35011 "GSN" to be restored

Oh well there you go then 35011 is to be restored at a latter stage!

 

So 2008 ends with life looking a bit more hopeful for several unrestored MN's.

Hopefully 2009 will see the steaming of 35006 after over 20 years of patient hard graft by the owning group at the G/WR. After this, it will be a long wait for the 5th Merchant to steam, and it is anybody's guess which one it will be.

35011 and 35025 are now both at Sellinge, but will need a lot of work (and money)

According to Steam Railway, Ian Riley has said that as no-one wants to buy 35009, he may well start work on restoring it once 44871 is finished.

The group owning 35010 have started raising funds to repair one of its cylinders, but this seems to be one of the first bits of restoration they have tackled.

Then there is 35018, which headed off from Ropley to Portland a couple of years ago with very little subsequent news of it.

And finally the two no-hopers, sectioned 35029, plus 35022, which looks destined to be a source of spares for 35027 at least for the foreseeable future.

Anyone want to stick their neck out and say which will be next??

 

I don't think that's correct at all. As far as I recall, it had several years of work done on it before it was moved to the present site and it looks quite tidy too. A long way from being a Barry wreck anyway.

 

In complete agreement! At least there is hope for 35006 to steam very soon and anything that goes to Sellinge us certainly on the cards to steam! I was around that neck of the woods yesterday and was very tempted to pop in!!

 

What might encourage more people to restore Bulleid pacifics would be for the people holding on to multiple sets of motion etc. plundered from Barry scrapyard, to release it for the use of other groups.

Bob.

 

Yes please!.................. [-(

 

I was told 35018 was about 12 months off steaming, when it was at ropley!!

 

Never mind restoring one or all of these to nearly withdrawn condition. How about upgrading a Merchant back to original? Back to how OVSB intended?

All that is required is:-
An owner to "sacrifice" their pile of scrap
Someone or some people to pay for it
An engineer and a team of do-ers to do it

 

Erm.....

http://exbarrysteamlocos.fotopic.net/p53342583.html

 

On the day I joined the MHR in July 1983, I was told by someone who worked in the shed that British India Line needed 18 months work to complete the overhaul. Had the money and manpower been available, I suppose that might have been a fair estimate... On the same day, I was also told that the proper signalbox at Ropley would be ready "by Christmas". In fact, the "temporary" ground-frame was in use for more than 20 years.

"Events, dear boy, events!"

 

Simple, really mate! \/

 

Now that's a new-build/rebuild project that I could get enthused about. Patriots, Saints and Granges are all very well, but a big Spamcan really would be something to behold! It has been suggested before, of course, but no-one has come forward to donate their loco nor lead the project. Would SLL and/or the current owners of 35011 be interested in such a scheme, I wonder?

 

SLL originally proposed to return 35022 to as-built condition, but the high cost of doing so was prohibitive. I would imagine the ongoing maintenance bill for such a locomotive would also be very high in comparison with rebuilt members of the class.

Regards,

Dan

 

Well, the people who know what they are talking about would tell you that an original BB/WC will match a de-tuned MN.
So just think how good a real MN will be.

 

Oh yes

 

I said when it was at ropley. I mean obviously if you do work to a loco and then leave it outside to rot away its going to put it back to square one.

 

That looks like it is in a scrap yard again!

 

As far as i remember work carried out on 35018 at Ropley included:

1: Rebuilt Cab and a fair amout of new cladding made
2: Overhaul/inspection of all axleboxes
3: Refurbishment of brake rigging
4: Reboring of cylinders and valve chests
5: Boiler was stripped of tubes and firebox found to be in a fair condition