Loco 76017

It could go mainline, for the remainder of its ticket, which has 4 years left to run, and if based at Carnforth would at least have engineering back up,

 

That would involve an intermediate overhaul and fitting of TPWS and the other electronic gubbins and for what? The loco is not powerful enough for meaningful ML work.

 

That would be a lot of cash to splash for a locomotive for which I suspect would not be inundated with offers of mainline work. One would assume that there is something in place for her to earn her keep somewhere otherwise why remove her from the MHR who one would assume were paying some sort of steaming fees?

 

Given the names mentioned, and the general desire of this forum not to get sucked into discussion of the history, the motives may not be financial.

 

Too small for Jacobite ?

 

Yes it is, when 76079 was up there it was restricted to load 6. There are some fearsome gradients on the Mallaig road, some with checkrailed reverse curves.

 

When I was in the motor trade there had to be published terms and conditions allowing claim/sale in such circumstances. But I believe its normal in any commercial arrangement involving some kind of storage.

I know less than nothing about what contracts and ownerships are in place, but bearing in mind the circumstances in 2009 it would be surprising if MHR management hadn't got contracts properly sorted, and also bearing in mind past history I submit it's entirely to be expected that absolutely nothing is or will be public knowledge.

 

In which case other than piloting something else small/ slow its not much use mainline. But i am forgetting that with the amount of 'shovage' going on these days it only needs to go Chuff and Peep to be perfectly adequate...

 

A few years ago JB almost secured a class 4 loco, before the owner changed their minds about selling it. He stated his plan then was to take it around a few heritage railways and have a bit of fun with it. So that may well be what he has in mind for 76017.

 

From what I've heard it should be heading to Carnforth for ERTMS fitting, but that could all be rumours

 

Cambrian ?

 

We'd love it at CHR for free ;-). Ahh Cambrian Coast... Now that would be a sight.

 

Be nice to see steam over Barmouth Bridge when it's finally completed....

 

It would. Though the apparent way that it's left the MHR leaves me a sour taste in my mouth, and not entirely comfortable to trust the owners to honour a deal.

 

I don't know what the ins and outs are of what's gone on- I expect there is only a handful of folk who will ever know fully, but it doesn't sound like it's a nice situation.

I hope the MHR can manage to get by.

 

Well, any mention of the loco, and asking what's happened gets deleted on the MHR related Facebook sites, so i doubt if we will ever know the full story, but what's happened has happened, time to move on, I expect that this situation will have exercised quite a few minds, with in the MHR management, as to loco policy and the next overhauls will be only engines the railway owns outright, or where they can trust the owning groups 100 per cent,

 

I understand that it has been policy for 5 years at least for the MHR to secure its own locomotives so as to be independent of changes in loco ownership and fallings out with owning individuals/groups

 

I don't think Ian Riley would agree after his experience with 76079 on the Cambrian so a main line operation on either the Jacobite or the Furness circuit could be under consideration. Consider 86401 Euston - Carlisle then 76079 on Furness Coast to Carnforth for return to Euston behind 86401 - a nice day out with good mix of traction and scenery methinks.