Bulleid Pacifics - Past or Present

Sorry to hear that you didn't get a ride behind 'Manston', Thomas. It was certainly in steam on 18th Sept, working alongside 5164, 46443 and 4566. I believe it was in steam vice the pannier, which had failed earlier this week? It certainly made light work of the gradients, on the trip myself and Andrew made behind it.

37906 (the reason for our visit) was suitably impressive though...

Enjoy the sight of a Bullied on the Valley, for all those who attend the Gala. I can't make it alas, but look forward to seeing all the videos on Youtube after the event!

Cheers,

Phil.

 

34070 was always booked to be the Bridgnorth loco last weekend. It was supposed to be on the two round trips diagram on sunday but Manston got switched to the 9 coach Severn Valley Venturer set because it coped with a horrible batch of coal better than the GWR locos were managing.

 

Phil, please remember the phrase 'i before e except in Bulleid' (borrowed from another poster) by writing it down 400 times ! I also spotted this mistake in the National Railway Museum last Sunday, on the notice that gives a potted history of 34051 (she really needs some cosmetic restoration, plenty of rust and flaking paint on the edges of the pannelling and the top of the tender tank).

By the way, I was on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway on Monday, and the frames of 34101 'Hartland' appeared to be inside the workshop in red oxide. Its good to know that her overhaul is continuing apace.

 

Just a brief update on 34081. Work continues in stripping her down ready for the boiler lift. If all goes according to plan the boiler will be ready by the end of October to send away for its overhaul. Next job will be then to lift the frames so we can have a look at the bottom end and assess what work needs doing there. Extra pairs of hands always welcome on both the engineering and fund raising teams.

 

35005's tender is now in the main shed at Ropley being overhauled / prepaired to run with 34007. The loan tender from 34039 now unfortunately leaks like a sieve and is due to return to the G.C.R. for overhaul.

 

Believe 34070 is raising the echoes around the Severn Valley and showing what one of Bulleid's best can do and, seemingly, doing it with a horrible batch of coal!

 

A Bulleid will make steam even if it's burning horse manure.

 

35005 tender is now behind 31806 in Ropley workshop. Sometime over the last two weeks the front wheel set has been swapped over with a wagon wheel to allow work to be carried out on it.

http://lee.mediaobjects.co.uk/p67385994.html

 

or Turf )

 

If you southerners are carrying out these experiments, it explains why bulleids always seem to be cowering behind a cloud of black smoke!

 

Cowering is not the word: I'd say proudly displaying its utter contempt for all sorts of rubbish thrown into the firebox. You could probably get one to move on a match-stick (hmm, that's overstatement taken to the extreme), and it'll still blow-off at the safety valves. I wonder if Bulleids steamed well on BR's finest briquettes?

 

Looking through a book of photos of the Southern at the weekend, I spotted one of 21C1 (later named Channel Packet) apparently on her first trip away from Eastleigh works, on 10th March 1941, from Eastleigh to Alresford with a van train. I wonder if a similar trip could be organised for the 70th anniversary in March next year? Obviously, old Flannel Jacket herself is long gone, as is the direct route (would have to go via Fareham, Petersfield and Guildford these days), and the train would have to consist of passenger-carrying vehicles to be viable (!), but I think 35028 could do the honours very well.

Has anyone already thought of marking the anniversary?

 

Sounds good to me but please make sure it doesn’t run on a Saturday that I’m working. Would also look great if she could have the VSOE Pullman set behind her. Should also sound great going up Medstead bank with eleven or twelve Pullmans behind her.

 

Banked By another Sutiable Bulleid

 

dont bank it, just put 31806 on as pilot as long as its a vac braked train, either that or have a through pipe fitted with a brake controller
during the Bournmouth electrification works it was often the thing to add a pilot on the heaviest workings

 

35028 is currently sitting on jacks outside the main building at Crewe, the drive wheels are in front of the loco and would also appear to have had their tyres turned in addition to the journals being sorted.

 

I've seen lots of photos with class 33s piloting over the MHR but never a U class?

 

The MHR doesn't normally use bankers, except in emergencies. I'm not sure whether Clan Line would actually need assistance over the Alps - though it might be a sensible precaution, and would add to the spectacle. Back in July 2007, she hauled 13 assorted Mk1 & Mk2 coaches, plus a dead 66, up Parkstone bank (1 in 60) from a standing start at Poole. She slipped once, briefly, towards the top, but that was all.

I think you'll find examples of all sorts of pilot locos on diversions over the Mid-Hants, and a Guildford N or U would be a very likely candidate.

 

Does anyone know if any of the Bulleid tenders that were sold by Woodhams to a steel plant still exist within the Steel plant or has this plant closed down ?

 

They generally went to Briton ferry steelworks for use as ingot carriers.

However the Bluebell railway managed to aquire at least 1 complete tender underframe and wheelset unit from the plant and possibly a spare set of wheelsets as well, back in the late 1980`s.