If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Bulleid Pacifics - Past or Present

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by 34007, May 13, 2008.

  1. DismalChips

    DismalChips Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2016
    Messages:
    636
    Likes Received:
    657
    Location:
    9A
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Bit of Carnforth Kremlinology here, but given that 34073's boiler is now on 34067 and 34067's boiler is sat on 34073's frames, do we think there's a possibility that 34073 will run again?
     
  2. Fireline

    Fireline Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2008
    Messages:
    1,179
    Likes Received:
    1,075
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Unlikely, I would have thought. It's more likely to be seen as a spare set of wheels and boiler for Tangmere. You can overhaul Tangmere's boiler when she is nearing the end of her ticket on 34073's boiler, and cut down your overhaul time.
     
    green five and misspentyouth62 like this.
  3. misspentyouth62

    misspentyouth62 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2017
    Messages:
    1,381
    Likes Received:
    1,739
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    34D, now flexible
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    This is something I always mused over regarding Clan Line and the superb group that support her on the mainline not deciding in the past, to source a second loco/boiler to speed up the turnaround of overhauls.
     
  4. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    5,921
    Likes Received:
    3,827
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    East Grinstead
    Agreed. They have also got Bodmin to overhaul.
     
  5. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2014
    Messages:
    14,315
    Likes Received:
    16,391
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired, best job I've ever had
    Location:
    Buckinghamshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Come up with the money and anything’s possible! There aren't that number of spare MN boilers knocking around so it would have to be a new one.
    There’s also the question of the engine’s integrity, the boiler, although not the original, is an an MN boiler that has seen service in steam days. Apart from a few additions to allow it to work on the modern railway, the loco is as it was in BR days, even the tender tank is the original
     
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2021
    Chris86, S.A.C. Martin and ragl like this.
  6. Fireline

    Fireline Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2008
    Messages:
    1,179
    Likes Received:
    1,075
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The opportunity was there when Ian Riley put what was left of Shaw Saville up for sale, before deciding to restore it himself....
     
  7. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2006
    Messages:
    8,031
    Likes Received:
    7,605
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Train Maintainer for GTR at Hornsey
    Location:
    Letchworth
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    34067's boiler needs a new outer firebox apparently, and 34073 is little more than wheels and frames now, so very unlikely I would've though.
     
  8. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2007
    Messages:
    2,849
    Likes Received:
    2,362
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Researcher/writer and composer of classical music
    Location:
    Between LBSCR 221 and LBSCR 227
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Reluctantly, I'm inclined to agree with you. I'd love to see 34073 working again as it's one of the few Bulleids to have worked over my late lamented local line (the Cuckoo Line, Polegate-Eridge, which shut in the 1960s) but with Bodmin, 44767, 44932 and 48151 all needing overhauls, it's hard to see it being a priority with Carnforth. A while ago, it rumoured that Jeremy Hosking wanted to buy a "Spam Can"/"Flat Top"/"original Bulleid" and I believe he approached one owning group but they didn't want to sell. 34073 is essentially his only option and he has the money to restore it, even in its present condition, but (i) would the present owner(s) be prepared to sell? (ii) it's a while since be bought any new steam engines, so he may have given up on the idea and (iii) the Mid Hants is looking to put 34007 on the main line and recently a lot of individual locos have formed links to the big operators such as Tyseley, West Coast or LSL/Saphos. If 34007 ended up in a similar arrangement to 60007 (and may I add that I have absolutely no idea whether anyone is considering such a tie-up), then it would alleviate the need to Mr Hosking to acquire a "spam can" of his own, so it may be a case of RIP for poor 34073, but on the other hand, never say never.
    And given what a Riley Black Five is capable of, a Riley MN will be something to look forward to! He doesn't seem to be in any hurry to complete it, but to Southern fans like myself, 35009 must rank alongside 32424 and 563, the Swanage T3, as the most exciting prospect (steam loco wise) of the decade.
     
