45212 goes mainline

Press release on the KWVR website for a 'new' mainline black 5

 

Great news. Link here: NEWS

 

Fabulous news!

 

It's a good arrangment for both the Worth Valley and for Ian Riley. Great to be able to look forward to another black five on the main line. I just hope this doesn't mean that 35009 is going to be queue-jumped. Reading Kent Yeti's experiences of (among other things) one of 35009's last runs 48 years ago (http://railways.national-preservation.com/steam-traction/36953-24th-july-48-years-ago.html) has rather whetted my appetite to see it in steam again.

 

Why does the K.W.V.R. website incorrectly state that 45212 hauled the last scheduled steam passenger train ?
I watched it leave Preston that night, then squeezed on the real last one hauled by 45318.

Bob.

 

I would think that the word that should be being used is duty, not service.

 

What was the last loco to arrive back on shed ?, that's the measure of finishing work, duty, service or whatever ?

 

45156 it is then

It also appears that the Beano has bxggxrxd another potnetial transaction by jumping the gun.

Why do people buy this tripe?

 

Has been mentioned elsewhere that 35009 may take a step back in the queue as "other customers" have preferential treatment.
Not sure if this affects 34046 or not. Not forgetting 102/502/4472 of course.

 

You seem to forget, 34046 and 502/4472 are both client overhauls... Whereas 45212 is now in some terms for the next 10 years, his own. 34046 and 4472 will be finished when the owners are happy with it

 

Has anyone here read Ian's own take on this - chickens count and hatched boys?!

 

It also appears that the Beano has bxggxrxd another potnetial transaction by jumping the gun.

Well it jumped the gun but the deal went through in the end - unless you are thinking of another one?

 

I hope Ian doesn't mind this being lifted from his forum:

"It is indeed a good agreement for all involved and will help to provide motive power for another decade. We will commence the overhaul as soon as the locomotive can be road transported."

What's the confusion about?

 

I'd guess he'd get on with it fairly quickly, afterall if he's got it for 10 years no point having it sit around in pieces for 3 years, and presumably accumulated a 9month running debt to KWVR as well ?
Ians got the master record on overhauling black5's anyway... How long did 45407 take ?, this one isn't exactly a Barry wreck or a long term non-runner.
Either way that would give 7 black 5's on the mainline... 44767 (eventually), 44871, 44932,45212, 45231, 45305, 45407 .. All of which have 1968 pedigree and in ticket in 2018..

 

Now THERE'S a thought!

Mark

 

I watched 5212 through Squire's Gate Station a while after you saw it depart Preston Bob. It worked back to Preston and then shunted and provided heat for a rake of Sleeping cars before retiring to Lostock Hall shed after midnight. The honours are a bit marginal with 5318, but the Blackpool Gazette proclaimed it as the last steam hauled service train, I have the cutting somewhere, but only detailed examination of the timings would give the definitive answer. 5318 ended up at Drapers in Hull about March '69, 5212 was selected by the Worth Valley people on the basis of being (effectively) the best of the Black 5s left at Lostock Hall. It's great news that it will be able to emulate its spirited last 1968 performance on the main line in the future.

As a slightly off-topic note, according to one of the shed staff at Carnforth in about 1969, 44873 was the last BR steam loco to have its fire dropped, being kept in steam until after 70013 had done likewise at Norwich: can anyone confirm?

David

 

Anyone else hoping that it surfaces as its 5212 guise? I REALLY do- in fact any one of them in Pre-BR condition would be lovely- I used to really enjoy seeing both 5305 and 5231 at the GCR in LMS livery.

Can't help but feel that some kind of black 5 mega gala should occur at some point..........!


Chris

 

Knowning Ian's preferences I can't see it appearing in anything other than Lined BR, though I do agree with you that LMS colours are overdue a comeback on a Black Five.

 

5025 is the one to watch if you're wanting a black five in LMS livery. I saw it at Haworth in this guies in 1972, and I don't think it has ever run in BR livery since. I believe I read somewhere that overhaul is about to start soon - so possibly an eighth "black Five" on the mainline - eventually.