7027 Thornbury Castle

You are indeed correct in saying that the law does not mandate TPWS but it does mandate ".....that there is in service equipment which causes the brakes of the train to apply automatically if the train passes a stop signal without authority." A system such as was in use on London Underground would suffice but would still have to be fitted to all locomotives. The ORR also have the power to issue an exemption to the regulations but the mere fact that the GCR is partly double track increases the likelihood of a higher speed collision.

 

Indeed, that's what the WSR thread is for...

 

I would argue that separating trains onto two unidirectional lines rather reduced the possible closing speed of any collision. The worst you could do is hit a stationary train (25mph bump) rather than a head-on collision (50mph bump).


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Mention has been made that there are, in fact, quite a lot of spare parts for 7027 so it may not be a boiler/frames/cylinders and six driving wheels. Can anybody suggest what else may be available?

 

Ruddington to Loughborough is scenically very dull, unlike the NYMR, WHR, and Mallaig lines. Not to mention the WSR. However, I fully appreciate the costs of running faster may well be prohibitive. Just wondered whether the idea was still alive.

Well off topic now. Sorry!

 

Tender Tank, I believe not sure what else

 

Wasn't there a report that a number of spare parts had gone missing between its previous storage facility and the WSR?
Ray.

 

The story I was told in the mess room by someone was that it had a set of connecting or coupling rods with it possibly that Pete Waterman had had made. JJP had them stored somewhere and then called in some scrap men to get rid of some scrap who then also helped themselves to the rods too. How true that is don't know or whether it was a misunderstanding or deliberate theft. I understand it also has many other parts too.

 

They have the bogie as well. I believe that was overhauled during it's last ownership. I also thought there was a "container full of parts", but I could be mistaken.

 

Not sure whether the bogie was actually overhauled or just, as with so much about this loco, talked about by a vociferous owner with little progress being made. I think further up this thread someone from Crewe suggested that there was still a load of stuff there that never went to Peak rail and that it would be helpful for them if it were moved, so whether that has been retrieved now who knows.

The main progress of 7027 in its last ownership seems to have been the sale of the Collett tender tank which is now on with restoration at Preston.

 

Is there something significant about this loco and the Hawksworth tender? Most of the photos of the loco seem to show it with a Collett tender and it seems to have spent the majority of its career using a Collett tender, just wondering why Pete Waterman and then Jon Jones-Pratt seemed to want it completed with a Hawksworth tender?

TIA

Keith

 

From vague recollection Waterman suggested that he had a childhood memory of seeing her with a Hawksworth tender, hence why he had the tank fabricated albeit never fitted to the frames.

 

Departure of Castles from Woodhams :

5051 February 1970 - Returned to mainline 1980, participated in Rainhill celebrations. Last ran 2008
7027 August 1972
5043 September 1973 - Returned to mainline October 2008 - 2018
5080 August 1974 - Returned June 1988 - Last ran 1997?
5029 May 1976 - Returned 1990 - Last ran 2015

EDIT - restoration dates added

 

Thanks for posting that video GWR 4076. I did not realise that some of the early departures from Woodhams were by rail, there were so many pictures of road departures.
I am really looking forward to following the progress of the restoration of 7027, does anybody have any timings for the move from WSR?

 

The largest number of locomotives taken out of Barry in a single train is, as far as I know, 4. In 1974 GWR locomotives 4144, 7202, 4942 and 3738 moved by rail to Didcot as a single train.

Best regards

 

in January 1973 five locomotives are moved together with 73129, 4141, 4930, 5164 and 7819 being towed to Kidderminster by rail with the 5MT then continuing on to Derby

 

Are you sure it was 4141 in the convoy?

Would it possibly have been 4150 instead?

c

 

Yes 4141. 4150 left Woodhams in 1974 and was delivered to Bewdley. 4141 went to Hampton Loade the year before whilst the other three were destined for Bridgenorth

https://www.flickr.com/photos/60790...aSJ2-dLaYqv-dLgukE-qiterT-bp1mpW-yR58Y-9pxcBE