Heritage Line Loco Power Requirements

I recall those heady days. All the way to the SVR for just one loco in steam on the winter service and it was WD193.

 

...and a tendency to cut up what had already been preserved, a tradition Stanier brought with him to the LMS.

 

Can't 'like' that, particularly because of what was 'chopped' (Kirtley 0-6-0 and a Johnson 0-4-4T - what wonderful (small loco) additions to the fleet they would be) - but I know exactly what you mean

 

Plus the last classic North London 4-4-0t

 

A tradition which sadly continued at the SVR with 3612, 1502 and 1509…

 

Having been on locos that have been over stretched like that if disagree and say a little extra wear and tear is exactly the justification for using something bigger and more substantial, it can make a vast difference when it comes to overhauls.

 

There was not enough of 1502 and 1509 left to restore, they were already in a dismantled state and a lot of the bits I believe were already on 1501

 

That's because it's been locked in a shed on private land for the last 15 odd years!

Keith

 

Yes while at the same time ignoring all the other locos there.

 

There are suggestions that the broad gauge locos were cut up by Stanier whilst Churchward was on holiday and that Churchward was very angry when he returned.

 

1502 and 1509 were sent to the scrapyard by the group which owns 1501 rather than by the SVR - you're right about 3612 though.

 

They were more or less complete initially - though they may have been cannibalised pretty quickly thereafter

 

Can't think why I just got back here after popping off to re-read through the Steam Traction thread S15s of the NYMR

 

The nearest 1502 and 1509 got to the SVR was when they were cut up by the scrap merchant at Great Bridge. There was never any realistic chance of 1509 being saved. An attempt was made to raise funds to secure 1502 but there was insufficient time or money available. There was no serious interest shown in these locos from any other parties. Be thankful that one of them was saved.

Andy

 

Its a myth. I've seen Locomotive committee minute extracts which indicate that Churchward spent something like two years trying to find a museum or somewhere to give a home to them before they eventually gave up and had them cut up.

 

Re the WC/BB Bullieds trundling at 25mph:

Lovely looking locos, as spam cans or rebuilt, and praiseworthy in almost every way-But, I took my boys on the WSR last years S+D gala, and the experience was, er, dull. Sorry, but it was. I'm not a fan of BR Mk1's, but the loco was so overpowered for the job , it did the whole run apparently on tickover. Both ways.

This might, I'll admit, be Swindon bias, but GW engines sound amazing. It might be narrow gauge bias. The VofR loco's really sound incredible going up the valley.
You can't see your train engine when you are on the train. Smaller engines working hard are exciting just to listen to

 

You can see the engine some of the time on curves, and on a preserved line you can even lean out of a window if you're sensible about when and where.

After two of the talks at Kidderminster yesterday I rode to Bridgnorth and back. The down run was behind a Bulleid which made a reasonable amount of sound. The multiple-jet exhaust is of course a lot quieter than a typical GWR or even LMS or Standard exhaust, but it's far from silent. I did though have the advantage of being in the front coach with only a few other passengers, so the sound of the loco was not smothered by a lot of talking, and it was tender first so I wasn't far from the chimney.