LE Movements and Test Runs 2013.

Now that is a VERY good point, only reason I can see is the level of disruption that would be caused, compared to the Hellifield Loop.

 

And yet '67 has been blamed, at least by some, for the fire ban in the west.

 

Not forgetting West Somerset Restoration who restored the engine from scrapyard condition and built the new tender. The boiler was in very poor condition and like quite a few Bulleid boilers it required major surgery by Pridhams. It is actually the very first Light Pacific boiler to be built and intended originally for 34001 Exeter but was rejected for service and returned to the shops for some remedial work, so wasn't fitted to Exeter. I believe Braunton had done over 15,000 miles on the West Somerset before the decision to send it to Rileys following the slipped tyre problem and other issues.

 

really, really want 34046 to do the royal dutchy...

 

Found this video which shows 34046 flying through Lancaster:

 

In terms of valve timing 34046 sounds really right! Compare it to the videos of 'wadebridge', the timing on that loco doesn't sound right at all...

 

Heard a rumour that WCRC will be dragging Mayflower from Washwood to Peterboro today . Can anyone confirm please ?

 

To paraphrase Eric Morecambe, Wadebridge has all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order. It sounded awful at SVR the other month, though marginally better going backwards.

 

Sorry excuse my ignorance, I didn't realise there was that much difference other than the changing of the outside valve gear...Is the middle engine different then ?

 

Just a bit. The chain driven Bulleid gear was replaced by three sets of Walschaerts - two outside and one inside. Steam reverser replaced by screw reverse. The oil bath was removed and a new middle cylinder fitted.

 

Oh crikey, it really was a rebuild then! presumably the chain drive is the hard part to adjust and get timings right...

 

And as an added bonus, soot from rebuilt Bulleids is much less oily and sticky - trying to get Tangmere's soot out of your hair after going to Par and back was a nightmare, but No other engines have been like that.

 

Has a move from fort William to Bury and return been announced for 4871 and 5407 to appear at the ELR gala next weekend?

 

Apparently they come down overnight Friday/Saturday and go back overnight Sunday/Monday.
Southbound times here..........http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U53238/2013/07/26/advanced

 

Thanks for the info, seems like a mammoth and costly trek. Assume they will be chaperoned by the 37. The notional trailing load is stated 715 tonnes!
Mind you if the dry spell continues even the Jacobite might be affected by steam ban so return might not be so urgent.

 

I assume 60009 is still at NRM.....if so any news on move to Crewe this week?