Loco 76017

I’m sure it hasn’t, that’s two years of the boiler certificate wasted

 

A couple of years ago you were decrying the loco’s departure from MHR.
Do make your mind up!

 

I don’t understand your point?

 

It's with us on hire.

 

I've just seen the item in 'Trackside'. Rest of the year. Question answered. Job jobbed.
Pat

 

It appears to have had a rather tempestuous history whilst at Trains in a Trench. https://preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/76017-2/

 

Trains in a Trench? Que?
Pat

 

Mid Hants. The railway which is predominantly in a cutting

 

Which it isn’t,

 

@21B driving a train very much not in a trench
Schools Sunset Mk2 by Stephen Morley, on Flickr

 

Nice picture. Is that what they call trench art?

 

The Mid hants is cuttings, followed by embankments, like a lot of other lines, but getting back to 76017, Assuming it hasn't turned a wheel in 2 years, it's going to need a yearly boiler exam, even before looking at what else needs to be done, don't expect to see it in service straight away,

 

It may already have had one at Southall, of course! One assumes that the KESR have been in negotiation for a little while, and have conditions about from what date they want the loco to be available for traffic.

Tom

 

It had certainly had some attention when I was last there in September

 

Following on from the visit by the Bulleid it is an interesting move, no doubt setting the scene for the future once the connection through to Robertsbridge is completed. However, whilst in no way objecting to it, I do think it is a move away from the Col Stephens tradition which has always been a centre point of the KESR.
What next in terms of motive power, I wonder?

 

You mean a move away from the Austerities, Mk1's and Dining Trains, all of which Stephens was famous for?

The commercial reality is that, these days, in order to survive, we need to put a steam engine on the front of a train. As we're short of those at the minute (although 65 and 4253 aren't that far off), we need to hire in. With Sapper now out of ticket, we hired what was available.

 

GWR 2-8-0 tank 4253.

 

I think that, had he survived and the KESR not been nationalised, Austerities sold off cheaply by the WD, would have been a prime target. Mk.1 coaches sold off as surplus by BR, especially the ones in prime condition and going very cheaply, would also have attracted his attention. Dining trains are a different matter.......

 

Given the heritage railway model, I can see him going for that as a way of getting extra income.

 

What else might turn up on the KESR, 31806, 31625, 31874 If Swanage Railway decide they can't afford the engines, who knows, ?
The hire of 76017, might lead in a few years to other engines owned by him making the railway their home.