Latest on 34067?

Well DoG isn't registered with WCRC (I don't think) and Tornado won't be until next year. A black 5 does sound more likely.

 

44932 is detailed as alternative motive power for these trips on UKSteam.

 

34067 Tangmere

Does anybody know when this is due back. About a month ago I understood it to be ready by November and it's booked for quite a few trains in December. I am holding off booking on any of these until there's definite news.

Don

 

Re: 34067 Tangmere

34067's next trip is scheduled for December 7th on a Cathedrals Express from Waterloo to Sherbourne. Whether or not it will make i'm not sure. 44932 is down for a Swanage to Waterloo that was originally 34067 on November 27th.

I think it'll be 44932 that will be at the head of a Bath Christmas Market from Hywards Heath on December 11th but if 34067 then i'll be quite happy.

 

There is a piece in this month's Heritage Railway magazine (page 60) which helps explain why 34067 has been away from the rails for so long. Pretty much when she was taken back to Carnforth for what was to be routine winter maintenance, they discovered that she was in poorer shape than was at first thought. As such, the only way she could retain her main line ticket was to give her a 10 year overhaul, so she should be as good as new when she finally re-emerges. Fair play though, she had a good innings over the last couple of years, and got many a tour operator out of a sticky situation. After all that work, I'm sure I'd be feeling a tad the worst for wear!

Anyway, she's had her steam test, and I'm sure that the Carnforth chaps will work tirelessly to produce a gleaming 34067, ready to romp up Shap or wherever the next few years will take her... Here's to another successful period of operation for a remarkable locomotive!

 

It will be good to see her back on Southern metals soon.

Paul

 

So 34067 has been given a new ticket and we can expect to see her on the mainline for another 7 years.

Can't wait to see her back. I've missed seeing a Spam Can on the mainline.

 

Current issue of Railway Herald has a small article on 35028's movement back to London, maintenance on 6201 at Tyseley, the Brits but also 34067. Graeme Bunker of Steam Dreams is 'hopeful' that she will be able to haul her 2 runs before Christmas. Fingers crossed.

 

44932 is replacing Tangmere on the Bath and Bristol on Saturday but is still currently listed for a Cathedrals on December 15th and another on Dedember 17th but 44932 is listed as replacing it on The Sussex Belle on December 21st

 

There has been a few times where Black 5's have stood in for Tangmere. How do the 60mph 5's cope on schedules which originally call for a 75mph class 7/8? I know that Black fives are awesome machines but I always thought pathing was pretty tight down south...

 

The truth is, very few of the 75mph locos get pathed at 75mph, especially on suburban rails in the south. They spend a lot of time trogging along between service trains, and dodging in and out of water and passing stops. Today's Cathedrals Express, for example, was 10 minutes late at Staines but was due for a long wait for its path at Addlestone Junction. So its wait there was 10 minutes shorter and it was back on time at Woking.

When the 75mph locos get a clear path in front of them, and the driver goes for it, they can end up well early - I remember I was on one of Tornado's trips earlier this year, we left Reading on time running behind a HST, and ended up 20 minutes early in Salisbury. So unless it's something like one of Tornado's high-speed thrashes up the ECML, I think Network Rail and the TOC's do not set them up to do anything like their potential maximum. (They do have to make sure there's plenty of time to feed the passengers in Premier Dining, after all!) Another example was the non-stop Bristolian this summer with 5043, certified to 75mph. When they did let it off the leash, it ended up doing Bristol to Paddington in 45 minutes less than its allotted time, without breaking the speed limit. So, generous (slack!) timings are the norm.

 

I heard from someone years ago that 75mph locos are pathed at 60mph, 60mph locos at 50mph, etc. Whether that's true or not, I don't know, but seems feasible.

 

Its a shame that the driver isn't given the discretion to go up to 80MPH under certain circumstances, particularly when running late. But then again, there are probably many safety considerations behind the legislation, let alone the problem of 'thrashing' the locomotive over long periods of time. I've always wondered whether the reason for the speed cap is mechanical or wheel design-related?

 

Don't think it's either reason. Older member will remember during BR's time we had a 60mph max increased later to 75mph. During this time steamers could run to higher speeds and frequently did regaining lateness. How many people here remember slow plods up the N&W from Shrewsbury to Church Stretton or Craven Arms for the photo stop and run pasts losing time and, after the stop absolutely going like the wind to arrive at Hereford right time.
I was on a run up to Marylebone with 46229 when for a variety of reasons not to do with the loco we were chronically late for our water stop at Tyseley.
Speed of almost 90mph were recorded that day more than once I believe and much of the lost time recovered due to some very fast running sustained for long periods.

As to thrashing which is harder on an engine being hammered uphill or being allowed to run fast on easy stretches of track?

Cheers Dave

 

I would say fast running. As speed increases, so do things like centrifugal and reciprocating forces, as well as general jolting around (complex technical term that!) - all adds to extra wear on bearings, springs and the like.

 

Disagree

Years ago I used to drive my fathers Fowler compound road roller to rallys etc. I was a young chap then and dad was always bollocking me for going too fast. One day while he had a drive he started moaning about how rough it ran, I said drive it faster like I do. He found like I did that at certain speeds everything smooths out and believe me unsprung road engines can be rough.

I think you will find that the crews will tend to drive where the loco feels smoothest be it fast or slow. Hammering hard uphill puts a tremendous load through the drive train and its associated bearing surfaces.

Back in the 60's I used to go from Birmingham New St to Gloucester Eastgate by train often haled by black 5's which ran like hares on the easy grades. These were common user engines with varying lengths of time from shopping but they would usually go for it unless the engine was a bad un.

Cheers Dave

 

Quite right; I remember Black 5s frequently running in the 80s but I was never lucky enough to reach the 90s with one.

 

Can anyone say how accurate the HR article is? Has anyone actually seen her in steam or moving under her own power yet?

 

It could be that the steam test refered to is a boiler test with the boiler out of the frames.