MHR Restorations and Overhauls

One interest news snippet I've just seen in the latest HR mag is that the NRM have asked the MHR that Lord Nelson is to remain in Malachite livery to match Cheltenham so they can peform a rare double-header. Problem is Lord Nelson is NOT in Malachite livery, I think as has been said on here a while ago when questions were raised about the livery, it's actually in "Parsons Green" livery. A very brief shade of green livery the loco carried in between Maunsell Olive green and Bulleid Malachite green.

 

The tins bought for Cheltenham are labelled "Malachite Green" for what it's worth. I Don't know if that is just the name on the order or not, but that is what is intended for the locomotive. There are some pictures of the website of the first couple of coats of paint although that is far from the finish. I would assume that they'd finish cheltenham and see how different the shades look before making a decision on Nelson.

 

Couldn't give a stuff what colour they paint Nellie or Cheltenham, but a drop grate and hopper ashpan on both would be nice! Would offend the purists of course, not that they'd ever see it.

 

Hear hear.....good suggestion

 

Outrageous suggestion, these locomotives should be preserved as close as possible to the "way they were". The extra shovelling is good for you.....

 

What is Yorks view on modifications such as these? whilst they are out of sight they do make life so much easier plus with a rocking grate as fitted to the MHR southern mogols rather than a drop grate its easier to ensure that the grate is properly cleaned so less build up of corrosive ash around the bottom corners of the box

I think that as long as its not a vissible mod it shouldnt be a problem after all, what about the mods that NRM engines have to have when they are registered for the main line?

 

Indeed. A rocker like 31806 has would be excellent and would allow both engines to be regular runners in contrast to the occasional use that Nellie gets at present. Logistically the Nelson takes a VERY long time to prep simply because every single piece of ash and clinker on that massively long grate has to come out through the firehole door on a long and heavy clinker shovel. There's no quicker way around this unless you're prepared to hop into a hot firebox, take some firebars out and shove it all down into the ashpan by hand. I've done it but I can't honestly recommend it. Either way it adds probably an hour to the preparation time which could take you over the maximum number of hours that a crew is allowed to work if you're not careful.

If you'll forgive the pun, the Nelson grate is not that great anyway and I've long thought that it would steam much better with a redesign (perhaps along BR Standard lines) which would allow more air through to the firebed than the current closely-spaced and easily clogged bars do.

It's great that the NRM has entrusted the Mid Hants with these Southern classics in order that more people get to see and ride behind them, and with a few discrete modifications they could be
seen even more often as practical working engines doing what they were designed to do.

 

Very good point, whilst if not in steamable condition, theres no reason not to keep things as they were , but whilst engines are in ticket i think that its got to be a worthwhile change to retro fit Cheltenham and Nellie with rocking grates , after all they can always be taken out once the engine has run its ticket after all, isnt that what Br would have done had steam lasted any longer and the standards had not been introduced? they would have at some stage fitted labour saving mods such as rocking grates and hopper ashpans to most engines where it was possible to

On large grates where you have to use the clinker shovel and bale it out it can take crews over the hours allowed on duty rules when you have to do it this way and its not so efficient or good to the boiler either, think of the stress all that cold air through the fire hole is putting on the tube plate? where else with a rocking grate you just close the door and open the grate, less air comes through the fire bars and once the fire is droped its a simple job to open the hopper and quicker

 

Had a slightly disappointing trip to the line yesterday - disappointing in the fact that instead of the U boat trundling into Arlesford in the morning it was Wadebridge instead - not happy, as I'd called the railway on Saturday to double check the U boat was running, and checked the website first thing Sunday morning just to make sure, so can some one on here who has a bit of clout with the loco running dept PLEASE have a word with them to the effect that if there is a problem with a booked loco the night before, could they please up date the loco roster (rant over)

Apart from the disappointment of the U Boats non appearance,(that and an empty yard at Ropley - only Can Pac, Nellie & a sick U Boat) I still had an enjoyable day out.

Nice to see the steady progress being made with the wagon fleet and the brick facing to the new extension at Ropley certainly looks the part.

The one thing I couldnt get my head around, is just where in the yard at Ropley is it proposed to 'park' the ex kings Cross footbridge, as there's not exactly a lot of space?

 

There must have been a change of plan at the last minute regarding 31806 not running on Sunday. She was in service on Saturday and today. I’m lead to believe the Kings Cross footbridge will be position across from the picnic area to a new path next to the coal dock. This is about half way down the yard.

