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Bulleid Pacifics - Past or Present

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by 34007, May 13, 2008.

  1. nickt

    nickt Member

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    It belongs to the Wadebridge group at the Mid-Hants. SLL "hired" it, and it's now returned to Ropley.
     
  2. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    Consider it clarified!
     
  3. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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  4. Swan Age

    Swan Age Member

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    In the latest Steam Railway issue No.388, there is an excellant article on School`s No.925 `Cheltenham`.

    Contained in the article is a reference to possible further loco`s going to Eastleigh for overhaul, notably 35005`Can Pac` with the statement "see news".

    However i can see no article contained in the news section relating to 35005.

    Is this another Steam Railway mistake, similar to the refence to 34073 last year in the contents, but no article in the mag. Or do i need to go to Specsavers?
     
  5. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    No, I haven't seen this, either. However, if Bruce Knights continues to consent to part of Eastleigh being used as an outstation of the MHR locomotive division, then if the 35005 story is true, then it could mean that it'll jump the restoration queue by quite a bit. One thing I like about the MHR is that they seem to have several gangs of volunteers, so that it is possible to progress on a number of fronts at roughly the same time. I was told by 35005's custodian at Eastleigh 100 that a fair amount of the money was in place for her overhaul, notwithstanding hidden costs uncovered when dismantling the locomotive.
     
  6. 850LordNelson

    850LordNelson New Member

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    Thats interesting because I was told quite recently that a large majority of the funds for 35005's overhaul had been spent on keeping a certain unrebuilt West Country Class in servicable condition!!! I do really hope that this story is true though as 35005 is probably my favourite southern engine! After Lord Nelson off though off course! :D
     
  7. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    I was told this back in 2009, so the money might well have been used on 34007 in the meantime. Either way, one of the limiting factors behind 35005's position near the bottom of the queue is lack of space on the MHR as well as manpower, but if it is possible to maintain an out-station at Eastleigh with its own dedicated gang, then there's no reason aside from money why 35005 cannot be overhauled soon after 30925. This is, of course conjecture, and the opinion of someone who is 'outside the loop' as regards the truth of the situation on the MHR, but it certainly seems feasible.
     
  8. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

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    I guess an out station at Eastleigh would help and be nice for overhauling work to recommence on a long term basis at Eastleigh.
     
  9. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

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    The latest info I’ve heard about 35005 CP. There has been some talk of her going to a museum for a period of time or going to Eastleigh works to be stored there. But she would require a tender for moving her around the works. The only issue here is she doesn’t have a tender at this point in time. Her tender is now behind 34007 Wadebridge In both case the main reason for 35005 leaving the MHR will be to keep her under cover for a period time.
     
  10. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

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    What was happening with 34007's tender. Weren't the original owning group building a new tender for the loco.
     
  11. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

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    The tender body and frames are still in the Meon loop at Alton. The original plan was to use class 33 wheels sets for the tender. This idea has now been scrapped and new Bulleid tender wheels have been cast for the tender and are now at Ropley. I don’t know when she will run with her new tender.
     
  12. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

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    One would have thought that one determinant of when 35005 might be overhauled would be when it is needed to plug a gap in the MHR motive power line-up and that would seem to be a few years down the line. It's all very well having an ever increasing fleet of engines but there is only so much work for them and I don't believe that the available work on the MHR can justify or sustain a core fleet of 6 or 7 engines at any one time. With what is in trafic or likely to come on stream in the next 2-3 years you probably be looking at 10-12 years before it is likely to be needed. Also, by the time 35005's last ticket ran out I'm led to believe it was in a pretty run down condition and it might be conjectured that the boiler job needed will be a big one, something that doesn't seem to be within the capabilities of Ropley Works yet - look at what is currently being done to 34101 and 34027 perhaps as a likely guide to what will be needed.
     
  13. Swan Age

    Swan Age Member

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    I dont think that the work needed to 35005`s boiler is beyond what Ropley can do, remember 34016 needed major firebox work a few years ago and Andy Netherwood hand-flanged a number of firebox plates himself.

    However manipulating and turning the boiler is probably the biggest problem, something that recently was revealed when the Urie locomotive soceity had to send 506`s boiler to Crewe for some copper welding, for this very reason.

    I think a core working fleet of 6-7 engines minimum is something any railway the size of the MHR requires. In recent times the Bluebell and NYMR railways have said as much, when they both faced loco shortfalls. You need 3-4 available for traffic instantly and 2-3 undergoing maintanence/washout at the same time.

    I also now see, that the MHR are getting their overhaul schedule/restoration about right, an average 12-18 months between outshopping locomotives.

    Also bear in mind that with a larger fleet to share the work, the overall wear and tear will be reduced, leading to less significant overhaul costs at the end of the boiler ticket.

    Having said all that, i too agree that 35005 will probably be 6/8 years away from returning to traffic.

    There is so much work going on at the MHR at the moment in the loco works, but there is no excuse for slacking off as:

    73096 comes out of traffic this year, no further overhaul at Ropley is likely, as it will probably leave the MHR in 2014 or sooner.
    34007 in 3 years time.
    31806 moves elsewhere probably in 3 years time, with 34016, 31806 and 31625.
    92212 a further 2 years after these, assuming the owner wants to keep it at the MHR.

    The locos currently undergoing overhaul will only be plugging this gap.
     
  14. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

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    In recent years the MHR has done relatively little in the way of boiler work on site, major overhauls have been contracted to either Chatham or Crewe.
     
  15. 850LordNelson

    850LordNelson New Member

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    That could have been due to a lack in proper space and resources, which of course they now have in the form of the new boilershop. However could point out we did do the work on 92212's boiler and a majority of work has already been done of 76017 and 925. :)
     
  16. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

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    Don't think 92212 had much done to its boiler, and from what I've seen in the blogs 925 is going to get much done to it. Has the boiler from 76017 really ben repaired? I haven't seen much mention of that either, and if you look at the sort of work that has been needed on 75029, and will be needed on 75069 it might be reasonable to expect that 76017 will need more than just a retube.
     
  17. 850LordNelson

    850LordNelson New Member

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    Very True! however at least thats work is being done on site!!! :D lol and I belive that there is quite some work to be done on 76017, but I may be wrong, its still located within the boilershop, with what belive to be a new smokebox?
     
  18. Swan Age

    Swan Age Member

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    76017`s boiler needs new lower outer half sides to the firebox, the same work was done to 73096`s boiler at Ropley when first restored.
    92212 needed rectification work to correct bowed tubeplates(done in-house) and some copper welding(outside contractor).
     
  19. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

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    Don’t forget the MHR has six locos under restoration at this moment in time.

    76017
    75079
    34105
    30506
    30925
    Douglas


    With any luck we may see 34007 and 34105 running together. How cool would that be.
     
  20. SMIFF

    SMIFF New Member

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    Plus Eastleigh Railway Preservation Society are making steady progress at Ropley with their S15 no. 828. They work every saturday at Ropley and could do with some more volunteers. If anyone is interested go and see them and ask for "Malc". They are a good bunch of blokes.
     

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