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2021
    green five likes this.
  9. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2008
    Messages:
    2,575
    Likes Received:
    545
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Brick Machine Operator
    Location:
    Haywards Heath
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The air pump was fitted when the loco was first restored back in 2003 I think, back when it used to run the Kingfisher Railtours Excalibur Express charters. I think it's been retained so 34067 can be used on the steam hauled Northern Belle trips that up until recently 6201 was doing and 60163 since.
     
    Johnme101 and 26D_M like this.
  10. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2006
    Messages:
    8,031
    Likes Received:
    7,605
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Train Maintainer for GTR at Hornsey
    Location:
    Letchworth
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    It was first fitted behind the cladding, but soon moved to the front to let the airflow keep it cool. And it's easier to hit it with a hammer if it's accessible!
     
    Dan Hill likes this.
  11. 46203

    46203 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2007
    Messages:
    915
    Likes Received:
    3,762
    Location:
    S&C
    _DSC5093-Edit.jpg

    I've lightened this 2012 image a bit, the air pump is tucked into the right hand corner immediately behind the disc.
     
    Mick45305, Johnme101 and jnc like this.
  12. J Shuttleworth

    J Shuttleworth Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2009
    Messages:
    462
    Likes Received:
    2,450
    Quite so - and, whilst there has never been any enthusiasm to fit air-brake controls to Cfth steam locos (Big Al take note - it isn't and never will be a mandatory requirement), if it's already fitted and works and therefore means the Northern Belle can be hauled by a home loco, then why not?

    The majority of WCR steam-hauled stock is either vacuum- or dual-braked.

    JS
     
  13. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2018
    Messages:
    2,696
    Likes Received:
    5,500
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Leicestershire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    It is good to see that the SLL will soon have two original Bulleids back in operation as 34070 Manston is having its cladding put back on at Tyesley, before going back to Swanage where its brake gear will be refitted and 34072 257 Squadron is having a new steam pipe fitted.
     
    Johnme101 and Sunnieboy like this.
  14. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2018
    Messages:
    2,696
    Likes Received:
    5,500
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Leicestershire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    SLL also report that 34010 Sidmouth's chassis has been moved to Sellinge for overhaul.
     
  15. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2018
    Messages:
    2,696
    Likes Received:
    5,500
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Leicestershire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Here are two pictures (Courtesy Mr S Troy SLL) of Sidmouth's frames being lifted at Sellinge.
    34010 11th Nov 2021.jpg Sidmouth 11 11 21.jpg
     
    Geedude, Johnme101 and Bluenosejohn like this.
  16. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2009
    Messages:
    8,068
    Likes Received:
    5,164
    In the first picture the valves look somewhat further in than the cylinders. That would make sense with the original valve gear driving the valves from inside, but how is the alignment sorted out in the rebuilt Bulleids with valve gear on the outside?
     
  17. RLinkinS

    RLinkinS Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2008
    Messages:
    912
    Likes Received:
    928
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The rebuilds had pendulum levers (my terminology), 2 levers swinging on a common pivot. The combination lever was connected to the outer pendulum lever and the inner pendulum lever drove the valve. This arrangement also meant that no valve guide was required.

    I have attached a cropped picture of Clan Line at Ramsgate in 2019 which shows this.

    Sent from my SM-A105FN using Tapatalk
     
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2021
    Jamessquared and Steve like this.
  18. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2009
    Messages:
    8,068
    Likes Received:
    5,164
    Thank you.
     
    RLinkinS likes this.
  19. nickt

    nickt Member

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2009
    Messages:
    476
    Likes Received:
    206
    Gender:
    Male
  20. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,101
    Likes Received:
    57,418
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Further to the picture that @RLinkinS posted, I took this photo of Sir Archie the other day, which shows the form of the pendulum lever more clearly:

    IMG_8658.jpeg

    Tom
     
    Flying Phil and S.A.C. Martin like this.

Share This Page