35025 Brocklebank Line

Email has just gone out from MNLPS that sets out this is not their intention, though the boiler will be given high priority so that Clan Line can use it if necessary. I believe '25's boiler is in pretty good condition.

 

I'm another small shareholder in SLL and I too support this move. The MNLPS has said in the past that one loco is quite enough, but SLL said in the past that it wasn't interested in main line running. Being willing to re-think as circumstances change and take your members with you is a mark of a well-run organisation and both SLL and MNLPS are worthy of such a description. While 35005 and 35006 have established themselves as heritage line locos, a Merchant Navy is a big beast much more suited to the main line.

Looking back to 1980, 35025 would have been next for the chop after 92085 and 4156 if Dai Woodham hadn't managed to buy some more wagons. It has not had the happiest of futures since being rescued from Barry, so being part of a double act with 35028 would be a very happy conclusion to a long rather uncertain period of its history. Furthermore, when restored, it will actually be returning "home", having been a 73A loco for a couple of years in the 1950s before moving to Exmouth Junction.

 

I must confess that the thought had crossed my mind, who knows possibly having two loco's just means that overhauls for both can be accelerated a bit by being able to have a boiler to drop in at overhaul time?

 

It is a great move if it gets the loco in work quicker. But I thought I had read an article in one of the mags where the MNLPS were saying a lot of their working members were getting older and it was hard to find new members to replace them. Maybe things have changed.

 

Maybe having a loco overhaul to plod along with will help, rather than the pressure of keeping one in service. Some groups also find that some of their members are more interested in the overhaul side of things than ongoing maintenance.

 

I believe 35025 will stay a bit longer at Sellindge as there is a strong team there. I believe that Herston works is the SLL "bottleneck" and is likely busy for the next three or four years....or more.