35005 Canadian Pacific

Don't know how I forgot Cricklewood and Kentish Town as Cricklewood, Old Oak, and Willesden were bunked one after another. Must be getting old or something!

 

I have to agree with you. ML steam trips have really lost their appeal to me in the last few years. Very long days, diesel assistance, carriages that don't work properly and very high prices have taken most of the enjoyment out of the experience.
The MHR Autumn Gala last year was one of the most rewarding railway experiences of recent years. Great weather, some wonderful performances from the locos and their crews and carriages that work all added up to a great experience. And all this for a great ticket price.

 

I think if you pick the right trip and everything goes OK , main line can be fantastic. My last four trips have all been 100% steam, not excessively long days and brilliant performances (and I would include 4965 on the Welsh Dragon to Cardiff a week ago in this category, even though it's only limited to 60mph). However, I've read enough comments in the railway media and posts on this forum to acknowledge that some trips have proved very disappointing for a number of reasons and I agree that main line steam isn't cheap either!

It's horses for courses - the O2 is in its ideal environment on the IOWSR pottering along at 25mph, likewise 32670/8 on the K&ESR. What about a bigger beast like 35005 on the Mid Hants? Well, it has looked/will look magnificent and will certainly be sufficiently exercised on the 1 in 60 gradients to make a run behind it a worthwhile experience. The fact is, no fewer than 10 MNs ended up at Barry. There's a reasonable chance of five of them running main line at some time in the future. That's probably enough if one is realistic (unless the British Pullman goes over to 100% steam) so I'd rather 35005 and 35006 enjoyed a working but more leisurely retirement on a heritage railway than stuffed and mounted or dismantled for spares.

 

I know what you mean, but no doubt there'll be a later generation similarly enthralled by tales of your sightings of those 444s and 450s. Hard to believe though it seems just now,

 

I agree, and I've certainly become more selective about what trips I travel on since the heady days of the early 90s when I lived in London, and was within walking distance of all the main line termini. Back then, a seat in Premier Class cost less than SD's Premier Std, and when it was advertised as steam, it meant steam hauled.

We all know why things have changed, and the reasons behind it have been much debated and discussed. As I've said before, those living in Birmingham are probably the luckiest among us now, having the brilliant Vintage Trains tours to enjoy.

I think if ever speed restrictions were to be relaxed on those preserved railways where it'd be appropriate, the main line steam scene might feel some sense of competition on performance. At the moment though, there's simply no substitute. In the context of what it is however, a day on one of our best Heritage Railways is every bit as enjoyable as well as being more reliable and better value. You just can't have it all sadly. Horses for courses as you say !

 

Fratton wasn't bad in the 1980s. Cromptons on the Cardiff services, a couple of 47s working through on cross-coujntry services via Reading and Guildford and then there was the extraordinary 13.28 Saturdays only van train to Eastleigh which was worked by a 73 on diesel power as the Fareham line wasn't electrified in those days. Anyone else remember this one? More enjoyable than 444s and 450s but not a patch on Terriers and T9s. Of course, go back to the 1960s and I'd imagine in the Portsmouth area you'd have had a few older enthusiasts reminiscing about the good old days of Schools and D15s on the Pompey Direct or I3s on the trains from Victoria!

 

The latest photo of the beast. The eagle eyed among you will notice she has moved 3 feet forward from the last photo

 

Yes, it seems to be a big IF these days. I have had some fantastic ML trips in the past but I can't say I highly rate any of the trips from recent years. The only two of note were a Kingswear trip for RTC with 60007 (which nearly had 60007 removed early from the return run as NR claimed she had started a fire) and the Cheltenham Flyer with 5043. If I lived in or near Birmingham I would be very happy as Tyseley trips seem to be the only ones which really deliver what they advertise.
Travelling on preserved lines has become a far more satisfying experience to me these days and I would rather give them my hard earned cash.

 

I was on the Cheltenham Flyer too - a very memorable trip. Vintage Trains really is a first-rate set-up. Admittedly, it would be hard for another operator to replicate its formula due to the tie-up with the loco works at Tyseley, but I can see why its primarily West Midlands-based clientele keep coming back for more. The engines are maintained in first-rate condition and the itineraries are sensible, not too long and well planned. With 7029 likely to be ready by the end of the year, there should be some interesting trips in the pipeline for 2016. But we digress......

 

Just came across this on the net.
CanPac being shunted into the yard to begin her long trip back in September 2011.

