SVR Loco Newsy News / discussions

Any news on what will happen to the two of them following withdrawal?

Regards

Chris

 

Tuesday to Friday also had standing room only trains at times. Boxing Day, NYE and NYD were a bit quieter.

 

My footage of 1501 & 2857 on their final day prior to withdrawal.

 

All 3 trains on boxing day were very well filled. Whilst they weren't standing room only. they were filled. The GW set behind the 40 was the quieter of the 3. The 9 coach off Bridgnorth actually benefitted from being 30 minutes late as it captured quite a few late comers. When we passed the 28 at Hampton loade, there wasnt a compartment spare with at least 2 people in each. The weather played a massive part. A cold, crisp but clear sunny day. NYE I was on the Bluebell and it was a horrible day weather wise but the main set, 4 mk1s and a Bulleid CK were comfortably filled with the 3 car set had a family in each compartment. It is always surpising how well we can do between Christmas and New year. It really does depend on how it all falls within the week.

 

I was working on S1 on Boxing Day and yes the first round trip was quite good but lessen a fair bit for the second round trip.
Weather definitely helps, the forecast for NYE was poor for Kidderminster, though was probably not as bad in the end.
There is something to be said for providing a good level of service. The ca 1h20 interval on the B is good for walking along the river as BY-AY and AY-HL can be done in this time (yesterday and wednesday respectively for me doing so).

 

I can't speak for 1501, but for 2857 the current position is that there are no concrete plans in place for the next overhaul and discussions are ongoing. We are of course keen to turn the loco round as soon as possible, and any help towards this end is greatly appreciated. Membership of the society is a good place to start...! http://www.2857.org.uk/2857_membership.html

 

Wasn't 1501 the subject of a rapid turnaround when its last 10 year overhaul was due? If that was the case it seems likely that a more comprehensive overhaul is now due and it will take its place in the queue.

 

Its nice to see that they have planned farewell trains for 2857 however videos as such do the railway no credit;

https://fb.watch/hPPmR2soVk/

After all the lineside fires that they have had this year it easy to see why they occur! Granted the chance of fires this time of year is slim, it's still not a great advert for the railway.

 

The coal currently being used is very dusty resulting in the tender having a lot of slack in it yesterday. The dust results in a lot of sparks when firing, when the loco is working hard or (in the case of the video in question) both.

 

Interesting video. I wonder if they are using the very ashy Kazakhstan coal that seems to be doing the rounds at present. I came back light engine from Pickering on the Q6 just before Christmas and although the loco was hardly being worked hard I was surprised by the volume of glowing embers coming out of the chimney off a very ashy firebed. I doubt that they are a fire risk in themselves, although you might rightly worry about this when tinder dry ground conditions prevail. Lineside fires almost always originate from the ashpan rather than the chimney.

Peter

 

Delete

 

A mix of Kazakhstan, Ovoids and possibly some decent Colombian stuff in the tender yesterday.

 

Deleted!

 

Indeed - the GM from KESR has posted a similar video in recent days, even going as far as to say they switched off the carriage lights on the last journey so the passengers could enjoy the spectacle as well.