Bulleid Pacifics - Past or Present

I've never actually heard of anyone thrashing a Duchess. They tended to do anything they were asked to, with consummate ease. I think the reason they did not have so many high speeds recorded as the Bulleid or Gresley Pacifics, is that they were always heavily loaded. It was unusual to see a Duchess with less than 15 coaches on, 16 or 17 was quite normal. Also, quite a number of the class, the green ones, were exclusively on night trains. The sleepers were not tightly timed and you wouldn't have had many avid timekeepers up all night on them!

 

That's rather misleading. I haven't noticed 34051 being anywhere close to working.

Typical SR error. There's almost one for every page they print.

 

Well, put it this way, 34073 is the only one not to have been either in operational or museum display condition. I'd personally be thankful that the locomotive still exists at all, and that as long as the components are available, it will always be possible to restore it when time and money is available. As afficionados of Bulleid, we are blessed by the fact that they are some of the most preserved classes of locomotive going in Britain, and whilst it would be nice to see all of them in steam at some point (this could never happen if you take into account 35029), at least there are going to be several examples flying the flag in the near future.

However, on visiting the NRM in April, I was surprised to see a fair amount of rust on 34051's air-smoothed casing, and the right-hand cab window is completely missing, but this is probably for visitors to get a better view of the footplate. Was the livery of this locomotive last applied by BR, or has it been repainted since 1965? I remember that 34051 used to be isolated in the back corner of the Great Hall, where 825 Cheltenham now resides.

 

34051 was last repainted in 1981 by BR at Derby.

 

For any buyer interested, I believe it comes with the majority (if not all) of the components required for restoration, including replacements for the parts donated to Tangmere.

 

Alot of work if someone is willing to put a hell of alot of money into the project?

 

With 34067 Tangmere going here and there and everywhere over the past few month according to Railway Magazine on page 72. Does this show how good a Bulleid light weight pacific is compared to other locos on the main line.

 

SR must have a big crystal ball somewhere.

One of the most off-puting things in the railway press is the ability to generalise and forecast with such prophecy that no other outcome is ever likely to happen.

34073 may run again, who knows, but to proclaim that it will 'never' run in preservation is just a waste of words.

 

As a Bulleid man through and through of course I am with you.

That's what OVS designed them for.

But let's not forget that there are a lot of other superb steam locos around at present. And Ralph's video clip of 70013 on youtube show one of them!

 

It's always entertaining to pick up a 5, 10 or 15 year old copy of the beano in your local preserved railway 2nd hand items coach/stall/shop, and just see what percentage of the 'dead certain' news of the issue, turned out be be nothing more than hot air or speculation. It's like a crystal ball in reverse!

 

It shows a very active and dedicated support team.

David

 

Just a quick question but which spam can pulled the last train out of Penzance?

 

In BR days? 34002 "Salisbury".

 

34070 is nearing compleation at herston works.
Went up to herston works last weekend to collect springs for standard tanks and had a look around it. It looks stunning, the pipe work is beautifully crafted and shaped and it honestly looks as if it will be the best loco SSL have turned out.
Most of the locomotive looks new and they are really taking their time with it. Really looking forward to it myself now.
Upwards of £750,000 has been spent so is the rumour....

 

Any pictures?

 

If we're talking original BB's, 34070 has neither worked nor been in display condition since leaving Barry. That's all set to change very soon though. =D>

 

Yep. Wasn't so much the number of broken stays but the pattern of the breakage. Strip down will commence in September after what seems like half our volunteers getting married to each other. Then the boiler will go to Chatham Steam. It is planned for the mechanical stuff to be a joint project between ourselves and the NNR.

 

S*d the coal bill. It was like the summer of '67 all over again.

 

Thanks for that and yes i did mean in BR days.

 

How many of you chaps have had the pleasure of riding behind 34072? Must admit, after riding with 34007 and 34081 since, I still think 257 Squadron was my favourite. I'm looking forward one day to have a ride behind 34070 (at some point when I can afford it!). That would be another one to go on the list (I'm currently up to around 14 Light Pacifics spotted in various states of repair and six Merchants. If you count nameplates, which depends on how you 'cop' locomotives, then I've 'seen' more!).