Swanage 80078

It's only about 53 miles and the Pwllheli portion generally only loaded to 3/4 coaches. The bunker wouldn't be half empty at that! It'd probably do the return trip.

 

Was it really only that light? There are a few climbs, Friog and out of Penrhyndeudrath, but it's fairly flat I guess. For 53 miles it takes a long time to get to the end of it!

 

I don't know why but I don't like Standard Four tanks very much. Possibly after going to SVR gala some years ago while only still inmy early teens, hopeing they use their home fleet but instead it was wall to wall Standard 4s was anoying. Plus having known the Swanage line since about 1997 it was fustrating to get a 4MT. However I think they possbly the best locomoitve in presevation very nearly. Plenty of power, but not too coal hungry, has the distinction of being an ex. BR engine. Shame to see 80078 out of use for now. They only loco which I think could be better would be the Standard 3MT but we have to wait to see what thats like. Or maybe the Ivatt 2MTs?

When I meant full story in my post at the beguining, I didn't mean the SR mag provided it, just I don't know what the full story is (should hve writtern't better)

Talking about their use on the Cambrain... would it be correct to say they saw use across the whole country in their short 15 years service life? The only place I could think off where they weren't was East Anglia....

 

to be honest, how much difference is there between the tractive effort of a standard 3 tank compared to a standard 4? or its smaller cousin the ivatt/standard 2 tank? i dont think that the standard 3 were that sucessful because the class 4s were a much better all round design ,this is why the ivatt 2 and standard 4 tanks survived till the end and found their way to barry where as most of the standard 3s were withdrawn early on and cut up had they servived a bit longer who knows , some might have been preserved

 

It this it was more bad luck none were preserved, the last of the class lasted to 1967 and cut up in 1968.. Also in south wales, but a class 3 is somewhat more unusual amongst the masses of 2 and 4's, maybe it was considered a poor class 4 or an oversized Jinty ?

 

Each Class was designed to do a specific type of job. For instance, all the Std Class 2 tanks were fitted with push/pull apparatus for branch line jobs.
The Std 3 tanks were not withdrawn early. Withdrawal was spread between the years 1964-67. In fact, 82003 was not cut up until October 1968.
As ADB968008 says, it was pure luck that none went to Barry. 32 of the Class were cut up in South Wales.

 

thanks, i was under the impression that all the class3 tanks were amoungst the first standards to be withdrawn or am i getting confused with the standard 2 tanks ? it is very unfortunate that none found their way to barry, as didnt some get used as empty stock shunters at clapham up to the end of steam in the south

 

All the Std 2 tanks were withdrawn by the end of 1965.
A number of Std 3 tanks were allocated to Nine Elms from November 1962 and, as you say, worked the ECS trains to and from Clapham Jct. 82019 and 82029 were finally withdrawn from Nine Elms in July 1967.

 

From memory one of the Std 2 tanks at Nine Elms was in BR green with an extra hand rail on the boiler and come from the western region.

 

I'm not aware that any of the Std 2 Tanks were sent to the WR although some of the 2-6-0s were. What you saw would have been a Std Class 3 tank.

Meic

 

Plus i am pretty certain that bar 80135 in preservation, the only standard tanks to wear green were the 3MT's during the time they were WR based. Were they repainted pretty quickly or did they operate for some time on the SR in the green?

 

I think you'll find that the green liveried locos stayed green until withdrawal. There was at least one green one at Patricroft, on the LMR, until withdrawal in 1966.

 

Afternoon folks,

None of the 4MT Tanks carried Green when with BR, although some of the 3MTs did.

Very Best Wishes,
Bob.

 

Anyway, what colour do you all want 80078?

 

Black will do just fine thanks.

 

IMR Indian red, with all the trimmings, chimney numerals, number painted on bunker rear, named, white rods. If matched with some crimson & cream coaches it'll look great!

How far should I retreat?

 

Now I like that...need an excuse for some crimson and cream coaches down there...!

 

Glad to see that the important colour debate has now started. Never mind the umpty thousands of pounds and hours needed to get to the position of being able to paint it...

 

As we all know, the amount of froth generated by something is inversely related to its actual importance to the operation of the locomotive...

 

Thanks for administerng a timely bucket of cold water......

If anyone would like to help the restoration of 80078, or any other of SLL's locos, they can find out how to here:

http://www.southern-locomotives.co.uk/Company/Shareholders_Scheme.html

BTW, just spent the day with six other volunteers preparing the tubes and flues for Sir Keith Park's boiler (degreasing, cleaning, polishing the ends) which are due to be fitted in a couple of weeks. It's coming together nicely.