Schools Class "Cheltenham"

Thanks for the info on 30925 I have booked a day off for Bittern so i think i will head for

Eastleigh and hopefully see both.

Regards

Mike M.(70c)

 

For those lucky enough to see the move from the offloading point to the East Yard, you had a treat as the loco was propelled by the 08 all the way past the station. The front end was producing gentle chuffs and a lady in a nearby office wanted to know why we were pulling the diesel (!) so that she could tell her little boy

It did look rather nice glinting in the sunshine

The move tomorrow will not be quite so picturesque as the loco will be tender first on the front end of a 7 wagon train.

 

Hope somebody got some pictures

 

what sorta time is the loco going into the works?? and is it around the station are still?

might pop down tomorrow to get a snap if so after i have grabbed bittern on the tour

cheers
Matt

 

Can't claim that James. But I do have two photos of Schools in 1961/62 where I cannot read the number!

 

Believe a Class 66 might haul it into the Works around 10:00.

 

Exact time not known yet but the driver doesn't book on for the diagram until 10.00.
The loco will be towed tender first by whatever the depot chooses to send out ( probably a 66 but you never know)
but will not be on its own as there are 7 wagons to be tripped for the Yard as well and we left it connected to this train last night.
The rods are still connected and she makes a good chuff as she moves along.

Carl Watson has some pictures on his site that will be released later today after the Press Release has gone out.
Press Day is Friday

 

Excuse my lack of knowledge, but I thought that the NRM went through a policy a number of years back that involved removing all asbestos from their exhibits?? Was Cheltenham missed out or am I wrong?

 

I thought the same thing, I recall reading an article about how meticulous they were at undoing the sheeting on Lode Star so not to damage the original GWR paintwork and even went to the extreme of ensuring the bolts were fixed at the same positions when put back so as not to make the paint finish look different.

 

For a big organisation like the NRM removing the asbestos can be a poorer idea than managing it in situ. As the loco was not intended to steam, sealing the cladding makes a lot of sense. From what I've seen the loco has been well looked after on this front and is well sealed.

The HSE is much more keen on management than removal these days as not many asbestos contractors were, shall we say, as diligent as they could be. The number of licenced removal companies continues to shrink as the cowboys are weeded out.

 

All those in the know on the 60019 trip yesterday were looking out for her but alas we didn't see her. Some pictures of the event here though:http://carl-watson.fotopic.net/

 

If you dont mind me going into "historical mode" for a moment, "Cheltenham", together with LMS 2P 4-4-0 40646 worked the RCTS "East Midlander No. 5" railtour on 13th May 1962 from Nottingham to Darlington and York and return. On the return run from Darlington to York these two veterans covered the 44.10 miles in 39 minutes 21 seconds start to stop, with a maximum speed of 83.5 mph, some 12 miles covered at over 80 mph.

An interesting fact came out afterwards, in that 40646 had been officially withdrawn the week before this tour due to the expiry of its boiler life, but was given a "stay of execution" to work this tour with the "Schools". As the RCTS "Railway Observer" commented, "It is certainly unusual for a withdrawn locomotive to immediately run a 300-mile railtour, some of it at speeds in excess of 80 mph! "

From a personal viewpoint I saw the outbound special on the GC Chesterfield loop in the morning, and then at Doncaster that evening. Happy days....

46118

 

A wonderful memory to have. Many thanks for posting it here.

 

There are now a couple of reports and some different pictures on the MHR site on the latest news section. 925 is due to be overhauled in the same shed that 850 was.

 

Good to see another steam loco overhaul about to be begin at Eastleigh again.

 

Was this the loco's last main line working under her own steam?

http://graham-williams.fotopic.net/p63012267.html

I remember well, on this Bank Holiday evening, while I was photographing this remarkable movement, the SAS were storming the Iranian Embassy in London.

 

Yes. As I recall, it suffered a tube failure at Dinting and was towed back to York later that year.

Peter James

 

BBC report here:http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/hampshire/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9087000/9087087.stm

No video though. It's interesting that they want her to leave under her own steam.

 

2 years till she's finished?