Bulleid Pacifics - Past or Present

There is also i believe a tape of same driver at regulator of a standard 5 not sure where but it was in BR days thrashing the b***s off it ,Getting back to 34067 thats why i said it can come off and return le not having to enter mid hants property , i assume there is still a run round between platforms 1 and 2 at alton , yes i remember that and a prevous tour with 70000 when black prince took the train plus a idleing 27 up the 1 in 60 and 506 dragged 70000 and the train up to alton i remember it well because we stood in the yard and all you could hear was 506 all the way to medstead and even as she pulled out of medstead

 

The run round at Alton gets used twice a week as the Holybourne Fawley Tanks run round in platform 2 . So its certainly not a case of is it still there... David

 

Just as well it wasnt wet then....would never have got started...

 

Would have taken a little longer that's all.

 

Would have needed a banker......

 

Doubt it. MNs coped with much heavier trains in BR days in all weathers.

 

But presumably would have seldom encountered a 1 in 60 from a standing start with heavier or equivalent loads in BR days without assistance.

 

Andy

I'm surprised you haven't heard of Taw Valleys exploits some years ago, on a drizzly night she got a 16 coach train started from Bridgnorth and no slipping, driver was Graham Watkins.
You probably know that altough not as steep Bridgnorth can be a beast to get out of.

Cheers Dave

 

Indeed it can. Many years ago I was behind one of the Ivatt Class 2s and we took 20 minutes to get out of Bridgnorth one Sunday morning.

 

I hadn't heard that particular tale before I must admit. That must have been quite a sight. Bridgnorth can indeed be a pig to get out of, especially for the first train of the day, on damp rails.

 

Indeed it was, the whole of the mpd had turned out to take the p*ss only to go back to the Railwaymans Arms disapointed.

Cheers Dave

 

Which is why it was nothing special, then!

 

I remember a horribly drizzly day on Taw Valley. We took over half an hour to get out of Highley with a 10 coach train. After 2 attempts at setting back. I was duly despatched with a bucket of sand to help. Didnt do much as it was getting washed off pretty much as soon as it was going down. Essentially a MN is 2/3/4 coaches stronger, depending on the type of coach and train.

 

Noted on the SVR forum that apart from finishing-off the lining on the tender, the main source of tweaking at the moment is the superheater elements on 34053. Hoping all goes well for the first move under its own power, whenever that may be.

 

I believe...and I am very ready to be corrected on this...that SKP has in fact moved a very very small amount under its own power already.

 

While I'm a big fan of the Bulleid pacifics IMHO no Bulleid fest would be complete without getting C1 out of the NRM and running again.

Pete

 

When I saw C1 yesterday her tender looked a bit tatty and 34051 seemed to be missing her shedplate but she did look great on the turntable a shame the money for her cosmetic restoration has been raised yet, but I too would like to see her C1 in steam again along with her Pacific cousins.

 

I've always wondered this...on a rebuilt Bulleid Pacific, there is a large circular handle on the boiler, sat on a horizontal spindle that appears to burrow away into the top front left of the firebox. What is it for?

 

I think it is a manifold shut off valve, shuts off steam supply to the cab/backhead controls? I assume unrebuilts have this under the casing.

 

Yes, this one: https://picasaweb.google.com/116839141471298057728/Restoration2012#5735239736239344002

I think it's called a Klinger valve, and it is the manifold shut off. This is a view of it off the loco, minus the handle. https://picasaweb.google.com/116839141471298057728/Restoration2011#5592191529253570498

Its position is characteristic of Bulleids. Where are they mounted on other designs?