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Bulleid Pacifics - Past or Present

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by 34007, May 13, 2008.

  1. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

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    Hi Chessie a pic of you on 34016 from the other year.
     
  2. chessie

    chessie Member

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    Cheers for that - good phot.
     
  3. kieranhardy

    kieranhardy Well-Known Member

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  4. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    Following those updates I see the current status of certain of the Bulleid fleet as:-

    34007 Operational, due to be working on the Mid Hants in June 2008
    34023 Operational, working on the Bluebell Railway
    34028 Operational, working on the Swanage Railway
    34046 Expected to be back in service on the West Somerset railway in 2008
    34059 Due for completion soon on the Bluebell Railway. Just passed first boiler test
    34067 Operational, at Southall and working on the main line until sometime in 2009
    34070 Due for completion soon, then working on the Swanage Railway this summer
    34081 Failed boiler exam and now waiting repair at North Norfolk Railway
    35006 Possibly the next MN back in service. On the GWR. 2009-2010?
    35028 Operational, at Stewarts Lane and mainly working the VSOE.[/quote]
     
  5. stepney60

    stepney60 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Yes you've beaten me to it, for those who don't know 34059 passed its 100psi boiler test late last week so completion before the end of the year could be on the cards.

    http://www.locos-in-profile.co.uk/Bulle ... r_sas.html

    A shame about no.81 though, she's truely had a torrid time of it on this ticket
     
  6. horace

    horace Member

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    Ps Has anyone seen any footage of Leader in action if so what DVD/video was it on? I have a few B&R videotapes but haven’t seen Leader on a single copy.

    TVP s Reflections on Southern Steam has a small piece on the "Leader".
     
  7. James

    James Part of the furniture

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    A series of stills, and some interesting works footage of the valve gear being tested, but nothing of the loco "in action".
     
  8. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    I see that 34023 is now off the Bluebell roster. I had heard it had developed a problem that needs some attention. Hopefully back in service soon.

    34007 Operational, due to be working on the Mid Hants in June 2008
    34023 Awaiting what may just be minor repairs on the Bluebell Railway
    34028 Operational, working on the Swanage Railway
    34046 Expected to be back in service on the West Somerset railway in 2008
    34059 Due for completion in 2008? on the Bluebell Railway. Just passed first boiler test
    34067 Operational, at Southall and working on the main line until sometime in 2009
    34070 Due for completion soon, then working on the Swanage Railway this summer
    34081 Failed boiler exam and now waiting repair at North Norfolk Railway
    35006 Possibly the next MN back in service. On the GWR. 2009-2010?
    35028 Operational, at Stewarts Lane and mainly working the VSOE.

    Re 34081. Sad to see that loco struggling so hard at last year's Bluebell, "Giants of Steam". Those original Bulleids must need a lot of attention to keep them in operation. But when they are running well, as 34007 and 34067 seem to be at present, it must all be worthwhile to those who work on them.
     
  9. tom92240

    tom92240 Part of the furniture

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    Nabbed from an email on the Bluebell P-Way group written by Jon B

     
  10. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    I think that is tied in with spending workshop time and other resources in now getting 34059 ready for work.

    Sad for 34023.

    Maybe good for 34059.
     
  11. stepney60

    stepney60 Nat Pres stalwart

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    And thus a new loco crisis looms...
     
  12. Fireline

    Fireline Well-Known Member

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    Am I right in thinking that your current fleet, subject to washouts and repairs, is:

    80151
    5199
    1638
    Frankenchurch
    592
    65
    The Dukedog?

    Because, if it is, a fair few of us would love to have a crisis like that!!
     
  13. tom92240

    tom92240 Part of the furniture

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    And the Diesel....
     
  14. Dan Hamblin

    Dan Hamblin Part of the furniture

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    Very true, but the intensive service that the railway operates in the summer means that it needs about 9 operational locomotives to cover for washouts etc.

    Difficult times indeed...

    Regards,

    Dan
     
  15. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    So. Does that mean they will be hiring locos in? Or pushing ahead with 34059? Or both?
     
  16. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

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    With the possible lack of steam locos at the Bluebell. Would the Bluebell have to resort in using a heritage diesel unit (117) like other heritage railways have to?
     
  17. stepney60

    stepney60 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Of them...

    80151, 1638 and now 5199 are reliable big engines and have to share possibly two, maybe three duties on Pullman and service trains which of course means no spare capacity or lee-way for washouts / maintainence

    592 has not been trouble free recently

    Bear in mind that on some weekends we have been known to have as many as 5 engines in steam, from a pool of 7 thats not leaving much spare capacity. Obviously now there aren't the Clive Groome courses thats one less but even so. Remember most lines don't still use a steam engine to shunt whereas they do at Bluebell

    Where is said unit available from? Where would it be stored? Where would it be maintained? Who would look after it? Why use three lorries to bring in a DMU when one could be used for a locomotive, steam or diesel?
     
  18. 73096

    73096 Member

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    Wow thats such a bad situation to be in. Look at MHR today, we need two locos one for service, one for foot ex and we have Bittern and the Ivatt doing it. The 5 is stopped for washout. Thats spare capacity for ya. NONE!
     
  19. stepney60

    stepney60 Nat Pres stalwart

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    But MHR have a 33, a couple of DMUs and such to use as well remember, Bluebell don't have that luxury

    WHen you add the available diesel power to it I bet you have more than 2 spare
     
  20. 73096

    73096 Member

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    We have the DMU in service as well. Basically when you look at it your in a much better situation really. We're talking about steam power not diesel.

    Also What happens if the DMU fails and the Steam then we have a 33
     

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