 

Just my luck LoL!

Though one of the boys from Ropley Manor did say she had been stopped with a 'minor' problem View attachment 3147

As for the foot bridge - thought as much - brain wouldnt compute!

 

So there is your answer......so why come on here and moan with a negative post when you knew all along that she had been stopped with a minor problem. These things happen...

 

I'm not having a moan, just trying to be constructively critical, AND no I didnt know she'd been stopped or the reason for it until I got to Ropley in the afternoon, a bit ****ing too late then.

 

Never trust the MHR website roster, it gets updated very rairly or whenever a loco is taken out for a long period of time, I.E Nelson, the desision to fail the U-Boat happened its first up trip, and we lit Wadebridge by the end of the day, I'm going to be honest, phoning the day BEFORE isnt a good idea either, best thing to do is to ring on the day of your visit.

Like you I was also annoyed about Wadebridge being put back into service, but this was only due to the fact i'd spent most, if not all of the morning cleaning the grate of clinker, trust me, the boiler was empty and we had to fill it with through the gauge glass! So probably slightly more annoying for me!

I would also like to point out Wadebridge was failed this morning, with a broken spring, the U-Boat was in back on trains by the time the 33 had hauled the first train from Alton to Alresford and back to Ropley (were 31806 took over), So sort of bad timing for you? :S

As for the footbridge, as far as im aware (member of ropley platform staff) the Footbridge is going across from the end of the miniature railway, across the front of the carrige and wagon shed

 

That is exactly my point! they have access to this interweb thingy on the MHR website and can be updated 24/7, so if you're coming down for a particular loco, it would be nice to know, as for phoning ahead on the day, I'm already on the road down to Arlesford before the office opens!

As for Wadebridge yesterday, the damn thing did not sound in good health - some of the station staff were taking bets on when and where it would fail in section! so I'm surprised it only failed with a broken spring!

And like I said - I still enjoyed my 'day out', at the end of the day at least its steam and not a box, and I needed a steam fix!

 

Perfectly normal, unfortunatley Wadebridge has gained a slightley unfair reputation for failing, and as for sounding poorly, I was helping running the miniature railway on that day, she sounded normal if not better than normal! Shes in the best mechanical condition shes ever been in scince the start of preservation!

 

31806 Did make it back into the Alton end working as mentioned on Sunday as she worked the 11.43 Alresford to Alton from Ropley haveing taken over from Crompton 33053 . Pics attached David

 

Running repairs happen and as the website state, locos are subject to availability. The webmasters are not on 24*7 call but the roster is updated to reflect what is known and planned for at the time, but neither are fitters expected to update websites, their priority is the running maintenance. The U was not scheduled to run today after being withdrawn for repairs but thanks to the fitters efforts yesterday and this morning, we were able to return her to service to replace Wadebridge. There was a lot of work behind the scenes to achieve what was done.

I think it's been some good work to achieve that and also good work on the progress on Wadebridge today. Drivers also seemed very happy with Wadebridge yesterday, going very well.

 

the engine was only failed at 7 o clock that morning so it would have been impossible to update the website before the first service train anyway.

 

Re: 34007 Wadebridge.

I think some of the critical comments regarding this loco are a tad unfair.

Yes she has had her problems and probably will continue to now and again throw up surprises until the end of her current certificate, but that is the nature of Bulleids machines.

What annoys me though is the questioning of the quality of the original restoration, even to the point i overheard someone say that they cant wait for 34105 Swanage to re-enter service because Wadebridge is a pile of s**t.

Another comment i saw suggested that 34007 certainly knew what a hill was.

Well if you had ridden behind her on the first public day of service at the Bodmin and Wenford back in 2006, she certainly didn`t, because she romped up the hill from Bodmin Parkway to General!

Most of the problems that have afflicted 34007 are due to wear and tear(valve gear,brake rigging bushes and fitted bolts working loose) or injectors that were made elsewhere not being reliable.

As far as the restoration was concerned she was more heavily overhauled than 34105 was first time around.

The boiler came off, the wheels came out and were retyred along with the axleboxes receiving a full overhaul ect.

So please, anybody who feels Wadebridge is not as good as it should be, spare a thought for Dave Mitchell and his often small band of helpers who until the latter years of the restoration had to work in an unheated corrugated tin shed.

I thing they did pretty well considering!