Bulleid Pacifics - Past or Present

Said loco heading towards Ropley, her or T9 with Wells and P&O would make for a fab gala.

 

Nice pic Simon, but why not both? As I said, 3 guest locos is the norm, CoW has already been rumoured, so sounds probable, GCR have had locos off of us recently and to fit into an SR theme 777 is the only one, so I'd say that one's reasonably likely, and a T9 to to finish it off really would be great. Royally pee'd off I won't be there...

 

She (he?) visited the Bluebell three or four years ago as well. I guess that as an NRM-owned loco, there is a certain remit to ensure she is seen widely if possible.

Still, City of Wells from oop North, 777 from the Midlands, 120 from deepest darkest Cornwall - the transport costs are starting to rack up! I'm sure there must be something suitably large from the far south east just to completely blow the budget!

Tom

 

We don't have to, they naturally lend themselves to it..................... as a now disgraced "entertainer"used to say, can you tell what is is yet?........ yeah, its a Copper Top....... ............ yawn........

 

They would only need one visitor to make the gala a winner, P&O will draw the grounds on its own they just need something to make it extra special compared to a normal running day. Wells would do that on her own anything extra is a brucey bonus.

 

Perhaps if 777 went by rail to somewhere a bit closer then got transported?

True Simon, with that line up we probably don't need as many, although I'd still hope for two - our gala timetable has been designed for 8 locos, works well with 7, and still functions perfectly well with 6 - and all three ways have been tried!

 

Two images of 35006 taken several years ago at Toddington by me. The first shows 35006 in a dismantled state on what is now the site of the David Page Loco shed. Behind it is the "Dowty" Shed which survived until relatively recently when it was replaced by a larger diesel loco shed. The second shows 35006 as recently (!) as 2009. Not too long now eh?

 

In the first photo - was she expected to be ready in a couple of years?

Since this photo was taken the smoke deflectors have come off again, and possibly put on again...

 

Don't need any more copper for p&o - have you seen inside the cab...

 

850 Nellie hasn't been to the GWR since 2008 if I remember correctly? Not long left for her to visit foreign turf before the end of her ticket in 2016.

In fact Nellie didnt travel at all in 2014 if I remember correctly.

 

Another possibility as we have a good working relationship with MHR, reciprocal travel arrangements and they had 4270 in exchange for the 5 and Cheltenham recently...

 

Nellie and Chellie were the two most commonly used locos throughout the main summer season last year, 850 performed almost faultlessly so must of been 2013 you are thinking of!

Wadebridge is getting some much needed TLC, I cannot wait to have a go on her when she actually makes her chuffs in the correct order

 

Neither can I......... well in the lineside sense!

It'll be nice as she's not been right for a long time.......

As for Nellie I'm sure she spent the first part of last year out of traffic undergoing repairs........ and the sooner its out of ticket the better, I'm sick of the sight of it....... ...... a final year in BR green would be nice though.......

 

Possibly you are right my memory fails me, however all locos require periods of maintenance to keep up the MHR standards; last season 850 was an ever reliable old girl (man).

Whilst some might not be sorry to see her go out of ticket…when she's gone she will be missed! Its not like you can pop to another railway to see another!

 

What would be good is a big rail tour of the south from Waterloo to Weymouth then maybe follow along the south coast to Brighton then go to Victoria whilst stopping off at different heritage lines that hold a number of different bullies and southern engines and to save worrying about changing ends or turning the engine round so do what they did with braunton and the black 5 one on either end

 

My idea was a non stop run using Clan Line and maybe Braunton. If Braunton uses Port Lines tender which is bigger between them they could coast down the route. Going to Bournemouth non stop might be more realistic.

 

Well I don't miss the U Boat, so I won't miss Nellie either..........

Anyway, I mentioned 34007 in a vain attempt to get this thread away from the MHR home fleet & talk of copper topped thingy's, and back towards Bulleids finest............

 

You mean the oldest surviving Bulleid West Country class..... soon (year or so) to be joined by the youngest

 

Talking of Bulleids finest, it cant be that long now till we have 3 working MN's 35006, 35018 and 35028