SVR Loco Newsy News / discussions

2857's boiler was steamed yesterday (thanks to jamie for reporting this on the SVR forum) following a hydraulic exam on monday. It will undergo further testing this week before returning to the frames.

 

Latest update on Severn Valley Railway Locomotive and Carriage Engineering Services confirms 2857's progress and 7802' s imminent move to the boiler shop.

 

I notice reading the SKP thread 5164 is out of action, what's up with her ?, hopefully nothing too long term.

 

Some interesting scraping noises from the Fireman's side crankpin suggesting a bit of unintended looseness somewhere, and some minor flats on one pair of driving wheels which require turning. Not sure yet whether it will be all the driving wheels or just the set which has the flats. Not too long a job hopefully, but in truth not a short one either.

 

All driving wheels to be turned, loco ready for the wheeldrop tomorrow morning...

 

A job that would have taken a LOT longer without the wheeldrop, I hasten to add.

 

The seal weld on the patches is really a belt & braces situation. It just crosses off another scenario on the "things to go wrong" list.

 

SKP was in steam and being tested today, hope it was successful. Pic on twitter: https://twitter.com/svrbridgnorth/status/222344886907707392/photo/1

 

Looks like another one bit the dust yesterday as 42968 broke another spring, no doubt all at Bridgnorth are now working flat out to replace it. D8188 on BN1 today and tomorrow i believe.

 

I think it might be time for them to decide to reduce the load on the fleet that is getting smaller and leading up to the school holidays make the week service one deisel and one steam and run the deisel on saturday and sunday at weekends as any failure to 7812 would now be a huge problem.

 

That would be difficult as the weekday service requires three trains. And the SVR is already running one rostered diesel diagram every Saturday. If any failure to 7812 would be a huge problem, where does 43106 come into it?

This is another blow to the SVR who are having a difficult time of it loco-wise at the moment, so Ruston906 I think you can look forward to regular diesel haulage for some time yet. However the SVR is first and foremost a Steam railway as that is provably what the vast majority of visitors want, so I think you need to be careful in calling for more diesel traction which can turn visitors away. But let's not turn this into a Steam v. Diesel thread.

I think the SVR is coming to the end of its loco troubles, give it 4 months and we should be up to eight for the Santa season - 7812, 43106, 42968, 5164, 4566, 1501, 34053 and 2857. 42968 is due out at the beginning of '13, but after that there's over a year before the next loco will be due for a ten-yearly - 5164 in Summer 2014, and that's presuming its boiler isn't good for an extension. In the meantime, 34027 and 7714 are continuing, currently held up by boiler delays (note 34027's boiler is at Pridham's), as is 7802, and 6634 should also be having attention within the next year or 18 months I should think, again it is hindered by boiler delays which are taking place at LNWR Crewe. 813 is also progressing nicely, and on its return work can be found for it. Changes to valve settings and motion should make it good for five Mk1s which is an acceptable off-peak train if group bookings are carefully managed. And of course, saloon charters and similar short trains are becoming more popular too, as far as I can see, for which 813 would be perfect, freeing up larger locos for full service trains.

Whilst over-optimism could lead to complacency, the above should give us all a little hope for the future. I think that the current shortage is in its final months.

 

Which I'm sure will be a great relief to the Loco Works staff and management.
Whilst unexpected failures have exacerbated the situation this loco shortage has been expected for some considerable time. Has the seat of power learned from the events that lead up this situation?

 

There is currently a big shakeup of the Works organisation and Loco owners agreements.

 

Any idea what is rostered for saturday the 14th for the UK tour passengers

 

You'll be able to find out that information Friday evening via the website Latest News.

Thanks,
Lewis

 

50031 on diagram starting with 09.55 ex Kiddy, 50035 on diagram starting with 11.15 from Kiddy.

 

Must say that the 50s are at least getting some mileage with things as they are.
I agree with jamie here, things will get better, so we must just wait while things go their course.

 

guard_jamie mentions above that there has been a big shake up in the Bridgnorth Works. There were new contracts for the paid staff, and I think some redundancies. Consultants were brought in ( which to me means "expensive") and a project plan drawn up with "goals, actions, and timelines, and milestones at 30 days 100 days and 2 years..."

Whilst you do need an efficient organisation, I just worry that modern man-management techniques are being used which may or may not be suitable in the unpredictable world of aged steam locomotives and their repair and maintenance.

I hope for the SVR's sake that the new set-up does work.

I for one will listen very carefully to the plans for loco overhaul before investing in the proposed share issue later in the year. I hope there is something positive at that time, because at present I doubt if they have the funds to overhaul a medium or large SVR loco, such as the Black 5.

 

Consultants being brought spells trouble in my experience............