Strathspey Railway

No but it was hired in 20 odd years ago and its performance was loved by the Strathspey and Bo'ness crews. Pocket rockets indeed.

 

80105 is currently at Aviemore, arrived last week, for boiler repairs.

 

Nothing beats a Std tank on a heritage line for ease of footplate crew, fireman especially. Driver too if the 'bacon slicer' isn't too stiff!

 

Good to see the Strathspey gang have the capacity to help out. If there are some running turns for it, I would be inclined to pop up for a run behind it.

 

Strathspey seems to be building quite a fleet for the future. The 2 Ivatt Moguls, 5025, 92219 and now 76079, that's without 828 at the Spa Valley.

 

And Austerity No.9 is under active restoration. A long time since it ran and it was a real pillar of steam services through the 90s.

 

Does make me wonder what the future holds for 828, it's been at the Spa quite a few years now- with 76079 at Strathspey will it spend more time as a roving ambassador?

Chris

 

Mentioned in passing elsewhere was the million pound donation from October was even more generous at 2 million! : https://archive.is/2j8v8.

Certainly gives the railway the leg room to invest in a strong locomotive for the future. I probably vocalised earlier in the thread that the railway could do with at least another tender locomotive when it was just 5025, 828 and 46512. This was before 46464 came home and 92219 came north. And now a third is making 60B its home.

My outside view is that its seeing a second retirement at the Spa Valley. Not that it was incapable of the daily Strathspey trains but it but it is by a wide margin the oldest locomotive of the Strathspey fleet and deserves a somewhat more charmed life that the Spa Valley offers. Comments over on FB suggest the hire period ends at the end of the year. Im sure Keith or Jonathan or Jonnie can speak more to the circumstances.

 

It's great that it's been able to holiday at the Spa, it would be nice if it toured at bit before it eventually makes it's way home- it's been a long time since I have seen it!

I lived in Kinloch Laggan for a couple of years and used to really enjoy seeing her fairly regularly when I went through to Aviemore for shopping/an evening out.

Chris

 

I have increasingly vague memories of its first stint in preservation including its centenary celebration but I do remember its last couple of years in BR black.

 

Is that the milli spent then? Seems questionable to buy another loco when the line already has a 3 steam locos on the books already?

 

I don't think they will have pent a million to buy 76079, but by the time it has been overhauled they probably will have!

 

On one hand I was thinking it was a bit strange as I'm pretty sure there have been times where the only available steam loco has been 46512, and they have managed.

Forward planning wise having 4, possibly 5 seems a sensible decision in terms of scheduling maintenance and overhaul requirements.

One in traffic
One running repairs/washout etc
One "Spare"
One Overhaul

Spreading the milage across multiple machines and allowing more maintenance time whilst in the boiler cycle should probably mean locos that can be turned round more quickly come overhaul time too, rather than being absolutely worn out (like 76079 now.....).

In amongst this, it ought to be a good opportunity to up skill/maintain workshop competency too.

Chris

 

I really hope 828 makes a stop in Yorkshire on its way home - either at Keighley or ELR to work alongside the L&Y 0-6-0s, or I'd be delighted to see it at Embsay.

 

Would love to see at at Brechin at some point.

 

Yeah they weren't the greatest days for the railway. Did the equivalent of 10 years mileage in about 5. Then it was the austerity tank that the NYMR are converting to oil and WPR 17. The uptick is to be applauded. Technically its 4 working locos on the books but one has been seconded. I dont know if there are more running days but services starting at Aviemore instead of tacitly starting/ ending at the Boat with a loco running light from/ to Aviemore saves 20 miles.

As I posted, it was over 2 million.

 

Its earning money for its next overhaul (which I don't think is far off) and is reportedly well looked after and thought of there. Had the hire extended at least twice I believe.

 

I would suggest the Ivatt twins and now 76079 will be everyday locos. The Black 5 only sees occasional use as will the 9F I suspect.

 

Still a good bit of time till we see 76079 in steam but 5025, 828 and 46512 all come out of service around 2029-2031 which isn't that far away.

 

It'll help future proof the line as well. Assuming the Grantown extension happens in the next few years, having 5 "big" locos available will certainly help with the extra mileages involved. So it's only 8 miles per round trip, but it'll soon add up. It also gives them the option of increasing the service from the current three per day.