Air smoothed merchant navy

I see reading railway magazine a group aims to un rebuild a merchant at eastleih! Exciting times

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35022? The original intention for this loco. Or could be 35009 or 35011.

 

who cares, Just tell me:
Fully air smoothed ?
Chain drive or gear (poppet valves) ?
Where do i send the money ?

 

They said a modded chain drive, and the group isn't out in the open yet due to discussions or something

 

35018 would be my favourite, as it was the first to be re-built, so putting back to original condition would be great. Also it always differed from the other 29 production examples in a few small ways.

 

As the first of all the rebuilt Bulleids, surely this is the one with the most historic value in its modified form?

 

Fantastic. Hope this gets off the ground as said by someone who never saw the Merchants unrebuilt other than in books. Wasn't 35009 Shaw Shavil (under Ian Riley) going to be restored this way and become a 'Super Merchant' I think I emember it from an old Steam Railway.

 

One hell of a project.

But then I never thought Tornado would see the light of day...................

If anyone finds a web site for this project please post the URL here.

 

Would fill a gap in the preservation ranks that's for sure. Any project that aims to increase the number of "proper" Bulleid Pacifics gets my vote.

 

Gets my vote. I wonder how long it would take to un rebuild a MN?

 

How long's a piece of string? Cash, facilities and size of work force will all have a bearing on how long it will take.

 

And would it be un-rebuilt "warts and all"?

 

Warts, what warts? Are you suggesting that Mr. Bulleid's finest were less than perfect? :smt001

 

I agree, 21C18 is my favourite candidate for going back to normal. Mainly becuase it would annoy so many people who are under the delusion that they are better in de-tuned form, being the first to be ruined.

 

Why would people be annoyed ? There would still be plenty of re-built examples.

 

I think it will be well good hope they dont have it to modified though so its still esentialy is a original merchant.

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Yes, and the proposal I've heard about is based on a new frameset, and middle cylinder at least. Made to something like an original specification with improvements internally over the obvious weaknesses. Which would preserve all the existing re-built framesets. Bulleid was originally going to use a geared propshaft arrangement for the drive to the valve gear, similar to that used on the Caprotti's. But in 1940/1 the chains were cheaper, and available. Boilers, wheels etc are interchangaeble anyway. The obvious candidate for the identity of the engine would be Channel Packet.

Did anyone preserve the original regulator handle off 35001?

For those that don't know, it was different to all the others and it kept it throughout its working life.

 

How many people are able make that judgement I wonder?

My understanding of and collection of data on rebuilt MN performance goes back nearly 50 years. But I still have absolutely no data on which to make a judgement on whether the originals or rebuilt MNs are better. Does any one here?

But I just love the look of the air smoothed ones! And would so love to see one running again. I can just remember seeing one, I think! Coming through Bromley South on the up Night Ferry. Piloted by a 4-4-0. I was very little then. Some would say I still am! (Mind, not body).

 

A note of caution. Remember how long it took and the intervention from the Prime Ministers Office to obtain the the right gauge and size of steel for the re streamlining of the Duchess.
I should imagine that a private venture will encounter similar difficulties and find that it will be more difficult to source materials with out help from people in high places.
However, I wish them well in their endeavours and look forward to seeing a 'real' Merchant Navy in the future.