Bluebell Motive Power

Just out of interest, why did it go by road?

 

Not sure. I was under the impression it was based at Shacklestone but it seems to be owned by Nemesis Rail. Didn't it come via a low loader?

 

As I understand, it is not mainline registered. (I might be wrong on that).

Definitely did come by road - we didn't have a mainline connection at the time (The 33 arrived early February 2013).

Tom

 

Oh yeah. A senior moment. That's a bit worrying at 22 .

 

As well as a relationship with Shackerstone, Nemesis have a lease on the former Burton wagon workshops. 33103 went from Swanage to Burton once its lease there finished.
103 is certainly not fitted with the right safety equipment to drive itself to Burton but that shouldn't be an obstacle to it being dragged there by something else.
I guess the low loader was cheaper than arranging for a mainline loco to drag it and presumably there was no other move in the right direction that it could attached to the back of.

JP

 

I must say, that surprises me. It's a more powerful engine than people might think; I remember it hauling three four-wheelers + LSWR 1520 at the re-launch event for 263 in 2012, albeit only on the SP - HK section. So you'd think it would be a popular choice for gala day shuttles if nothing else.

 

I'm hoping Baxter might be used on the Sunday SP station pilot run at some point.

 

She has been used as pilot engine this season, I believe it was one of the weekends that 178 was away on holidays. Not sure why she hasn't been used for this duty since, she'd only be unsuitable in winter as the pilot loco steam heats as well (a facility not currently fitted to Baxter).

 

She is quite powerful (greater TE than a P class, for example), but I suspect water capacity (and to a lesser extent coal) is probably the main limitation on using her for full line turns. It's also worth noting that 1520 + 3 four wheelers is a nice train, but rather smaller than anything we have regularly used since opening to EG!

She was used for Stepney's birthday and has seen some outings on brake van rides round HK this year.

Tom

 

Latest project update is here:

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/locos/atlantic/latest.html

Highlights include the pattern for the superheater header, a start on the valencing, the smokebox door, addition of cylinder cladding and white-metalling of eccentric straps.

Tom

 

Can anyone from the BB confirm that the 541 will soon be back in action within weeks according to Railway Magazine. The article also saying 80151 could take the space of 541 once 541 is finished. I did hear that 73082 was the next in line after 541 but reading RM today 80151 could be the next loco to be overhaul because it would be a straight ward overhaul apart from needing new tyres.

Cheers

 

541 should be back this year.
73082 is being overhauled at present at Sheffield Park. The boiler is being overhauled at Crewe.
34059 Boiler being repaired at Crewe
65 - spare boiler being overhauled at Floor Mill

For latest news see http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html and scroll down.

 

"Within weeks" is a bit optimistic. Basically, mechanically 541 has progressed as far as possible until the boiler overhaul is completed. It's probable that the hydraulic and steam tests will be in October, with final reassembly taking place thereafter; the planned return to service should be by the end of the year. Usual caveats apply.

The owning group for 80151 have put in an order for new tyres. Either way, 73082 will be the next loco to emerge after 541, probably around early summer next year. Even more usual caveats apply ...

Tom

 

Cheers Tom

 

It's going to be happy days for the Maunsell Locomotive Society soon - 1638, 847 and 541 all running simultaneously, and then perhaps in a few years, 847, 541 and 928 all running simultaneously.

Tom

 

That was meant to be the case in 1992, except those days the U class was 1618. Unfortunately 541 came out of service before 847 entered it after her restoration. Those were the days when 1638 was still a scrapyard wreck.
Daniel

 

55 Stepney is currently sat at the north end of C road carriage shed having a repaint

 

Ah I never did figure out where she was hiding. Is her new livery publically known or is it a big secret to be revealed?

 

Something of an "improved-ment" on the previous scheme

Tom

 

Not green then [grin]