Schools Class "Cheltenham"

No the boiler was built in the thirties, and was originally fitted to 929 "Malvern". The front barrel section looks new however, and there is a complete absence of the usual pitting and corrosion that you find on ex-barry boilers. As you know that is only part of the story, and the internal inspection by our Boilersmith will reveal it's true condition.

There is a weekly Blog from the project team going on the watercressline.co.uk website. The verdict of the boiler inspection will probably be in the next blog.

We have not found anything labelled from other locos. The boiler record card however lists the other Schools that it has been used on (some more than once). These are:

929,932,918,924,928, 923.

 

The boiler was lifted off 925 "Cheltenham" yesterday at the Mid Hants Outstation workshop inside Eastleigh Works. This is now the third boiler lift carried out inside the works since the end of steam, the other two being 828 and 850.

Details and pictures are on our website.

http://www.watercressline.co.uk/News/Loco/View/388

 

Magic stuff Chris, hoping to try and get down next month and bring Mrs Ashby, Mr Beet and the Gaffer on our way to the MHR...

 

Am I the only one to feel the hairs on the back of my neck prickle to see a steam loco, and a Southern one at that, being overhauled at Eastleigh 44 years after the "end of steam" on the Southern? I love the blog and will be sending off my "Tenner For Cheltenham" form this weekend. Keep up the good work!

 

Well done Andrew and thank you.

I sent mine off a few weeks ago.

regards
Chris:

 

Out of interest, is it the intention to re-use the smokebox, or will it be replaced as per 850?

 

You're not the only one, I reckon most of the restoration team find it a bit special being inside the Works. It happened thanks to Bruce Knights and the NRM.

Also I'm glad some-one reads the blog!

P.S. To the other chap, the smokebox looks ok.

 

Good to know that it'll be a 'warts and all' restoration as per 70013 (you can still see the dinges on the injector pipes). The imperfections (ie. the plated over Bulleid chimney aperture) all add to the interest of the locomotive and should be retained if at all possible.

 

Who he? ;-)

 

Sorry, dementia has set in.

CW:-

 

Blog 10 has now been posted.
Blog 11 will go up in the next couple of days. This has pictures of the boiler leaving Eastleigh.

http://www.watercressline.co.uk/News/Loco

 

Good blog as usual Smiff, nice and informative & the pics help to.

Nice to see things progressing at a rapid rate cant wait to see her on MHR metals.

Looking forward to the next one.

Dave

 

http://www.watercressline.co.uk/News/Loco/View/485

The latest "Cheltenham" Blog is now live on the Watercressline website.

 

http://www.watercressline.co.uk/News/Loco/View/541

 

I hear she was chuffing up and down Eastleigh yard yesterday. And seen the picture of her in steam. Looking forward to going behind her sometime soon.

 

I saw her in steam at Rainhill in 1980, but after she was laid up shortly afterwards never thought to see her in action again. Well done to all.

 

A few pictures taken with my phone a few minutes ago, I'm sure better ones will be following.

Loco is parked by the gates close to the Southampton-eastleigh line

 

pardon my ignorance, just noticed this thread, so if the questions been asked before i do apologise, is there any chance of her going mainline at any point?

 

Ahh! *sigh* Another "who'd have thought it" moment. A newly overhauled SR Schools standing outside Eastligh works, 50 years after such things were supposed to have stopped. Well done everyone. Can't wait to welcome her to the MHR, and really looking forward to my first token exchange with her.

 

Not totally ruled out, but no plans at the moment. Someone would have to come up with enough money and a good plan, then convince the NRM and the MHR of the wisdom of their scheme.