerned - there is merit in what you say about the potential for volunteer run societies potentially losing out on mainline excursions. But I don't believe it is funding that is the problem. The issue is one of capital investment in the electrics required for ETCS. That is going to change the scene significantly over the next decade.

 

Surely implementation of this is network change and Network Rail will pay for the fitting of this equipment to operating locos if it comes in. It is just newly registered and re-registered locos that will have to fund the costs.

 

I think you will find it's funding, I can't think of one loco that raises enough from steaming fees to pay for it's overhaul and that's assuming no nasties are found when it's dismantled.

 

The budget from NWR isn’t limitless though Steve. There’s a cap.

 

Are you referring to 34073 here?

 

5 loco's plus one heritage diesel is it?

 

Yes. £6 million quid ish.

 

I won’t presume the sources of your knowledge on that John but I think it would be remiss of me to not point out that not every locomotive group works exactly the same way.

In fact the economics of different loco owning groups make a great contrast in approach.

To deny this is to deny some obvious truths.

 

IMO John is correct in his assertion that locos do not earn enough in steaming fees to cover overhauls. Owning groups cover the shortfall however in different ways.

 

I have to agree, why is it you'll always see various loco groups (steam or diesel) selling their wares on sales stands at events around the country, face to face interaction with the public can sometimes lead to a large cheque (or several!) from a sales team who know how to sell. Without being biased a certain new build has had a few more quid thrown at it because of how one of their staff has been rather nice to me.

 

Back on topic to Bodmin, last time I saw it a few weeks ago it was tucked away at the back of the storage shed at Carnforth in a complete state with no work being done on it.

In terms of priority for WCRC fleet, judging by what was seen I would guess 46115 will be the next completed overhaul.

 

Are Lizzie and Mayflower imminent of test runs yet

 

61306 'finished' in so far as it was due a repaint then a mainline test run.

6201 was seen largely complete & has been widely reported as in steam & moving within the confines of the shed but not sure if it passed what was required for the next step i.e. a mainline test.

 

Any of our resident Bodmin, Bulleid or Watercress experts able to gauge a possible year for this photo? I’m guessing late 70s to mid 80s… Bodmin is in great Nick so I’m guessing soon after it first returned, but could be miles out…

https://www.national-preservation.com/attachments/pict0443-jpeg.90308/

Simon

 

The lack of leaves on the trees and the presence of 31625 in the background would indicate probably March/April 1980.

 

The Mk1 suburban coaches help to date it also, so I would agree, early 1980

 

Before the Lyme Regis station building was repurposed into the West Country Buffet. Better brains than mine can probably remember when that was.
Pat

 

Awesome thanks folks. Scanning my Dad’s old slides… 1980 is not unadjacent to other photos in this box (but his filing wasn’t the greatest… the range goes from 1975 to 1990 in one box) and that’s enough for me to work from.

The blue suburban coaches stood out to me too…

Simon

 

31625 had arrived at the Mid Hants from Barry in March 1980 and I recall a special day I had with Bodmin running on 6th April of that year, it having first returned to steam in late 1979.