35025 Brocklebank Line

4464 is being overhauled by LSL themselves now, rather than SNGLT.

 

Recognising @5944 's post above, it's fair to say that Bittern is in rather better condition than 35025, so I'm not sure the parallel is quite as clearcut as you describe.

Simon

 

Press release from our communications officer.

 

OK, possibly that was a clumsy way of phrasing it. Yes, of course the workshop staff will still have things to do whilst a loco is 'in ticket'; but, as you say, it's a different set of tasks.

My recollection was that the logic behind the SNGLT/LSG tie-up was that the SNGLT recognised the need for slightly different skillsets when overhauling a loco as opposed to conducting running repairs. They wanted to keep an overhaul project 'on the go' alongside 60007's operation to ensure that team members with 'restoration' skills could continue to employ those skills, and train the next generation of volunteers in the process. Anyway, if LSG have taken over the overhaul themselves then it's all academic now.

 

Can I politely suggest that an 80 year old machinist may not be suited to pulling coal forward in a yard or getting up at 2am to get a fire going?

As someone with a bit (small amount) of support crew experience - I can say that the people who overhaul it are not necessarily the ones who then keep it running. And vice versa.

 

In this case a lot of them are the same. Working members who are also support crew made the journey down to Leaky Finders several times during 28’s overhaul and will almost certainly do it again. Needle gunning the inside of the boiler is not the most pleasant task I've undertaken on a hot July day and I did have to keep repeating to myself' I do this as a hobby!' Would I do it again? After photographing it on its first public run storming up to Upton Scudamore Summit with a full set of heavy Pullmans and no diesel on the back, of course I would! I don't understand your first sentence, preparation is the same for any steam loco regardless of age. The RTC Atlantic Coast Express means an early start, more than made up for seeing it at Waterloo with correct headcode and headboard and listening to it taking Honiton Bank in its stride.

 

And that's the reason SNGLT were going to be overhauling 4464. A lot of the overhaul team are retired and are/were based in Yorkshire, and have no desire to travel across to Crewe to work on the loco, or Somerset or Carlisle to clean it. But they were quite prepared to work on 4464 in a nice warm shed, pottering away on cleaning up parts and painting things.

 

Why does that machinist have to be 80? Why can’t that machinist be 40 or younger?

 

I think the point being made isn't necessarily about age per se. Rather, in a group like that, there will inevitably be some people who are primarily interested in the restoration / mechanical side, and some primarily in the operational side; and while there will be some overlap, it won't be total. So there is an advantage to having both types of work available so as to keep everyone motivated, and in that case, having two locos under a group's care can be advantageous. It stops the "operators" drifting away when the loco is out of traffic for overhaul; and stops the "restorers" drifting away when the loco is in traffic and just ends routine maintenance.

Tom

 

Thanks Tom. That was exactly the point I was making. Or trying to make.

I knew a loco owner who did most of the overhaul himself, but wasn't a driver and almost lost interest when it worked.

Some people are happy sleeping in a support coach and getting up early and some aren't. Having two locos means, with some planning and luck your 'workshop inclined' people and your more operationally suited members can keep doing the things you love.

Bear in mind things like training and competencies run out if you don't use them for years because your one loco is under a long overhaul.