Bulleid Pacifics - Past or Present

Who are the new owners? I thought West Coast bought her a few years ago.

 

twr12, i know i have made some stupid comments in the past, but there is no need to carry on with these silly comments. If you want to know the full reasons why 34067 is being repaired, then by all means ask me for a pm, else just accept what i say.

not sure who owns it now. i don think it is wcrc, its someone private

 

But, hang on, in an earlier post you said:

If you don't know who owns it, how can you say that they are not happy about the repair bill?

 

A pretty stupid comment when you consider how much work 34067 has done since her original rebuild. It's not surprising that she now needs a lot of work. Ropley has a great record of very good restorations but so has the workshop that put Tangmere back into steam. After her great performance over the past 8 years it is insulting to suggest that Ropley would have made a better job of it.

 

So, 34067 has had eight years of main-line running. I take it that it is now getting a deserved heavy general overhaul. Some people need to understand that locos cannot go on and on.

 

This forum has a history of Watercress Rangers posting comments that suggest any problem with any steam loco, that was not restored at Ropley, was because it was not restored at Ropley.
I assumed that is what LN850 meant. Which, based on his previous comments, is probably true!

 

Earlier in the year (1st March) it was mentioned that she would be out for some time. It's understandable that she needs a lot of work. Look at the amount of trips she has undertaken in recent years. That amount of work would take it's toll on any loco.
But lets not get into another MHR slanging match please. This thread is currently about 34067.

 

can we keep this to 34067 and fact ,
Yes she has been heavily used and is due a heavy , that much is clear, the owner, as far as i know is someone conected with WCRC , but is not a railway man it was bought as a good investment , at least thats what the beno stated when it changed hands after Ian Riley sold his stake
I was under the impression that she had her boiler certificate either renewed or extended a year ago? so the additional boilerwork would have been an un welcome shock to anyone but it happens, and given that she must have by now have needed mechanical work anyway given the constant mainline milage she covers nows probally the best time to do it whilst she is stripped

 

Could it be that because of the extension on her ticket that they are doing a thorough job on her general overhaul, so that when her boiler ticket does come around to being renewed that this will be a fairly easier job to get done? Hence not out of traffic for a huge amount of time?

 

I think that for as long as she's out of the picture, 34067 will be greatly missed: she has performed in the best traditions of the class. However, onto more practical things, I wonder what the second locomotive will be on the Dorset Coasts this year if she isn't ready?

 

Hmm, that's an interesting question. 30777 is down for a Steam Dreams jaunt to the Swanage on the same day. 70013 is on Shakespeares, 60163 is on Torbays. A bit pie in the sky maybe, but could Bittern help out on the first one?

 

I think 60019 is working London Kings Cross-York the same day with UK Railtours?

 

I'm afraid not, as the only other trips marked for Friday 9 July is 30777 to Swanage and the Jacobite. 60019 is free for all of that week. Now I have absolutely no information on this, and I'm sure LN850 may be in a better position to clarify the situation, BUT, and its probably a big but, might there be an outside chance that Lord Nelson will be ready for the mainline by July?

 

I was told by my department to stop talking rubbish when i mentioned 850's mainline return. I dont think it is a high priority for MHR.

Annoying that 34067 and 34046 are out of the question for this year, as 60019 doesnt seem a good partner for 30777. Maybe 70000???? i dont know.

 

Ah, well, bang goes that theory. 70000 is already booked to do it one way, so unless they diesel-bank it after turning and servicing the locomotive at Yeovil, I can't see anything other than 60019 being in position that week. I doubt that it would be 70013 as it is already covering a lot of 34067's work as it is... On the subject of 34046's tender, I was chatting to a member of its crew at the recent WSR gala who also claimed to be involved in the restoration, and he reckoned that the tender as it stands requires around three weeks' solid work to complete. Once again, I can't account for the veracity of this, but it does provide some food for thought.

 

Maybe 35028 could be made available?

 

Now, that would be good. However, its already set to do two enthusiasts specials this year, so it not really likely. It seems that for the first time in at least a decade, we are to see a Bulleid drought on railtours. I think it would be a good idea for 34073 to be restored with this in mind, so where's my lottery ticket..?

 

I also see that Steam Dreams rail tour with 34067 on Sunday 11th July London Waterloo to Exeter has also been cancelled. Could of been a great run down to Exeter.

 

There is a big gap between the VOSE trips to allow another rail tour to take place. I would think there would be an increase in ticket sales if 35028 was booked for this rail tour?

 

34067 certainly has a very busy programme for this summer which if not ready for these will certainly cause a very big problems in sourcing an alternate locomotive for the promoters. Having a quick glance at UK Steam she is booked to work May 22nd - Royal Wessex (RTC), May 26th - Kentish Belle (RTC), May 31st - Swanage Belle (RTC), June 5th - Quantock Hills Express (RTC), June 19th - Bath and Bristol (RTC), 1st July - Worcester (Steam Dreams) and July 3rd - Swanage Belle (RTC). All of that before it is due to be part of the Dorset Coast Express pool.

As for 35028 being a possible loco to use I remember reading that MNLPS prefer to only use DBS as an operating company due to amount of knowledge they have working the locomotive. This would mean that an operating company change would be required which I think will be very unlikely.

One question does anyone have a vague idea of when she is likely to return?