Churnet Valley Railway General Discussion

My set from yesterdays charter with the Knotty Coach and 1827 on the CVR can be seen at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frank47524/sets/72157645338470972/

Cheers to lads a cracking evening!

 

I really wanted to see this - having had rather a lot to do with NSR61, but duty called......

I'm pleased to see the results, good time was had, it would seem!

 

Another sunny day in the Churnet Valley. Consall Station and one group gave the track each side received a trimming to stop branches scratching carriages. There was a train running so the lookouts were busy. The lineside party were joined at lunchtime by the rest of the team.

 

Glimpse of what she's like...

 

Going slightly off topic here, and this has probably been addressed before so - sorry if it has....

Is there any prospect of the Knotty 0 6 2 running again? I'm not sure she would have run with the preserved carriages but she's the closest thing we have to an engine that would have....

 

Get my first go on her this coming Tuesday. Quite excited...

 

Not in the immediate future. Would need sponsorship support from outside the NRM, and at present CVR have other priorities. Never say never though, there are a few people within the railway interested in doing such one day.

 

In LMS terms she was a 3F, so probably not suited to the run up to Ipstones / Cauldon / Waterhouses (someday...), but she'd be perfect for running along the valley at the head of the preserved Knotty set on a Gala day (or an ordinary running day like the KWVR do with the L&Y coaching set).

Dreamy.

 

Saw her last Tuesday at Shildon. Didn't look as if she had been touched since she was removed from Cheddleton many years ago.

 

N7 goes up Cauldon with 4, is a struggle but she was rated 3MT.

One of the New 'L' Class duties used to be Waterhouses services, so can't see it being any big issue so long as she's sensibly loaded. Having said that though she does now have a Hunslet saturated boiler from her industrial days, instead of her original NSR Superheated boiler.

 

Thought some of you may be interested in the following. Noticed ESR got a lot of praise for 46447 in this month's Steam Railway, yet CVR similar achievements didn't get a single mention...

 

Might be something to do with the fact its not 'native' as opposed to the work done? OR that and the press officer getting their foot in the door.......

Anyway, does the Beano really matter? As I for one am impressed - NICE!!

I really must get my backside back up to Staffordshire at some point........ and to think when I lived Oop North when the plans for the railways resurrection were announced all those years ago, and I thought, yeah right...... and look where things are now........

 

TBF I'm not overly bothered, but there is more to Railway Preservation than a cycling lion... What's most impressive with the TKh overhaul is that the 2x main "men" incharge are both 21! It's certainly great to be a part of the MPD, even if at 26 I'm counted as one of the older members!

And you should, the CVR is a hidden gem with fantastic scenery. Cauldon branch is something else as well. As for 2944, she's proving a popular machine amongst crews and the noise she makes is impressive. When the air pump finally arrives god knows what she'll be like off the leash, though she's had no difficulties hailing the translating vehicle (33) and 6x Mk1s around.

 

Lil Bear, as I said, who really needs the beano..... I don't - haven't read the ruddy thing for over twenty years! Never mind the ferret & dart board or cycling lion or lick of Brunswick?......

To me steam is steam..... I'm not the biggest fan of Copper tops (LNER mys thing!) BUT the way I see it - we're lucky to still have working steam loco's........ and having said that I'm really looking forward to the MHR'S Brasso fest!

As for the the lads who turned her around - buy them each a pint from me....... as I said, I'm impressed And when she's fully up to scratch, you'll have to not to try & not persuade me not to come up.... if my folks where still in Congleton, not a problem, but now.......

As regards the CVR, I used to regularly get dragged to Hanley or Leek by the folks on shopping trips, so I'm well aware of the stunning scenery, never mind the lumps & bumps!

 

The TKh was in operation today with both footplate experience runs and a service train. It made our job, replacing an insulating joint so that the track circuitry works, a bit more interesting as the joint was just short of where the loco stops at Consall. As soon as it left it was back to work quickly and make sure everything is safe before it returns.
Job done by lunchtime. The other half of the team did a track walk from Froghall to Cheddleton and are seen passing through Consall

 

And a few more from yesterday (including one from "Anything Goes .." on the Ipstones branch) for those unaware of what really happens t'oop north !

 

Was working on the River Churnet today and saw the Tkh A couple of times, Sounded like it was getting driven 'enthusiastically'. Makes quite a racket!

Chris

 

Will the N7 be working this weekend, or has it finished?