MHR Restorations and Overhauls

Anybody know when 76017 is likely to be re-wheeled? It seems like the frames have been ready for an absolute age, yet so far it is still up on blocks. Also what is the latest on the boiler refurb? I guess this loco could come together pretty quick as progress seems to have been spread on various fronts.

 

Hi Andy,

It can't be too long before 76017 is back on it's wheels. From memory the axle boxes have been blued in the axles and the horn guides have been done.

31806 has returned from Swanage and is facing out of Alton again.

 

Hi All,
I was reading the article in the latest issue of the Steam Railway Magazine Issue 420 about Mr Bunch removing his 5 steam engines from the line and i was wondering wether anyone know wether he means that 31806 wont be running at the Mid Hants Railway during the 2014 season.

If anyone can help me out i would be really thankful.

Many Thanks,.
YRM,,.

 

it will depend on the agreement the railway has, i believe the out of ticket locos, can be moved away before the agreement expires, but 31806 is i think under an agreement until september 2014, and as such the MHR can run it up to then, just out of interest did it give any hint of where the engines are going to move too? there has been romours of 34016 and 73096 being sold to west coast and 31806 moving to Swanage, but nothing about either the other U,or the N.

 

Sad news for the line, as I have many fond memories of 73096 and 34016.
But lets hope we can all see and appreciate them on the mainline in years to come!?
Cheers
Andy

 

The article mentions that no decision has yet been made about where they will go but he wants all 5 to have a working future so they can be used and enjoyed. Its sad to see that those locos will be leaving

But as long as they have a good future and the MHR is covering those losses well with 506, 499, 76017, 34105, 75079, 41312 etc all at varying stages of overhaul or restoration with other projects in the future such as 35005, 34058 and 80150. Also in the new SR, the ERPS have said they hope to have 828 back in steam in 2 and half to 3 years time and will again appear in Maunsell Olive Green and be based on the MHR but will be available for hire to other railways.

 

AFAIK. It has been mentioned in the past on these forums, that the 5 J.B. locos are being kept at the MHR regardless of use or not until the end of the agreement in September 2014, because the MHR have to pay a hire fee for the locos whether they are in ticket or stored out of use.
If this is indeed the case, then J.B. would hardly want to take them away early to another location, thereby cutting off a very handy income stream.

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Nail the head on the hit!...................................................

And that's a large chunk of money back into the railways coffers!!

 

Surely it would be benificial to both parties to come to a mutual understanding regarding the locomotives, if wars can be averted [well some of them] surely with a bit of dialoge an agreement can be reached or maybe both parties are fed up with each other which is not what the general public are interested in they come to see the locomotives which they associate with the line, if the loco"s go neither parties has won but its the fare paying public who have lost.
After all you don"t have to like each other to run a business i know it helps but business is business.

 

Yes It would be good if some sort of arrangement could be come to. Unfortunately the wounds run too deep and it's inevitable that the JB locos will be leaving the Mid Hants. In any case the Mid Hants have been building up their own collection of locos to replace them, 80150, 45379, 75079, 35005 etc.

It wouldn't surprise me if both Us and the N ended up at Swanage. It's an appropriate line for them, and having made clear their preference for smaller more economical locos rather than Bulleid Pacifics, I'm sure the SR would welcome them with open arms. That could spell problems for SLL and it's long term future at Swanage though.

All speculation really though, we'll have to wait and see what happens.

 

I agree with you about the U,s Stephen though the N has too much wrong with it and is likely to be stuffed and mounted at least for the time being.

Whispers are that it might go to the NRM?

Chris

 

well it is one of the most important locos not in the National Collection for several reasons and would illustrate several stories in a museum. I'd rather see it in use, as I was there the day it first steamed at Alresford and have a soft spot for it, but if that's not possible, the NRM would be an ideal home for it IMO

 

I wonder what's wrong with the N.......?

 

Knackered copper firebox. Cracked frames. Nothing that is irreparable. But very expensive and not something the MHR would contemplate sorting with little time left on the agreement with J.B.

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of course, one of the Moguls could be sent to Ireland and re-gauged, illustrating another branch of the story.(or converted to a tank , either a River or a London Transport example.....)

 

But you can always swop the boilers around between one of the U's and the N class. Hasn't 31874 got the boiler off one of the U's?

 

Yep, you certainly can swop boilers. The MHR have done so, but 31625's boiler also needs fairly expensive repairs as well, negating much of a cost saving in carrying out this procedure. The only boiler in decent condition is the one that's currently ticketed and fitted to 31806.

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Far more of interest is what's going to happen to 34016 Bodmin and 73096. Seeing another bulleid on the main line gets my vote. Would be nice to see 34016 and 34046 on the same rail tour at some point.

 

Well, were just going to have to wait and see. Although J.B. states that nothing has been decided yet as to where his locos are off to after September 2014, he has obviously got plans in mind and the coming months will probably see more concrete plans come to the fore as the deadline gets closer.
What will be interesting is how quick the MHR will want them shifting from their property after the agreement ends.
Alresford station car park could be quite busy towards the end of September next year with low loader movements!

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