5224

I would be most interested to know what is happening to this engine since its withdrawal last March. According to the MHR website, it is still shown as a member of their loco fleet with status "Under Overhaul". 5224, I know, is owned by Pete Waterman, and first appeared on the Mid Hants (IIRC) when there were not many serviceable engines, so I thought (possibly wrongly) that its stay was very much on a stopgap basis and that it would return to the NYMR frm whence it came. My questions are therefore:

1) Is it now regarded as a long term member of the MHR fleet?
2) Is it, as stated, under overhaul?
3) If so, where?

Thanks

 

Last I heard she was going to have a bottom end overhaul at the MHR using the wheeldrop and then head back to Crewe for the rest of the overhaul. I understand she will return to the MHR after overhaul as she has proved well suited to the line and is very popular on the MHR. Things may have changed though since I heard this info.

 

Thank you for such a comprehensive reply. Great to hear she will return to the MHR after overhaul.

 

Further to my query last year, I note that the MHR website loco information section GWR Class 5205 Heavy Freight Tank Engine - No. 5224 | Watercress Line has 5224 down as "under overhaul" and the blurb says the boiler is being overhauled in readiness "for our spring gala in March." I take it that this is a case of the normally efficient MHR webmaster not updating the page for the engine, as I can't believe that things would have progressed this far without any comment in the railway press or this forum. What is the current state of play? Has an overhaul begun yet?

Thanks

 

The loco at the moment is stored in Ropley head shunt with the other out of service locos . I was aware that the bottom end was to be fettled using the wheel drop and I would think this would require the space that it currently occupied by 30506 at the country end of the shed for this purpose. 30506 being overhauled at the moment I would presume and hope gets priority over 5224.
It also depends if Crewe are ready to undertake the boiler work as they have other projects on the go. So the loco once it gets the nod for work to start should be quite a quick turn around. So its probably not down to the MHR but rather the owners as to when work starts and where.

 

Thanks for the helpful update. Yes, I quite agree - 30506 ought to be finished first. As for the owners, Pete Waterman has another loco going out of ticket soon - 5553 at the WSR. Although his works at Crewe has plenty of other work, and needs it to cover its costs, hopefully he will not want to see his own engines out of action for too long

 

Seems mabye not staying at MHR for overhaul? Leamington Spa the Model » Blog Archive » At Last 5224

 

Who knows. The wheels were going to be dropped out at Ropley ready for retyring as there is a wheel drop there, but I think Crewe is very busy with other things at the moment. No doubt we'll find out in due course.

 

The latest issue of Heritage Railway mentions 5224 in the model section and says that she "is currently undergoing a boiler overhaul to return to steam at the MHR's Spring steam Gala 23rd-25th March". I guess they got that from the MHR site which has since been updated and doesn't mention her current status.

 

It wil be interesting to see where it ends up. I can't really see why the mid Hants would want it back, they've got plenty of working locos for their services, so much so that they are able to release the 9F for the peak season, and with the Schools not to far off and the Standard 4 2-6-0 and "Swanage" coming through there's replacements in line to cover the loss of 31806 in 2014 and 34007 when its ticket runs out.

 

Maybe Pete could send it to us at the SVR whilst we continue to wait and wait for the boiler for 6634? Everyone knows about our motive power shortages, although I suppose 5224 wouldnt be an immediate help either considering the back log of work LNWR seem to have at the moment...