MHR Restorations and Overhauls

Icons of Steam confirming that 4464 'Bittern' to be based on the MHR throughout 2015.

 

Full statement taken of the Icons of Steam Website.... interesting reading.

An extra year of Bittern
This December is the end of one chapter, but there is still one more to go for our #eastcoaststreak
Photo courtesy York Loco Images
It’s been more than eight years since Bittern first blew through her cylinders and eased herself forwards on the metals of the Watercress Line in Hampshire, after more than thirty years out of action.

We are thrilled to announce that Bittern will not be disappearing after her final mainline excursion from London Kings Cross to Lincoln on the 30th December this year. She will in fact be moving back to the Watercress Line, where she will reside for the duration of 2015.


I thought Bittern had to have an overhaul at the end of this year?
Even if we wanted to, we couldn’t continue to run Bittern on the mainline railways of Britain after the end of 2014.

Steam locomotive boilers are required to have an overhaul every seven years for mainline running but only every ten for working on a preserved railway. Bittern has already had an extension of one year and has now spent 8 years working on the mainline.

Fortunately, 10–8 equals 2, so potentially No. 4464 could continue to run on a preserved railway for a further two years, we’re aiming for 1.

Why isn’t Bittern being overhauled now, so she’s back on the mainline soon?
We plan to overhaul Bittern at the Royal Scot Locomotive & General Trust workshops at LNWR Crewe.

At the moment though, this facility has plenty of work to be getting on with. Most notably, returning No. 46100 Royal Scot to steam and conducting an intermediate overhaul on No. 34046 Braunton.

We’ve decided therefore that we want to see Bittern spend the next year working on a preserved railway, where you will be able to experience the delight of our #eastcoaststreak.

Isn’t this a change of plan?
Yes, the original plan was for Bittern to undergo an overhaul soon after the expiry of her boiler ticket at the end of this year.

Photo courtesy Geoff Griffiths
Is Bittern still running on the mainline now?
Yes, Bittern will be hauling her penultimate mainline train on Saturday 13th December and also ‘The Bittern Farewell’ from London Kings Cross to Lincoln on the 30th December.

When will Bittern get to the Watercress Line?
We don’t yet know the exact date, however she will be in attendance for their Spring Steam Gala, from the 13–15 February.

When will Bittern be running at the Watercress Line?
Other than the Spring Steam Gala, we don’t know precisely. She will run on a number of occasions throughout 2015 while based at the Mid Hants Railway, however the exact dates are not up to us.

You will be able to find out more on the Watercress Line website once Bittern moves there in early 2015.

How can I find out more?
As always, visit our website at www.iconsofsteam.com and keep a close eye on Bittern’s Facebook page.

 

We can now add 60019 Bittern to the line up for the Spring gala.

 

That should make a nice change.

 

Seems a bit of an odd move to me, yes the MHR gets a prestige engine, but they're not short of locos for the level of service operated, especially with 76017 and 41312 due back next season. It doesn't make sense to have much of the fleet sitting around doing nothing whilst paying hire fees. Maybe some of the fleet are going out on hire.

 

In that case can gwsr have Cheltenham, pleeeeeaaase!?

 

Possibly there weren't many other options, and JH seems to have a good relationship with the MHR, so it is a safe haven I guess. Out of curiosity, how many major lines are actually in the market for a big engine next year? I get a sense that the loco situation for several of the big players is improving everywhere simultaneously, which probably makes it less of a sellers' market for unaffiliated loco owners than it has been for the last few years.

Tom

 

It depends on what you define as a big engine! I think the NYMR will be looking for an engine or perhaps even two next year for the peak season. If they aren't they should be! For the last 2-3 years there have been too many diesel substitutions. The problem is that they will preferably wanting around class 5s rather than class 8s and ideally engines that are NR registered and suitable to run to Whitby. Problem is, those are few and far between and usually occupied on NR at the time when the NYMR most needs them. My suggestion that the NYMR buys 45231 has so far fallen on deaf ears!

 

Yes they do - nothing wrong in that! and maybe this is JH's way of saying "thank you" to the guys at Ropley who put her back together & the way she has performed since.......

Given what I was told a few months ago, this is a bit of a curve ball, so I can only assume that the line she was supposed to be going to, someone there said or demanded something LSL didn't like........

 

Could always have come to keep 4270 company...

 

Wouldn't worry too much, NYMR usually finds a loco benefactor comes to the rescue.

 

It doesn't happen that often, but yes, the NYMR has been fortunate. Probably has something to do with being a fabulous railway as well, though!

 

As long as you paint it a decent colour...Black would be nice.

 

Only if we get to play with P&O once shes finished.... assuming CanPac isnt done first ;-)

 

Best ask the NRM nicely then........

 

Haha, perhaps we could paint half of 925 black a la Truro at SVR, and just send a picture back? As long as the black was on the right side it could still be green as it goes past the carriage workshops. Actually, schools in lined black is not too bad, the one in the model shop looks great (until you see the price of course)!

As for 35006, well, who knows when that'll be done, I was encouraged by the news the steam pipes were being fitted, no doubt they'll be taken off again at some stage though. I heard hornby were making a model of it, it will be on the shelves within a year...

 

What, incomplete with parts to hand?.......

As for the race between 5 & 6...... looks to me 5 might just win at this rate.......

 

Yes, being a successful charity with benefactors willing to help out can be very useful, even if it seems to cause bitterness with some............

Steven

 

And a lot of hard work behind the scenes by people who probably suffer more than their fair share of "I've never seen them wielding a spanner, what the **** do they do for the Railway comments"! (A fate which I suspect 61624 himself has suffered and cursed a few times!).

Railways can't run without engineers and operators, but they also consume vast amounts of cash and skilled fund raisers are needed to "feed the fire" in that direction also!

Steven