MHR Restorations and Overhauls

My friend Dave visited the MHR for the Thumper weekend and Standard class 7MT 70000 Britannia with a set of driving wheels missing. She kind of suits looking like an altantic style loco

http://locoyard.com/2014/05/16/br-standard-atlantic/

 

A few shots from Ropley last night.
There has been some movement with Britannia, and she now has her tender.
92212 has part of her left hand side motion removed.
Cheltenham & Wadebridge were out on the Belle & RAT respectively.

Britannia re-united with her tender on shed at Ropley yesterday:
Britannia 70000 Ropley by timz2011, on Flickr

Wadebridge RAT ECS :
Wadebridge 34007 Ropley RAT by timz2011, on Flickr

Cheltenham being prepared for the Watercress Belle:
Cheltenham 925 Ropley by timz2011, on Flickr

92212:
9F 92212 Nearside Motion by timz2011, on Flickr

 

34007 and 30925 are both rostered for this coming week.

 

Had a quick visit to the Mid-Hants today - mainly in case it was my last chance to see the Bunch locos there as next few months are pretty much spoken-for logistically - on the way to Swanage for the Eddystone/33111 combo. Ropley yard was brilliantly packed, with 34051, 92212, 70000, 925, 850, 34007, a Thomas, 12049 and 08032 all outside the shed. Really appreciate being able to actually wander round parts of the yard as well as having an excellent viewing area from above, it's always one of the highlights of a Mid-Hants trip for me. And with the reorganisation for the lodges meaning the gate at the Alton end of the picnic area is presumably now open most of the time, wandering out into the lane to get a view of the scrapline-esque headshunt was a lot quicker than usual too.

One quick question, and apologies if the answer is available somewhere obvious and this is lazy... what's the 'non-Sodor' identity of the Thomas that's currently at Ropley.

 

Was originally an Austerity-style 0-6-0ST called Linda (not sure if actually a war-time austerity or later), rebuilt with side-tanks. A case of nature imitating art?

 

Ah, that was the one that came from the KESR wasn't it? I remember having it on a Tenterden service in my school summer holidays that year then being amazed to read in a mag what seemed like only a few weeks later that it had had a sex/configuration/home change and become Thomas. Might be mis-remembering that, though I do recall naively thinking (I was probably about 14) that it was a travesty or something whereas it was a pretty shrewd move by the MHR. Thanks Steamage.

 

I think I'm correct in saying it is Hunslet build no 3781 built 1952.
Ex. National Coal Board, converted at Ropley into Thomas in 1994.

He often goes away visiting other railways in UK and abroad, which means that the little ones are sometimes dissapointed not to see him at Ropley. Walking across the 'Harry Potter' bridge seems to make up for it though!

 

Does Thomas still have his original boiler? I seem to recall a swap with the boiler from the "Douglas" 0-6-0 (now sold) which also used an Austerity 0-6-0ST as a basis. Could just be me getting mixed up though.

 

Just to add a bit more info. Douglas was originally called Barbara before it metamorphofed in a tender loco. But I can't recall what happen to the name plates.

I see 34105 Swanage tender has now moved in to the Ropley workshop.

 

So its had a 'sex change' then...............................................

 

I

The boiler from Douglas was fitted to Thomas at one point. It was to to get Thomas back into service more quickly ready for a Thomas event.

Whether or not it ever got swapped back I dont know.

 

Was riding on the RAT again witha few mates last Saturday (another £150 to the MHR coffers!) and the ale was going down very well in the evening sun but as we passed the Ropley scrap line did I see 34016 Bodmin still slumbering there? I thought I read that it was being prepared to leave so was surprised and pleased to see it still there. 34016 still has a strong association with the MHR along with 31874 as they were the first mainstays back in 1980 and I know a lot of people would love to hear they were staying. Is there any information on their immediate futures?

 

At £2 (?) a pint, that's a seriously good night out on the ale!!

As for 34016, the rumour mill still suggests she's Carnforth bound.......

As for 31806, she was on the service trains today along with 925, and Nellie was being prepped for tonight's RAT. And this coming week (apparently) see's the U working for the last time, Sunday being the final day..... and again, the rumour mill still suggests she's Swanage bound.......... but in the fullness of time, we shall see where they all end up!

 

Is there an official date when the announcement of where the 5 John Bunch locomotives will be heading off to.
Will the Mid Hants Railway do a photo event where the five john bunch locomotives could get posed together before they head their seperate ways

 

Good to see Can Pac's boiler off the frames, I took this photo of her boiler and Cab out the back of Eastleigh Works tonight.

I wonder if her boiler is heading up to ropley to the boiler shop in the near future? I know that there is still quite some work to do on Swanages boiler but imagine that one that is finished Can Pacs boiler will take its place?

 

I think Hurricane will be proved right hopefully. Think it's a case of waiting for space at Ropley at the moment. I know not long ago we were well ahead of schedule and have been waiting for the boiler lift so the team can continue stripping her down.


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Siquelme, last news I had was that they were waiting to hear on the lottery funding news which would give the green light to getting her back in steam? Is there an update on that front?

 

The lottery heritage reps have visited the loco but it's all up in the air still to my knowledge.

If we are successful (and I really hope we are) the top brass will know but they won't be allowed to say until the lottery do a press release.


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Saying that.
This is interesting

URL:http://www.hlf.org.uk/ourproject/Pages/Jun2014/9974d256-6c86-47e8-a80e-508a6ddea880.aspx

It's dated June 2014


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Don't hold your breath.......................... there are certain things 'at play' that it is not my place to say or be at liberty to divulge.

Things will progress with Can Pac, but the best place to garner info is either Siquelme' s blog or the MHR blogs.....................................