92207 Morning Star

The cylinders for 92085 were at Sheffield Park on a pallet for many years. Presume they still are?

 

Going back to Shillingstone now?.
Few years ago looked into getting hold of a 9f boiler for the Clan, but making it fit wasnt ideal, and would probably have attracted the kind of negativity that now surrounds 4709...

 

It’s at a private site in Poole at the moment, report as being purchased the S&D at Midsomer Norton.

 

What are the chances of this one ever steaming?

 

What were the chances of 4253 ever steaming, a few years ago? Now it's not a long way off. You never know....

 

Confirmed, according to RailAdvent (and backed by a direct quote from the S&DRHT Chairman). https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2022/0...f-steam-locomotive-no-92207-morning-star.html

Tom

 

BR Standard Class 92207 during ‘BR’ days. (Photo by Lewis Bevan).

 

Pretty good I would think.

The S&D are the new owners, but there is an experienced project team that has been assembled to make it happen.

AIUI they have already written a complete bill of materials for the loco so they know what they need to restore / acquire / manufacture, down to the last nut and washer.

It was really heartening to see a brand new 9F double chimney casting at MSN the other day

 

Glad to see this locomotive has a bright future.

 

Good news and well done the S& DRH Trust.
It will be good to have some photographs soon to show exactly what has been done, but, if they are estimating £500K, a large part of that will be for the boiler, so the chassis should be looking fairly complete?

 

Remember that the loco also needs a new tender

 

I wish them all the best but having an operational 9F for one mile of line at Midsomer Norton strikes me as odd. I know it's a long term project but I'm sure this will divert funds from the needs of their site at MSN - ie: need for sidings, undercover storage etc without even thinking of any extension to the line. Do we know if their fund to buy Joyce the Sentinel steam loco has been successful?

 

I gather that it has been successful, according to comments on FB.

 

The boiler is still at Bury, with 3 more years of grass growth round it. A source advises that it's not shifted, there has been no contact from anyone, less alone anyone wanting to view or inspect it.
Would respectfully suggest that the new owners should consider making some contact before it disappears as the ELR has planning permission for a complete re-development of the area and significant clearance will start shortly.

 

The latest Steam Railway magazine has a feature on the S&DR at Midsomer Norton. I think it must have been written slightly before the announcement about the 9F, but they acknowledge that they can’t currently host larger locos, and have a plan to build a new larger loco servicing facility with this in mind. There seems to be confidence that this is achievable, as is an extension (although to paraphrase the article, extending in one direction requires ‘doing a Bluebell’ and shifting huge amounts of spoil, whilst the other direction requires a GCR-style ‘bridging the gap’ attempt, so it won’t be easy.

With regard to a tender, I believe their plan is to hire one initially from an under-overhaul standard, before building one.

 

Great news, although I'm sorry Keith Bottomley has health problems.

Dave

 

Unfortunately, it's much more difficult than simply bridging a gap. After the line closed in 1966 the rail bridge over Silver Street was removed. The road was then evened out to give a more gradual climb. The road was set at a much higher level than when the bridge was in place. I cannot see the local authority allowing the road to revert to it's previous form. I agree that it won't be easy and the cost would be phenomenal, especially at a time when everyone is or will be tightening their belts. <BJ>

 

I didn't realise that the railway was there as early as that ;-)

 

Tom

 

I never knew those covered New England rail bridges had such a long pedigree!