Bulleid Pacifics - Past or Present

Speaking as a non-expert, 35018's boiler and firebox looks to be in pretty good condition.

 

Whilst on the subject, does anyone else have problems in viewing photos on Flickr?
I find in most cases pictures take ages to come into view at all or just stay out of focus for ages with coloured dots moving in the middle. It's the same with any Flickr account I view.
I don't think it is my connection as everything else works ok including videos & downloads, just seems to be only on Flickr. Have they got rubbish servers?

 

Wasn't it partially restored on the MHR?

 

I believe so, although it did spend nearly ten years on Portland, and looked pretty rusty when I was there (although I do believe it might have been fully clad, which might explain its condition). However, on the face of it, it confirms my suspicions that much of the rust was superficial rather than structural.

 

By some accounts it wasn't a million miles from being finished.

 

I visited MHR in 1986 when 35018 was in the works being restored. The guys working on it reckoned it would be running within 12 months. As I recall it appeared largely complete, certainly boiler on, running gear and motion fitted. Work stopped not long after I think.

 

Work done at the MHR to 35018 prior to 1998 included from memory:

1: Refurbished axle boxes, front bogie and pony truck(although not done to mainline standard) in the 1980`s, the loco spent an age jacked up at the back of Ropley shed centre road.
2: Fully repaired cab involving extensive re-skinning.
3: The re bushing of the entire brake gear.
4: Manufacture and repair of most of the boiler cladding, cylinder cladding and running plates.
5: Full cylinder and valve rebore.
6: The manufacture of an entire set of motion at Datong in China, although this is not likely to be used as it will not be suitable for mainline use.

What wasn't touched much was the boiler. Again when I last enquired during the late 1990`s it was reckoned to be 12/18 months from completion.

 

And as if by magic, the Carnforth photos are now gone.

 

That was the standard answer concerning BIL. On my first day as a trainee signalman, I was told she'd be ready in 18 months. That was July 1983...

Concerning the boiler condition - it may look clean and tidy in on-line pictures, but I'm not sure how much we can really tell. The things that matter are plate thickness, absence of cracks and fractures, and so on. Unless/until we hear from someone who has tapped it all over with a hammer (or the high-tech equivalent), we can only guess.

 

Indeed it was a standard answer as I enquired several times. The last time I asked in the shed she required rather a lot of work.

 

I have just notice according to wikipedia that 34073 249 Squadron has moved to Swanage... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BR_Battle_of_Britain_class_34073_249_Squadron is there any truth in this?

 

Methinks that is a mix up between 34072 and 34073.

 

Just goes to show you can never trust Wikipedia!

 

Fair enough, but at least someone has corrected the entry to show that 34073 is still at Bury. (I looked a few minutes agao, and any mention of Swanage had been removed.)

 

And 34072 is still at Swanage: http://www.southern-locomotives.co.uk/News/news.html There's a way to go on its overhaul, and more volunteers are welcome. Drop me a PM if you're interested.

 

I wouldn't say you can never trust Wikipedia; in many cases, it provides some excellent introductory reading material. Just be prepared to a bit of further reading on whatever subject you are writing about, learn to take some things with a pinch of salt and don't expect it to turn into a 'news' site like this forum. Rest assured, if 34073 was going to Swanage, there is a high probability that we'd hear it here first!

 

Does anyone know if the work has been done on Tangmere for this weekends Railtour?
Thanks
Andy

 

Does anyone know if the work has been done on Tangmere for this weekends Railtour?
Thanks
Andy

 

Yes see http://www.national-preservation.co...christmas-express-23rd-november.164731/page-2 post 35 onwards.