76077

It wouldn't have passed any NDT on the day it was done. Remember this was gas welding in a very confined space. But, it held together for a few years and on the surface fooled the boiler inspector!

 

Bad news for the 76077 gang, for sure - but I'm sure that we'll eventually see 76077 running.

ISTR that at one time there were suggestions to use her chassis as the basis for a 77xxx (yes, the driving wheel spokes are different on a 77xxx...), with a new boiler, but that went the way of many ideas. (Were the issues with 76077's boiler suspected even then?).

With 82045, Hengist and the 84xxx project all progressing, the 77xxx is now the only Standard class still extinct, of course.

Mark

 

Many more differences than just the number of spokes in the driving wheels.

 

In '64, would it have been expected to?

Whilst people on the ground may not have known exactly how nigh the end was, it was very much nigh.

I wonder if any other boilers in preservation passed through that shop in that time window?

Would it's long period of dereliction made the problem any worse?

But yes, the joys of owning a locomotive.

 

76077 had a heavy general overhaul at Eastleigh from 09. 01. 64 to 22. 02. 64..
76079 had a heavy general overhaul at Eastleigh from 27. 02. 64. to 11. 04. 64..
Both were allocated to just 8G Sutton Oak and 8F Springs Branch.
It would be interesting to know the history of the boilers that are on both locos at the present time.

 

I can help you there!! The 76075-79 group that were sent new to 8G in 1956/57 were built with boilers supplied from Swindon. As you state, when 77 went to Eastleigh it surrendered its Swindon boiler and was mated with boiler no 1052 which was a 1952 Doncaster build and originally fitted to loco 76007. It then was moved to 76012 in 1958 and then onto 77 on its overhaul in 1964. You can tell 77 in post 1964 pictures as the smoke box has the southern disc brackets. 77’s original Swindon boiler was then Overhauled by Eastleigh and fitted to 76079 which as you mention followed 77 through the works. 79 carries 77’s original boiler to this day but now needs major work as it’s had multiple spells of running on preservation. On another note 77’s original tender also went to Barry behind 77 and was sold to the 76017 group who modified it to the earlier br2 design. Although it’s a shame that 77’s boiler had turned out to be a mess, we will at least get something fit for many years service. Dinmore manor has just had its boiler detubed after 11 years working at the Gwsr using RO water treatment and is in excellent condition. To date we have raised nearly £240,000 towards the boiler in 2 years , which is not to bad considering. Although we’re still awaiting final figures, we’re going to need a fair chunk more to complete the boiler. In other news we’re expecting the tender wheelsets back from having the new timken bearings pressed on. This will allow us to reassemble the axle boxes and then store the wheel sets secure from decay.

 

https://preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/76079-2/

Says it was first restored by Rileys in 89 (and worked on since the mid 70s). it's exploded at any point.
[Edit following crossed, much more informative post]
It would be interesting to see what they find. I wonder if a more relaxed view/less technology to fault find allowed it to be passed, and then any issues have been found and dealt with.

As you say, a comparative study would be interesting. Fascinating that they were shipped to Eastleigh, I assumed loco management was generally in-region. I wonder if the Kent coast electricification had taken significant volumes of work away and thus work was sought.

 

Was there a declared max speed for these Mogul 2-6-0s with Bissel pony trucks?
Collet rebuilt a lot of Moguls to Ten-wheelers before WW2 but vehicle dynamics got better understood with time.
The 1933 2-8-2 tank from Nord,Paris did 120 kmh during acceptance trial but was normally restricted to 100 kmh and 9f s are rumoured to have touched 90 mph so it can be done,but was it safe?
If a Krauss Helmholts or Zara is put under continental speed limit was higher but british load gauge makes it difficult to allow first driver 50mm latereral freedom .
A BR mogul will be the ideal test locomotive for my balanced compound scheme if these 25mm freedom can be found,but even better if not needed

 

Thank you very much for all the information. So 76079's present boiler has only ever been subject to the pleasant soft water of north west England, whereas the boiler on 76077 has had to suffer use with indifferent water in the south of England before its 2 1/2 up north. That is very interesting.

 

it does seem strange the locos were sent that far sout. It could be that as it was to be a heavy general rather than an intermediate or light one that Eastleigh had capacity and others didn’t. The southern certainly made use of it as it’s recorded returning north on a tanker train on 17th April, quite some time after release from Eastleigh. I’ve also seen a recent picture of 79 in use on the southern but I don’t now how long she stayed south. Br certainly moved things about to suit. For info 77’s original boiler now on 79 is no. 1799. We have the record card for our current boiler no 1052 and although it will say Monel stays changed for copper, and nuts fitted to remainder etc etc it doesn’t go into much more detail. The small tubes were changed in 64 but it kept its 24 flues. I have to say that maybe 1952 steel was inferior to that of later years. The laminations in our boiler have been there since the steel was rolled and in replacing some significant sections weve pleased our boiler inspector. Maybe some works just had better boiler smiths or some sheds and regions had better water and maintenance.

 

Another interesting fact taken from our website. 77 observed at Swindon in August 64 having new valve liners fitted (which seems strange only a few months after leaving Eastleigh), it was In the company of 2 other Sutton oak standards undergoing there heavy generals, this time at Swindon rather than Eastleigh.
There is also a the rumour 77 spent a few days on the Swindon test plant, but we can’t find anything in the official records. Seems a bit fanciful by mid 1964.

 

76084 went up to Cowlairs for a heavy general in 1964 and visited again in 1965 for a light repair! It appears that Eastleigh and Cowlairs took on the majority of repairs to Standard 4 2-6-0s which were previously done at Horwich Works prior to 1964.

 

According to the posting on the 76077 site on 9 February 2025 by Simon Edwards, 76077's current boiler was built at Darlington in 1952. You say Doncaster. Is this a correction?

 

Sorry, yes my fault, rushing again! It is a Darlington built boiler not Doncaster. . I was thinking of something else. It is definitely no. 1052.
Of 1952 build.

 

M'yes, quite so, but back then the idea of building complete new main line locomotives wasn't exactly mainstream, so using what was to hand, as a compromise, would have seemed like a pragmatic solution. I suppose that one modern equivalent would be the Hawksworth County newbuild.

Mark