42085

Does anyone have any news on the Fairburn at the Bluebell? Presuming of course that she is still there, I did hear from quite a senior source that she was going to stay till Easter, any plans for any more running?

 

In one of Derek Haywards update's the other day, can't remember whether it was last weekend or the one before 42085 was still there, sitting in the shed road next to the one with road excess.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if it could run through Easter, better wait and see...

 

Here we are, taken on the 6th March.

http://train.fotopic.net/p63636600.html

 

Such a handsome engine! I seem to remember something about how the L&HR didn't want the Fairburns leaving the railway to make visits elsewhere - was that just a rumour or have they relaxed their policy? I don't believe 42073 has ever made any visits elsewhere has it?

 

42085 is provisionally rostered to run service trains on the weekend 27th/28th

 

Make that the weekend on 27th/28th.

 

I'll be on the WSR for the last weekend in March, are there any plans for further running?

Regards

 

I have seen it explained elsewhere but cannot confirm if true or not. 42085 and 42073 were owned respectively by the Maher brothers and as is their right they wished the locos to remain on their home railway. One brother has since passed away and 42085 inherited by his son who is more amenable to the loco making visits elsewhere.

 

After the weekend of 27th/28th there are no plans for further running and she is expected to leave at the end of the month. However re-laying work in the tunnel is now expected to be finished for that weekend so it'll be a full 2 train service the whole length of the line.

 

Superb news about the Fairburn, well done to all concerned in negotiating the extra stay at the Bluebell. I'd heard the same thing that Ian has, the owner of 42073 won't let it turn a wheel outside of the Lakeside Railway but the son who inherited the 42085 is more open to loan offers and hence it's stay at the Bluebell & previously the GCR. I did hear at Branch Line w/e that 42085 is in it's last year of it's boiler ticket so catch it while you can as it won't be in steam much longer.

 

Thanks for that news guys, will defo be there for the weekend