71000 Plans for 2010 ?

I understand that the Duke was due a steam test last week. Do we know if it passed ?

Has there been any suggestions, hints or rumours as to if there will be any main line activity this year ?

 

its down to do the Scarborough Flyer for RTC in July/August/September along with 6233 & 6201

Neil

 

Also one of three possible locos for the Cumbrian Mountain Express in July and August. It'd be nice to see her up Shap with the modification to the inside cylinder, see what she can really do!

 

The new issue of the Railway Magazine has her down as working a movement trip from Manchester to Bishops Lydeard on 13th March.

 

The Duke should have been at the Churnet Valley this coming weekend, but the following announcement has appeared on their website:

"It is with much regret that we have to announce that the Duke of Gloucester
will not be attending our Winter Steam Gala due to overrunning repair work.

The owners informed the CVR on the 29th January that the repair work they are undertaking will not be complete.
They are sincerely upset that they are not able to honour their commitment to us &
have assured us that we will be able to have the Duke at a later date this year.

We are trying to find a replacement locomotive but it is very difficult at such short notice. "

Peter, on a dank, wet Manchester afternoon
http://pjhrailpics.fotopic.net/

 

I'm eyeing up one of the CME's this summer. I've done 6233 and 6201 on the mainline, but not 71000. So it would be nice to have a trip behind her before her ticket runs out. Which I believe is the end of this year, unless it gets a 12 month extension?

 

http://www.71000trust.com/news.html

 

UKSteam is also now showing this.

 

I would like to see a Merchant Navy over Shap as that would show the men from the boys!

Jim S

 

71000 website has an update for 01 Feb saying that the steam test was passed on 29th January.
The superheater elements now going back in ready for further steam test.
http://www.71000trust.com/update010210.html

 

Probably not an awful lot more than it did before........ Hopefully it will be used a bit more carefully this time round and not thrashed mercylessly to try and prove its as good as a duchess, then it should last a bit longer?
It has never come anywhere near 6233 on power output, and certainly nowhere near 46229's record on saunderton in the late 80's...

 

Hmm, funny thats what I was thinking.....

 

How come it was thrashed? I thought that the guys who run it only fixed what BR got wrong?