Caledonian Railway 828

Get your brickbats out for the Strathspey Railway: 828 is back and in a different shade of blue: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/10296298.stm

The photo shown here isn't very good but the ones I have seen from various people are very impressive. Murray Duncan has done (another) excellent job.

 

Another photograph can be found in the 'latest news' section here: http://www.strathspeyrailway.co.uk/

 

Dead excited about this. Something I've been looking forward to for some time now.
I will get myself up to Aviemore ASAP. Only thing is if memory serves there is no loco roster on the website, so any ideas when it will be working?

 

Looks very nice. Never got to see it in action first time round so hopefully I'll manage during this ticket. Knowing when it is rostered will be very handy as Bedfordshire to Aviemore is rather on long trip to make "on spec."

 

I think the official relaunch is the 10th July. There isn't a live roster but if anyone wants to know when it will be running after the 10th then PM me and I'll find out for you.

 

Well done to all at Aviemore. Looks fantastic. As other's have said, I'm sure that any info on when it might be running would be very much appreciated.

 

Thanks Neil, very kind of you. Congrats to all

 

That is just beautiful, far better than black. HA!

 

Another photo: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?i...0000142106793&pid=408342&fbid=136015299746539

There are a few in this guys gallery if you flick through.

 

Well the locomotive is now in traffic, much sooner than I had thought. Here is a montage/video clip of her on her first day back in service:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cY25ZWzjG8

Neil

 

Great news. I've booked for SRPS trip behind 61994 on 26 June, so could be double stamps!

 

Is the Ivatt next in line for the works?

 

46512's overhaul is at an advanced stage, so goes the saying. I think this time next year 46512 will be in traffic, that's certainly the expectation.

 

Is this a full top and bottom overhaul or just mainly boiler work? IIRC 46512 didn't do a full 'ten year' ticket so I wonder if that is the case whether there was less work required on the bottom end?

 

It's not quite as extensive as we had thought. The locomotive is in better condition than we had thought but certain parts of it were worn out through use or through bad practise when the locomotive was overhauled previously.

The main problem was a misalignment of axleboxe(s) (I'm not an engineer - disclaimer) on the rear driving axle which caused excessive vibration against the boiler and the firebox. This resulted in problems with stays in the lower firebox and the foundation ring.

Apart from correcting these faults and repairing any damage done most of the locomotive is in pretty good shape. The overhaul started last year and should be finished within time and budget. I believe that we'll have spent considerably less than we had expected, though I don't have the exact figure to hand at the moment.

 

Is it likely that 828 will be in service for the July Steam Fair ? If so I may well come up for a look and make a weekend of it.

 

I think it would be providing it's fit for traffic. I spoke to the main fitter this week about her use and I was informed she'll be used as the main engine for the season but expect some rotation with the other two.

828 should be out on Saturday when 61994 visits.

 

Yes there is a lot of work going on behind-the-scenes with 5025. There is a lot of interest in overhauling it, I would expect to see more action when 46512 is finished and space (and money) frees up in the shed.

 

828's overhaul has been nominated for the HRA/Steam Railway Readers' Awards. See here for her nomination and to express your vote for her:

http://www.steamrailway.co.uk