34028 and going Main Line

I would have thought your S160 would have been ready to pull trains by now?

 

As noted, not a pleasant experience, but entirely possible as long as the motion is in the right place and the man going in is thin enough.
Back in the day (would not be allowed these days) I got in-between the frames of a Castle to examine one of the inside big ends whilst on a station stop.

 

One has to crawl under the A frame of the Bissell Truck. Then crawl forward under the frame stretchers and brake rigging tie bars.
Once in the area of the big end and eccentric strap, there is reasonable space to stand up to do oiling.
Same at the front of the con-rod for the remainder of the oil points.

Quiz time: how many oil points are there underneath a rebuilt WC / MN (excepting the 4 bogie axleboxes)?

 

I know that Mr twr12, but I think I am at a bit of an advantage!!

 

Probably about 10% of the number on a GWR Castle.

Edited to make it a more realistic figure

 

All roads at Southall are equipped with pits. https://www.flickr.com/photos/loose_grip_99/3098111011/

 

My experience was at Bold Colliery in 1980 where there were no pits at all. There had to be someone on the footplate that you could trust - there was no quick escape!

Just about the only way in on a Castle is between the drivers, just in front of the ashpan.

I was thinking more of the provision of pits (or lack of) when on tour.

 

Your mention of Bold colliery brings back memories of a visit a day or so before Rocket 150 event. Not sure what the exact arrangement was in terms of entry but it was amazing as a 14 year old to get close up to so many locomotives in the yard. In terms of steam had only been to Dinting, York and a brief visit on a school trip to KWVR before that. Oh and Talyllyn on day trip whilst on holiday at Barmouth.

 

It's a shame you wasn't able to try your luck at places like Newton Heath, Crewe North or Holbeck 20 years before!

 

Yeah that would have been something else even in 1966/7 but not sure a zero to 1 year takes in. Around four I do remember we briefly lived in a flat somewhere in Hyde that had what I would imagine were 16t mineral wagons behind it. Then soon after in Limeside Oldham, I used to think I could hear trains occasionally, and it was only many many years later it I realised it was the Calder Valley line at Ashton a couple of miles away.

 

The Calder Valley line goes nowhere near Ashton. I think you mean the LNW Standedge line.

 

oh that’s funny!

 

I haven’t asked yet! I just trust we get a fully supported Black 5 with crew and leave the details to them

 

Thought this was the 34028 thread !!!!

Sent from my SM-A556B using Tapatalk

 

Now on the website as "Subject to availability".
https://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/events/the-exe-parrett-2/
Presume will be fixed and tested before 8th November?

 

Surely all railtours using specified traction, diesel or steam, should be advertised as “subject to availability”?

There are a multitude of reasons why loco x or y becomes unavailable at short notice, from summer steam bans, through mechanical breakdown, to staff shortages.

 

Presumably covering themselves, particularly given the limited availability of WCR steam locomotives at the moment. Unless anybody has better information, I have not heard or seen anything to suggest that 34028 is not already 'fixed and tested'. We'll see whether or not it makes it for the RTC 'Royal Duchy' on the 28th. More of an issue for the Pathfinder trip might be whether or not the NR restrictions on the WEML either side of Yeovil on account of possible drought subsidence are lifted by then.

 

Very few railtours these days are advertised with a specific loco. Most refer to a loco from "The Carnforth Pool" or in the case of LSL one from a selection of photographs of their pool.
For example today's (sold out) Marches tour shows an image of 45231 with the words saying "The train is steam hauled from Bristol by one of our immaculately restored pool of engines including: the world famous LMS Royal Scot Class, No.46100 ‘Royal Scot’ – West Country Class, No. 34046 ‘Braunton’ – Britannia Pacific Class, No 70000 ‘Britannia’."
Not sure I regard any of those of "World Famous".

Railway Herald reports 34028 as being operational "next week". But as I mentioned on a different thread not sure if that is from an SLL statement.

SWR just say until further notice with the timetable changes, although journey planners are only updated until October 3. National Rail has no better update either.

 

Royal Scot was without doubt world famous, once upon a time.
Eg. https://www.webpraxis.ab.ca/vrr/_Remarks/Royal_Scot.php
Let's not go into questions of identity!