70013 Oliver Cromwell

Does anyone have any news on when Ollie shall emerge from Winter Maintenance?
I thought I would start an individual thread exclusively on her.

 

Last I heard some of the parts ordered had taken longer than planned to arrive, and they had also found some additional work that needed doing. Can't remember any more detail than that, though, so shan't try to guess.

 

I took these photos at Loughborough when I was there on Tuesday and Wednesday last week. According to people working on Ollie, don't expect her back on the mainline for 3 - 4 weeks. They have had a copper expert down from Scotland to assist with repairs.

 

As I understand it, a main steam pipe failed under hydraulic test. I also think they are having problems sourcing new material of the correct spec to make a new pipe.

 

From the Great Central Weekly Newsletter last week :-

Those of you that get ‘Steam Railway’ magazine early will have read about our problem with Oliver Cromwell’s damaged main steam pipe on that connects the collecting point in the dome to the regulator which is itself in the superheater header. As concluded in SR we have avoided having to wait for a new one, in fact the original has been repaired and passed on Wednesday afternoon by the insurance inspector. Also the cold hydraulic pressure test to 260psi was satisfactorily witnessed last week. When the loco is finished, and it still has a few problems, Tom T is promising us a spell of running in on the GC before it goes out on the big railway.

 

Brief update in the latest GCR weekly newsletter: Superheater elements being prepared for fitting in the boiler, also a valve liner is being prepared for fitting.

Also a comment that a period of running-in may take place at the GCR rather than returning the loco straight back to the mainline. Sensible.

46118

 

70013 did two successful LE runs on the GC today!

Great to have her back again.....ran without smoke deflectors.....and no number on the smokebox .... Maybe it was something else and not Ollie at all! No....come to think of it there is only one chime whistle that good!

 

so the trip booked on the 9th june 'the easterling' may have oilver cromwell at the head as planned, a britannia in east anglia.... looks like a last minute job for cromwell

 

Think it will have a couple of running in turns at GCR before it goes away to make certain it is ok before running mainline again, so I would think the 9th will be too soon as it's only a week away and it needs a lick of paint and final assembly
Seem to think the next booked trip is 23rd? but not 100% sure

 

yer good point, i wonder what loco will haul the easterling instead

 

http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/cromwell-sulzer-weekend-15th-16th-june/



Cromwell & Sulzer Weekend! 15th & 16th June

Don’t miss the chance to ride behind 70013, Oliver Cromwell this weekend before it returns to its duties on the main line. For diesel lovers there’all also be three type 2 Sulzers in operation, the 25, 26 and 27 – this is the last chance to ride behind the Class 26 before it returns to LLangollen.

 

70013 passed its VAB exam today, so all systems go for the mainline

 

Was Cromwell out today for that event the GCR announced?

 

Yes....

 

I see from UKsteam that Ollie is deputising for No. 9 on The White Rose (KX-York-KX) on Saturday. Welcome back!

 

Yes she is,left the central on wednesday bound for southall.

 

is a test run being made ?

 

Probably not needed. She has been run-in on the GCR, and this was only an intermediate overhaul. IIRC, the VAB can issue a new 6-monthly mainline ticket without another loaded mainline test run. I guess she'll be steamed at Southall today and given an FTR exam, then off to KX at cough of sparrow tomorrow morning.

 

Storming through Arlesey this morning slightly early. Video to follow later.

 

She looks in fine form on the youtube vids posted...