73050

It is always sad to be the bearer of bad news, but 73050 has been withdrawn from traffic on the NVR with cracks in the inner firebox around some stays. It is early days so a full prognosis/diagnosis has yet to be reached, but this weekends service will now be diesel hauled.

 

That's a real shame. A nice loco and really looks the part on the
blood and custard set. Another headache for Alan and Co.

 

What other steam locos are serviceable at the moment then?

 

HC 1800 - AKA Thomas

 

Isn't Mr. Goodman's Austerity tank due to make another appearance?

 

The only other operational Steam locomotive is that Polish 0-8-0 thing. I was sure that at some point the NVR had more locos at one time??

 

Guess which railway we're visiting today? Looking forward to "Thomas"!

Steve
(WSW)

 

The 13.50 departure from Orton Mere was hauled by a Clas 40, so presumably no steam for the immediate future.

 

The Polish thing is as good as had it to be honest. I stand to be corrected but the overhaul of the Swedish 2-6-2T has been stopped so no chance of that returning to traffic any time soon. Not sure if the Danish 0-6-0T is still making progress but that has limited haulage capacity so not an ideal replacement even if it was available tomorrow.

 

Such a shame about 73050's withdraw i'm sure it will be back ASAP....

I also have faith in both the Polish Tank 5485 which should be out soon. A nice stat for stirrers and bookmakers out there who doubt the loco prob coz its not British.... is that previous to its mudhole doors problems it ran a year trouble free thanks to Wansford MPD and its valuable volunteers and I'm sure it will do the same again.

As for a replacement I'm sure the railway will find a suitable steam loco to be hired while 73050 is out, and I;m sure the railway press be will spreading rumours and taking bets on what loco will come. Yes trains may be diesel hauled for the time being but TBH as long we still provide a service beween Wansford and Peterborough I don't give a stuff what hauls it!!

 

What do you suggest we do about Danish F Class 656??? Stop the overhaul??? Set fire to it??? Scrap it?????

The loco can easily haul 4 coaches to Peterborough as it did in earlier days and will be ideal when its due back on traffic.

Unfortunalty we don't have the luxary of a large fleet of steam loco's like most of the so called 'top premier league' lines have and just got to work with what we've got.

We'll get through it

 

I hope this time 73050 will be fixed and last longer than before, it seems to have had an unlucky few years since back out of overhaul.

Be nice to see 5485 back on the rails again after a fairly long time off

 

Calm down sunshine. I simply said I didn't know if the overhaul
of the Danish tank was still on going. IMHO it will be an ideal loco
for low season and off peak services. It's all academic though as it's
not going to steam in the near future. Hopefully the Class 5 will be
back in traffic soon but until it is, the NVR steam fleet is hanging
by a thread. As to why the NVR has reached this parlous state,
that's another and very long story.

 

It's also for the business of a few people only and not for speculation as i understand it.

Paul

 

So I wonder what is the state of the gala in a few weeks time?

 

But the Nvrs "Thomas is too small to handle Peterbrough Services isnt it?

 

It Looks like the 4F only according to their website. Not much of a gala there.

 

Some years ago I had a full round trip on the footplate of Thomas. I forget the exact load but it was three of four of the continental carriages IIRC. Progress was sedate shall we say and there was little in reserve so I seriously doubt it could stand in for 73050.