MHR Restorations and Overhauls

If a loco is having an overhaul, the job should be done properly, with a repaint being the last job. I do agree with you that the NRM will have the last say in what the livery will be.

 

I remember reading somewhere that the Urie Locomotive Society intend to restore one of their engines (I think 499) to full LSWR lined holly green with early style smokebox, cab and stovepipe chimney? Can anyone confirm this?

And if it's true, WOW!!!! Can't wait!!!

 

As a ULS member , the answer is yes this has been discussed though that goal is a very long way off yet.

Lets get 506 in traffic first I think before we concern ourselves with 499.

Regards
Chris

 

I don't think we were talking about who should decide, rather discussing what would look good on the loco. Not as if we're going to make the decision for the NRM is it lol

Good point though, the NRM should be involved with the MHR when choice of livery comes out.

 

With this large fleet of Locos the MHR is putting together I reckon its about time they though about extending the Summer running timetable to include 3 locos running instead of 2

 

I think they would if the passenger numbers required it. On any given service day 2 is about enough. On galas or special events 3 might be laid on for the increase in numbers.

Not a bad idea, but I think in the MHR's case it might be a bit impractical given the work that is being done around the railway and the costs involved of running 3 steam locos if they don't need the third etc.

 

You should read the thread on the Flying Scotsman's livery! LOL!

 

Is it 506 thats come out of the headshunt and nearer to the main shed?

And is that 506's tender thats been inside the shed for the last few weeks?

 

What's more interesting is how are they going to pay for all these locomotives that they're going to overhaul?

 

I beleive its 506's tender thats been in the shed, not sure about the shunt though.

EDIT: Not many of the locos on the MHR's list are actually owned by the railway. To my knowledge the restorations they have to pay for themselves are the 2 of the 3 Std 4s they have in the queue. The rest are privatley owned. Ropley has just been selected for the restorations because they do a fine job, and the MHR draws enough numbers that its worth the private owners having their locos there.

Not to say that other railways arent the same mind, just saying that the MHR's passenger numbers and restoration quality do tend to get them noticed by private owners.

As for loco hire and fuel costs, the MHR manages it's fuel consumption by using the most economical locos wherever they can without sacrificing the appeal of others. The railway is also one of the more fortunate in the sense of no disasters to speak of other than the fire which was insured, and they have turned a higer profit year on year for a while now so their money situation is probably somewhat more comfortable.

 

................. and what they're going to do with them all. As has been pointed out, the normal service requires a couple of engines. Most railways try to have 2x that number available to cover maintenance etc, too many more means that the available mileage is spread too thinly and private ownerscan't earn enough to pay for their next overhaul.

 

well you could argue that for any railway with a large loco roster, like the bluebell.

Ropley isnt going to turn down a request for an overhaul if they're asked, variety is always good and the idea behind restoring the 2 Std 4s along with the Black 5 is that they are MHR owned so if they lost all leases in one go they'd still have their own locos that can do the line well.

 

Edit - change of mind.

 

Which engines are in the Bunch collection?

 

Perhaps the words I chose were a little misleading my apologies. I'm not privvy to the exact nature of the contracts between the MHR and the various owners. I was going to mention the Bunch contract which ends in 2014 but I wasnt aware of this as 100% confirmed news so I didnt want to start the rumour mill.

All I know is the MHR is building up their own stock for that exact reason and I am of the beleif that they are not the types to bite off more than they can chew or indeed, afford. It's also important to point out that while these locos have been given a place in the queue, its easy to forget that they are thinking a decade or so in advance with some, they are just being more public about their plans than is perhaps normal prompting people to think they're overdoing it perhaps? Thats the point I'm trying to make. They are probably planning further ahead, not taking on too much at once. You get an opportunity, you snatch it up these days or it goes to someone else.

I could of course be way off the mark here, just a thought.

EDIT: The Bunch engines, I THINK are both U classes, the N class along with a couple of others the IDs of which I am not certain of. I think the U class's place in the queue was due to the fact that the contract states that one of his locos must be in steam when the contract ends.

Not 100% on that one though, could well be inaccurate.

 

The Bunch engines are the three Maunsell moguls, plus 73096 and 34016. I understand about the railway rebuilding its fleet in anticipation of these leaving but timing is the name of the game here - there seems to be a largish number of engines planned to be coming into service in the next 2-3, more or less all at once.

 

They've not given a timetable, just a list of order. That's all. The U class has to be in steam when the Bunch contract ends as per the terms of the contract I beleive. The rest are probably being timed rather cleverly. The black 5 is both a good loco to have and a replacement for 73096. Swanage is probably being lined up given the length of the job as a replacement for wadebridge when she comes out of ticket. The 3 std 4s are being done for everyday use. the mogul is privately owned, not sure on whats exactly going on with that one other than its under restoration now. the 2 that the MHR own, the 4-6-0 tender and the tank, will be for everyday use but are still more than a few years away. the 4-6-0 tender, while already half restored by the plym valley needs a new build tender, and the tank engine having just arrived is a huge job.

 

Actually it is 499,s new tender that is in the shed. This will be used on 506 and its own was getting by the sell by date.

The shunt from Alresford was 499.

Regards
Chris: