GCR Black 5 No 45491

There is a difference though as Boscastle was the first Main Line locomotive to be put on the preserved GCR in 1973, so it was a big demonstration of faith that the GCR itself did have a future. True it did then take 34039 another 20 years to steam and haul trains on the GCR.
I was surprised to read about 45491 though, but 45305 is now firmly under the 5305 association's ownership so we do have a Black 5 on the GCR.

 

Bit of grandstanding and dirty washing in the Steam Beano this month. Its very likely to be scrapped says the owner...

 

Shocking how in this day and age politics can lead to a virtually complete locomotive being scrapped

 

Reading between the lines, I'd say he made a bad enemy at some point and this is payback.
Pat

 

Just to confirm this locomotive is still in the shed at Loughborough, up alongside Boscastle.

 

Can anyone really see this loco broken up after all the work done on it? Especially when Riley or West Coast would possibly see it as an ideal loco?

 

WCRC already have three Black 5s - one working but unusable on the mainline, one stored, and one slowly being put back together after being dismantled into a million pieces. Not sure they'd be after another one.

 

I'd imagine that with any of the main line operators, there would be quite some interest in taking on another Black 5. They might be limited to 60mph, but there isn't much that they cannot do.

 

Out of interest:
What kind of limit is these 60mph.

Railway or locomotive?

 

Due to their 6' driving wheels they are limited to 60mph on the main line.

 

Are Blue Peter,DoG and Britania limit 62mph uphill and downhill and when were such ruling put up in Britain?

 

AIUI 6ft 0in is the top of the 60mph band, so 6ft 2in are allowed up to 75. I don't know when these limits came in, but certainly after the end of regular steam services.

 

The limiting speed of steam locomotives is defined in Railway Industry Standard (RIS) 4472. For a Black 5 it is actually 65mph. Owners may limit their locos to a lesser speed.

 

In the case of Riley's, while we know Ian is a big fan of a Black 5, he already owns 44871 and 45407, has 45212 under an operational agreement with KWVR and is due for overhaul soon and has an agreement to help restore and eventually run 45163, so I'm not sure if he'll have capacity to take another one on or not.

 

Is "4472" coincidence or a little in-joke?

 

I don’t know but the other RSSB document relevant to heritage stock running on the network is RIS 3440. Does that answer your question?

 

Many years ago one of My neighbours had the phone number 60103 (later becoming 760103) and He was a Stratford driver, another friend has a mobile that ends in 4472

 

I thought that Class 8 locos with 80" drivers were 75 mph. Is that not now the case?

 

The big wheeled pacifics are now 80 mph rated, as per the table. Others are still generally 75 mph. However it is not as simple as just wheel diameter. Pre 2023 speeds may also still apply as owners of locos originally certified for a lower speed need to seek an independent assessment to increase the speed to the new limit. Age of design also comes into it, which is why 2999 and 60103 are 70 mph rated. You really need to read RIS 4472 to fully understand all the ins and outs of it.