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Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by NightRail, Jan 11, 2017.

  1. Dunfanaghy Road

    Dunfanaghy Road Well-Known Member

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    Planty, known as Percy, allegedly.
    Akthough, for the Shakespeare-ially inclined, "Hotspur" would do fine.
    Anyoldhow, Ignored Member #1 will have to find something else to froth about. :Saywhat:
    Pat
     
  2. kwrail

    kwrail New Member

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    What's the latest on Can Pac? Any idea when it is likely to be back in steam?
     
  3. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Not for a while yet, boiler is still being repaired, with still a lot of work to be done but the chassis is I believe nearly done, The boiler overhaul has been very extensive, with a lot of sections of the firebox needing to be renewed.
     
  4. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    How about, Wommit , because the shade of green has an vomiting inducing hue about it, And then you can have the story of Dave and Wommit, and the wrong coal " Ohh, Womitt, its this coal, its got me all clinkered up, ":D
     
  5. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    Historically more accurate as black due to origins in the colliery. Down to Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust what name and colour they give the loco. But in a temporary bright green calked Percy will earn some cash for the trust, and make some children happy.
     
  6. Shaggy

    Shaggy Part of the furniture

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    On the "Dave the Tank Engine" Facebook page, (yes he has one) his new friend is named "Kermit", although he does show all the hallmarks of being a Percy or even an Ivor!

    Another nice job by the team at Ropley MPD. Hopefully it will bode well for future work with the S&D team.
     
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  7. Duty Druid

    Duty Druid Resident of Nat Pres

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    A lovely fresh morning soon gave way to blistering heat atop the hill yesterday as six like minded nutters gathered to progress things on LMS van M517317!!! o_O

    We tackled the damn thing on four fronts, either in pairs or on yer tod...... & muggins 'ere definitly picked the wrong option....... prepping & getting the best part of three dozen planks, plus the vent surround into first undercoat in full sun!!! :Arghh:

    Elsewhere, the London end corrugation was derusted where neccessary and then rubbed down before the majority of was bought into first undercoat - doesn't sound a lot, but given the nature of the beast, it takes longer than you think! :Banghead: :Banghead: :Banghead:

    Also on the menu, was to finally try and remove the rivets holding at least one of the two remaing degraded gusset plates out, so that the offending item could be cut out..... this took most of the day & the blunting of plenty of drill bits!!! :rolleyes: But at least we got the damn thing out! :)

    The final task was to start to remedy the corrosion in the London end, south side wrap round..... there's a fair amount of metal to cut out, but after a fresh assessment, it would seem that we don't need to be as ruthless as first thought, which also means we appear ro have enough left in what remains of the old GPV door!!! :)

    So, one patch was cut out and a new piece fettled to fit, welded in & ground back & then the larger section was cut out ready for the replacement to be fettled & welded in next time........ hopefully along with a new gusset plate, which our friends in the ULS have apparently produced for us, so that we can trial fit to make sure it fits, before they do the other two for us - thanks Lads!!! :) :) :) All we have to do is go fetch.

    Oh...... and my Ropley Spy is threatening to inflict another of his ramblings upon the readership......... but don't hold yer breath - he's been saying that for months!!! :rolleyes:

    Finally on a serious note.

    You may remember that I put out a personal plea to help the guys looking after 50 027 Lion bring it back from the dead following its power to earth fault..... this a loco that the line needs to have back up and running as soon as possible to ease the strain on the two 20's and the 47!

    To that end I provide a link to their just giving page - their almost there with the target needed to get the power unit out, and of course, they will need help once the exact problem has been diagnosed - so if you can help, even if its just a few quid, please do! ;) :)

    https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfun...=offline&utm_medium=qrcode&utm_term=MpB8zyrV5

    The start of surgery on the London end, south side wrap round.

    20220806_100911.jpg

    Planks - lots of them basking in the sun.

    20220806_144333.jpg
    London end corrugation going into undercoat.

    20220806_162502.jpg
    The first hole patched up & the 2nd cut out ready for new steel.

    20220806_144132.jpg
     
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  8. alexl102

    alexl102 Member

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    Ivor…I’d love to see NER 1310 as Ivor.
     
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  9. kwrail

    kwrail New Member

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    Rather than continue to post your nonsense, please refer to the Mid-Hants Railway thread where you will find discussion on this subject. The MHR would very much like to see 34105 back in steam again - there is certainly no lack of interest. It is actually around 70% complete. The problem is a legal one, which unfortunately has it roots in things that went on over 30 years ago. Until these issues are resolved the loco will not be finished. The MHR does not want to pay for completing the work and then find it running on another HR.
     
  10. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Thank you for this post, however why is it I have a feeling our friend from Canada will not be satisfied and find something else to find fault with?
     
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  11. GOPOT

    GOPOT New Member

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    If folks haven’t seen it yet, Wadebridge was today moved away to Riley’s for overhaul work to continue, as announced on the loco owning group’s Facebook page. Target completion of overhaul to mainline standards is 2026.

    https://www.facebook.com/108888814782401/posts/362641886073758/?d=n

    The text of the post is below for those without FB access.