 

HLF Update:

We Should know by the end of the week the result of the application. I don't know anything if it's positive or not (not working on the beast this week as I'm working all week) so keep an eye out on the MHR page for the announcement.

 

i hope it goes well

 

I'm sure the application will be successful but if it were not, what happens to Can Pac as it is now in many pieces?

 

I would think it would still be overhaul but may take a bit longer. Once funds are available.

 

We have been awarded the bid.

Following our recent high profile cosmetic restoration of the Winston Churchill steam engine for the National Railway Museum, we have been awarded a large Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant to restore our own flagship engine, Canadian Pacific.

We bought the Southern Railway Merchant Navy Class No.35005 ‘Canadian Pacific’ locomotive in 2006 and it ran on the railway until 2008 when its statutory overhaul was due. All of these giants of British engineering require an overhaul every 10 years to keep them safely in steam. At 74 years old this 95 ton engine can now be completely stripped down and rebuilt by our growing team of skilled engineers and apprentices.

The three year restoration project has been awarded £895,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund towards the total cost of £1.5m. The remainder of the project’s costs will be met through fundraising and donations to the Mid Hants Railway Preservation Society, the charity behind the Watercress Line. The project also involves the restoration of two wooden framed coaches designed by the same Southern Railways engineer, Oliver Bulleid.

Once restored to their former glory the locomotive and coaches will become the focal point of our activities. Managing Director Colin Chambers said: "We are extremely grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for supporting this project and the aims of the Mid Hants Railway. We look forward to sharing progress of the restoration process itself and it will be fantastic to have this beautiful southern locomotive back in steam and at the heart of the railway."

Stuart McLeod, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund South East, said: “We’re really pleased to be supporting this project that provides an excellent opportunity to secure the long-term future of Hampshire’s railway heritage. The exciting plans to restore the ‘Canadian Pacific’ and Bulleid coaches to their former glory will help conserve this important heritage for generations to come, and through the enhanced visitor experience and extensive volunteering and training opportunities, more people will be able to learn about the social, political and economic significance of our historic railways.”

Canadian Pacific was originally built just a few miles away from the Watercress Line in the railway town of Eastleigh in 1941 and, in a neat turn of events, this is where the locomotive’s restoration will begin. Eastleigh Works have kindly rented out part of the building where the 30 Merchant Navy Class engines were originally built so that the project team has space to strip down and rebuild her. Component parts will be brought back to life at our own extensive engineering facilities at its Ropley site, which are on view to visitors.

The project has a huge community focus for the railway and the town of Eastleigh as we pull together the story of the builders, drivers and passengers of the 1940’s and 50’s steam era. Local memories of that time are actively being sought by us to bring the story to life. People will be able to closely follow the restoration process through our website and social media, with regular blogs and updates as it progresses.

You can follow the Canadian Pacfic Project - "Engineering a future from the past" here

If you would like to get involved as a volunteer or you would like to share your memories with the Watercress Line, please email canpac@watercressline.co.uk

http://preservation.watercressline.co.uk/news/entry/rebuilding-the-golden-age-of-steam

 

Darn beat me to it Congratulations goes out to David Snow and his team who won the grant.

Today the Heritage Lottery Fund announced that the Mid Hants Railways “Canadian Pacific – engineering a future from the past” has been successful in its application for funding. The project to overhaul the railway’s flagship steam engine Merchant Navy class No. 35005 ‘Canadian Pacific’ and restore two wooden framed Bulleid carriages will provide employment for 11 new members of staff, including eight technical people; six of whom will be apprentices with a two-year period of training. The scheme also provides work experience opportunities for local unemployed youngsters and engineering students at Eastleigh, plus a range of other community outreach activities, education and information benefits for the Watercress Line’s thousands of visitors.

http://locoyard.com/2015/03/26/full-steam-ahead-for-canadian-pacific-and-the-mhr/

 

Great news! I feel another donation coming on.....only just given some for the Queen May fund!
I shall attack the lineside shrubbery with renewed vigour (and a herring) at the weekend.

 

The chaps at Eastleigh will be happy this week I'm up on Wednesday so will have to bring cake to celebrate the award

 

I think everyone who loves Bulleid Pacifics will be happy this week! Excellent news and well done to everyone involved in the successful application. Hopefully I'll be able to chip in a few quid once our finances have recovered from a house move.

 

Brilliant news, it would appear we'll soon be spoilt for choice when it comes to Merchant Navies, and what better member to have amongst them than the oldest of the lot!