Nunney Castle

We all have our favorites, I think JBT meant 5029 was special to him. Castles personaly don't do much for me, More a Manor man.

 

She was used a lot in publicity and on special workings for both the GWR & BR(W). Also the last steam loco to arrive at Barry via rail.

 

Was that willing done by the 5029 group? Seems strange they went all out doing what they could for years and now can't be bothered with said locomotive. Seems like you are a member of the group maybe you know exactly the goings on.

 

I meant what the engine did in her career was something. She is my favourite Castle however, being the first steam loco I saw on the mainline and also the first I went behind about 10 years later I do find the news saddening.

 

With 'Nunney' withdrawn from service for the foreseeable future, I've put together a collection of my shots of her in action over the past year or so. My little tribute to her.

 

Sorry ard... I did refer to that in my post...

 

Thats fair enough as I say not too keen on Castles so dont really know the ins and outs of 5029's history. It is a shame about its sudden withdrawl but look on the brightside, 4079 & 7029 to return (and another Z48 re-run) and the Castle that thinks its King, 5043 a loco that goes about its buisness ( I wont say quietly) and just gets the job done. It's not all doom and gloom!

 

Shame the other Castle are not air brakes as the mainline chocolate & cream stock I believe is only air braked other than the VT stock the doesn't come down South / South West that often & 6023 isn't air brakes ether

 

The locos come under LSL banner yes it was willing as we have all been out with other locos in the pool

 

Lovely film, lovely locomotive.

Interesting you use the term slogging, I seem to recall it being stated on here in the past by someone who should know (sorry I don't recall who) that Nunney isn't a slogger but a flyer - doesn't slog like 5051 but hell she flies!

 

And the bottom end was pretty much overhauled less than 2 years ago.

 

Seemingly not ......
My impression is that 5029 has been an indifferent performer. Maybe wrong, not made very close scrutiny. As was said above it has had several lengthy spells in the works without reaping full reward for the investment.

 

I think that was fair comment before her most recent repairs at Tyseley. Comparing video of her performances before and after, over difficult routes such as Bristol-Weymouth and Bristol-Plymouth, she appeared to be noticeably stronger afterwards. Of course, a crew still can't afford to set off from Plymouth with a dull and dirty fire, as was shown on her 1Z48 tour in May this year - but that's true of any steam loco! However, unless those close to the loco, such as NunneyFixer or Bob Meanley, give us the benefit of their experience, it will remain "line-siders' impressions".

 

Having had a total of 617 miles behind this machine, none of the trips particularly stood out beyond the fact that they took in some local (when not living in York) branches in West Wales, and a bit of assistance up Cockett. I did one of the first Weymouth Seasides in 2011(?), and Evershot severely taxed her to around 5mph (granted 34067 sat down at the same location earlier this year). So definitely not a climber among Castles...

 

I haven't had a run behind her solo but did in 2010 when she double headed with 60019. Was a great run. One of the best I've had.

 

Interesting comparisson. Tangmere has more than enough power to take the WSE over Evershot, but needs dry rails. She came unstuck last summer because she couldn't put that power to use. Nunney has pleanty of adhesion and I've never known her actually stall, but she's come dreadfully close a few times. Several times I've had my heart on my mouth as I've heard speed fall away in the distance before she has finally staggered into view. I've witnessed this on Evershot, Dainton and Hemerdon in recent years. It makes great video, but each time I've wished she had one coach fewer...

 

I've never really thought that 5029 has hauled particularly heavy trains. Out of all the locomotives I've sampled, its probably one of the few that routinely hauls trains according to route load-books. The trips I've had were 9 (or 10), which is one or two less than 34067 normally handles. Once again, this might just say something about how 34067 is used. You can get a Class 8 performance out of it (as BR(S) regularly did whenever an MN was unavailable), but whilst there might be power in reserve, it might not be able to do a lot with it due to adhesion. But despite being in the same power class, I find Castles a bit of an enigma, as 5029's performance suggests that in single-chimney form, they were possibly optimised for shorter, more frequent trains. On the other hand, I've had one run behind 5043, and I agree that the double chimney makes it a completely different beast.

 

With 5043 you always get someone who knows how to fire it and get the best out of it. With 5029 if someone from Tyseley is on the footplate it should be a good run but with others it varied a lot . Double chimney Castle are meant to cope better with poor quality coal.