Bulleid Pacifics - Past or Present

A date that should be etched in the nation's conciousness but is sadly negelected these days.

 

As an aside - I was driving home from a committee meeting in Tonbridge on 15th September, and I passed the memorial chapel at the former RAF Biggin Hill at around 11:40pm. The Hurricane and Spitfire replicas were floodlit from the underside and it was very striking to me how peaceful the scene was compared with 69 years ago.

Anyway, back to Bulleids...

Is there any chance of Sir Keith Park steaming for the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain next year?

Regards,

Dan

 

Proberley no chance at all...

 

That's still the target though it's getting tight, and more money is needed to complete the restoration. If you ever wanted to own a share of a rebuilt Bulleid, now is a good time to buy one....

http://southernlocomotivesltdphotogallery.fotopic.net/p61096461.html

 

More photos of Manston's re-dedication are here:-

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/news590.htm

 

He was 55 when he joined the Southern in 1937, so he was 59-60 when Channel Packet rolled out of Eastleigh.

 

I don't know if anyone else has noticed it, but I went to the mid Hants at the weekend and Wadebridge seems to have lost 3 beats completely. Even on the climb from Alton to Medstead.
Yet I went to swanage for their gala, and Manston seems to have 6 beats.

 

As with most locos it depends on how far the thing is pulled up.

 

i dont think an engine should loose beats when its pulled up, if it does it indicates something is wrong.

 

Depends how well the valves have been set.

 

Yes but on those things you only have to get the chains on when the 3 throw crank is in the right place relative to the driving crank.
There is no messing around with washers on valve spindles.
To have missing beats suggests broken valve rings?

Mind you, that western railway had a good idea when they made some of their engines with screw adjustable valve spindles. Although that would move both heads together. Which may not be the desired effect!

 

Does anyone know what the latest news is on 34046 Braunton at the WSR since she failed on her Tender Axle? Is work being done on this?

 

Yes, it has all gone rather quiet regarding Braunton and main line running, but having read in "Railway Mag" that 34027 is not likely to return to the main line, it looks like Braunton will be the only Rebuilt WC/BB likely to grace the main line in the foreseeable future.

It's quite astonishing what a large number of preserved Bulleids are going to be confined to heritage railway use only - including "Merchant Navies" 35005 and 35006. I cannot think of any other 8P locos apart from those intended for static display only (6000, 46235, 60008/10) which are almost definitely NEVER going main line again, and thinking of lower power-rated express engines, the WC/BB's compare badly against, say the GWR Castles, where all but 4073 are either main line certified or could conceivably be in the future. Likewise the Jubillees and Royal Scots.

Although I guess one cannot but feel a sense of regret about this, there is no point in whinging. Bulleids are expensive engines to restore and operate, besides being heavy on coal, and the fact is, over 30 have survived, with 18 having steamed in preservation. For this, we must be profoundly thankful.

 

The tender with the failed axle is a Merchant Navy tender borrowed from 35027 Port Line. It is unlikely that this tender will be used behind Braunton any more as a brand new tender is being built at Williton. This is not far from completion, and will be used behind Braunton on the mainline next year (all being well). It is a later style BR modified 5250 gallon light pacific tender, the same as Braunton originally had throughout its life on BR as a rebuild. The original tender was sold by Woodhams to Briton Ferry steel works and was later scrapped. No 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair at the Bluebell also has a new tender of this type. http://www.locos-in-profile.co.uk/Bulleid_Society/master_frames/master_sas.html

David
www.braunton-management.co.uk

 

Hi David,

Thanks for the update. Any idea when the Tender is due for completion? As obviously 34046 won't be running until this Tender has been finished?

So does this mean the the owners etc of Portline shall be repairing this tender?

Thanks in advance.

 

Is Mr Hosking not the owner of both Braunton and Port Line?

 

He is.
I am not aware of any reason why 34046 cannot continue to work on the WSR - the axle flaw only prevents mainline work.


Keith

 

Possibly all depends how badly damaged the axle is? As it may cause a derailment? Just a thought..

 

I take the flaw is In the axle and not in the wheel set so I can’t see why the tender would derail for? Surely the tender would suffer a hot box first which would be pick up by the loco crew. But I maybe wrong about this?