    “The overhaul of 34007 Wadebridge is now underway. The unrebuilt West Country class locomotive is based on the Watercress Line in Hampshire and has been out of service since the expiry of its boiler certificate in 2016. The work is being divided between the Watercress Line’s own engineering works at Ropley and Riley & Son Locomotive Engineers Ltd. in Heywood. The former has partially dismantled the locomotive, and the chassis and boiler was transported by road to Heywood on 9 August. The focus there will be on repairing and re-tubing the boiler, overhauling the frames, motion, brakes, springs and cylinders, and turning the wheels. Perhaps the most challenging task will be the repair or replacement of the inside cylinder. In parallel, Ropley will refurbish items such as boiler fittings, cab fittings, copper pipe work and cladding, and complete the tender. On the return of the chassis and boiler from Riley's, Ropley will carry out the re-assembly and testing, paint the locomotive and tender, and return them to service.

    The whole project will be designed and implemented in ways that keep open the option of operating Wadebridge on the main line as well on the Watercress Line. The aim is have Wadebridge back in action in 2026.

    34007 is owned by Wadebridge (34007) Locomotive Ltd., in which the Watercress Line Heritage Railway Trust holds a majority share. Wadebridge Ltd. chair, Stephen Evans, has said that he ‘is absolutely delighted that Wadebridge is being given a fast-track overhaul. This has been made possible by the locomotive’s extraordinarily generous Swiss benefactor, Alex Choremi. Thanks to him and to the teams at Ropley and at Riley’s, there is every chance of Wadebridge returning to the front rank of UK operational steam locomotives within four years.”
     
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  12. JMJR1000

    JMJR1000 Member

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    It is certainly reassuring to hear 34105 hasn't been abandoned by the MHR, who do wish to see it running again.

    But while I do understand the issue is a legal one and so makes sense the railway doesn't wish to progress any further, I do hope they are at least doing what they can to keep the engine stored and protected from the elements as much as possible till this legal issue is resolved. I would hate to see all that 70% of work done only to end up deteriorating away and essentially all that time and effort being for nothing. Has the MHR made any comment on this matter, in protecting the work that's been done to the engine? I'd hope that surely once the legal matter is resolved they'd surely want to press on to it's completion, would they not?

    Or has the fortunes of Wadebridge being now overhauled somewhat dampened the desire to get 34105 finished anytime soon now?
     
  13. Chris86

    Chris86 Well-Known Member

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    How are the mid-hants looking motive power wise for the next few years.

    I seem to recall 30925 isn't long from requiring overhaul, and 53808 isn't either?

    Does that just leave 41312, 76017, 506 and Dave- or is there an expected overlap with 35005 & 75079- I have seen no news on 828 for some time either?

    Regards

    Chris
     
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  14. athelney

    athelney Member

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    We all have to talk about it --especially us Canadians ! :Arewealone:;) - I was at Swanage last month , and Im Canadian ! -- but from the pacific side :):):):)
     
  15. Andy Moody

    Andy Moody Member

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    Sorry to have to ask, But who or what is Dave?
     
  16. Paul.Uni

    Paul.Uni Well-Known Member

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    It's the nickname for the blue 0-6-0T.

    Sent from my SM-A125F using Tapatalk
     
  17. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Short term, I would expect to see more use of the diesel fleet, possibly a 1 steam, 1 diesel timetable , for 2023,
    hopefully in 2024, 75079 will enter service followed by 35005 then 499. at that point though, 76017 and 506 will be coming up for overhaul, possibly 41312 also, 34007 is due back in 2025, hopefully some kind of restore and run agreement, possibly using hire fees from 1788 will see 53808 being overhauled between 499 coming out, and 506 becoming due for its ten year overhaul
     
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  18. GOPOT

    GOPOT New Member

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    The release said 2026 for 34007. Still an impressive turnaround time I say.

    Dave is out of ticket at the end of this month. The Ropley MPD page had some photos of a new mould thats been made to replace the cylinder block.

    Has anyone heard any update about the locos owned by 3rd parties (92212, 925, 850)? I don't think I've seen anything definitive on where the 9F is going after its overhaul, and I wonder if the NRM would be interested in getting Lord Nelson overhauled to keep something of their Southern fleet in steam. I'm not aware of what condition 850 is in though, except still in storage at the back of the boiler shop.

    There's also 73096 and 45379 (the green and black fives) that are waiting in the wings. I guess they're a longer term project, along with 80150.

    But as you say, at least there's now 1788 to pick up the slack
     
  19. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    "pacific" in more senses than one.
     
  20. ruddingtonrsh56

    ruddingtonrsh56 Member

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    Wasn't there something in the last year or so confirming that 850 would be overhauled, but that it was just waiting its turn? Or have I imagined that?
     
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